![](../images/break01.jpg)
Directed
by Robert Greenwald
Also starring: Salma Hayek (Monica), Abraham Alvarez (Minister)
Click here for fan reviews
A
peculiar little film, with a sometimes not very sympathetic romantic
struggle, Breaking Up has a lot of good camera angles, and
a very playful use of colors. Watch that first diner scene
for a sharp-toned visual metaphor. Hayek and Crowe I find perfectly
believable as Monica and Steve. Not predictable or reasonable, but
believable.
I found the film fairly
depressing, but this was because I think it is fairly true to the
modern age. The couple is so in love with the idea of a relationship
that the suppression of self and true desire is never questioned,
it is treated as the normal pattern of the much coveted relationship.
This is ironic since the notion of love and marriage in this century
has steadily developed from a practical affair to a matter of the
heart. "Love conquers all." So if you don't have one go
get it at any price ASAP? The movie does a good job of demonstrating
why the modern love cycle is in such disarray.
--petshark
This movie will delight some and
disgust others. It's a story about a couple living in New York who
have been dating for two and a half years, in between their many break
ups.
Steve (Russell Crowe) and Monica (Salma Hayak) are virtually the only characters in this film, so the viewer is treated
to a lot of Russell on the screen. However, viewers may find Steve
to be a little hard to take, considering he is, as Russell put it
himself, a d**khead.
Both Russell and Salma give sound, believable performances as a couple
struggling to survive in a relationship. Any one of us could find
ourselves in this situation. Let's hope we would handle it better.
Some viewers who have been in similar situations will be able to relate,
others may not. Even so, I couldn't help but cry because I felt their
pain.
Highlights include: Russell licking and kissing Salma's feet, Russell
wearing a tux with tails and dancing with Salma next to a pool (very
graceful), a mini shot of Russell's naked butt in the first make-up
scene (definitely a rewind moment), and Russell with good hair (not
too short and not too long).
Look for your tears to be jerked during the last street
scene and the last phone call (sob). This is not really a spoiler;
after all, the movie is called Breaking Up.
Definitely worth the rental price and possibly to buy. Lots of Russell
to get your fix with. It's better than two crows, but not quite up
to three.
Note to director: Naked Russell in
the bath tub could have been put to better use.
Note to Russell: Steer clear of scripts with "dream" sequences,
please.
Rated: Two Crowes
~bbw
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