Camille

If you like realist fantasies such as Groundhog Day, or Stranger than Fiction, Camille is the movie for you. It qualifies as a good movie, although barely. It feels like more could have been done with the story, but it is definitely safe to say that Camille is original, and charming. For some people that may be enough.

This is the story of the most contrived and surreal honeymoon trip to Niagra Falls. A young thief, Silias, is on parole so he can marry Camille, the sheriff's niece. He doesn't love her, and she is kind of self centred, but if he doesn't go ahead with this, he goes back in the hole. They depart for the falls in a lousy little bike and side car, and they barely get a mile before they have an accident, which becomes a chain reaction for a weird and wonderful remainder of the journey, and perhaps a chance for Silias feelings to grow.

There are two things that Camille would've needed to be on par with the great realist fantasies (such as Groundhog Day). It feels a bit shallow for one thing, and its beauty is only skin deep. For another, it is obvious that the story doesn't take itself seriously and some bits are played for laughs, but not enough to make it work as a comedy. It could have been a tad funnier.

Sienna Miller's career is still young, but each time I see her, I realize that she is capable of variety. She has been to the Venitian Baroque era (Casanova), To Edwardian England (The Edge of Love), A killer super villain in black leather (G.I. Joe) although she wasn't all that great there. Here she plays a really big narcissist but one with a cute touch. She totally upstages James Franco, who has never really done much for me.

I don't think Camille will disappoint. It could use a few touches here and there, but it is likable.

An unusual movie, which starts off with the classic premise of a hooligan who marries a girl who loves him in order to escape the country. But a twist soon turns the tale upside down. Most of the film hits the right buttons: the story develops smoothly, acting is solid (Sienna Miller's drawl is priceless, she really can act!), chemistry between both leads works, and rolling American rural scapes and quirky side characters really make for a good time. The mood, which starts off as light and romantic soon moves into something darker and downright eery at times.

At times though the pace slows just a tad more than we would like, but don't let this stop you watching this unusual little cinematic treat. Alexandre Montin, Paris

When I first saw this movie, I only saw the last 25 minutes. I thought it was hilarious and a typical Hollywood piece of crap.... until I watched it later on from the beginning.

I won't spoil the ending for you, but if I told you what happens in the end you too would probably think this movie was horrible and ridiculous. "Camille" is quite far-fetched and strays from the normal love story, except for it's another movie where a female character believes she can change her man. What surprised me about this movie is how deep of a character Camille really is. Her emotions and free spirit kept me interested. I always considered Sienna Miller to be overrated, until the movie "Camille" came along. She is from England yet her southern drawl is quite convincing. Her character is well-written. She's is the stereotypical foolish southern girl who is foolishly in love with a petty thief who is just interested in escaping to Canada to get away from the authorities. While I didn't find James Franco to be very convincing (not that I ever have), he did do an adequate job of playing the inconsiderate bad-boy. Sienna Miller, however, draws you into the story. You can feel her heart break when she finally realizes that Silas truly doesn't love her. For the rest of the movie you can't help but feel terrible for this innocent woman who only seems to be full of love. The supporting cast is also complete. David Carradine (Cowboy Bob) and Scott Glenn (another underrated actor) compliment Sienna Miller and the story perfectly. There is some great cohesiveness going on between the actors in this feature. I would definitely recommend this movie for people who can suspend disbelief for the corny parts of the movie but who love heart-wrenching films. It's a true gem for romance-seekers out there!

I recently saw this movie at a screening and honestly, Bizarre is the only word that can completely describe this story. The acting was great and there was really nothing the actors could do about the storyline. I think whoever wrote this was on another planet. The actors did an excellent job with their characters, but I think this movie kind of brings down (especially James Franco) their creditability. I wonder if they signed for the money, cuz honestly I don't see anyone after reading the script say "This is an amazing story that I must be a part of".

I guarantee you, when the credits roll you will look at your movie buddy and say "HUH?!".

The less you know about the plot, the better. The best way to enjoy this movie is to just expect a fairytale. Be ready for a crazy, surreal, comedic & romantic story, and don't try to rationalize any of the wacky things that happen.

I picked up this DVD for $2 at my local Blockbuster, and if you hurry down to yours there may be a few left in the bargain bin. You'll get your money's worth and then some! Packaged as a romantic comedy about a good girl & a bad boy, the description hardly begins to scratch the surface. But I have to commend the DVD distributors for not giving away the story. The fun is when it hits you and you realize what an original, cute & slightly creepy story this is. And the humour follows brilliantly. I advise you not to even watch the trailer (which gives away the story somewhat).

Still, you're probably wondering what the heck this movie is about. I won't say, but you can probably compare it to such surreal modern fantasies as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Stranger than Fiction", "Being John Malkovich" and an obscure gem called "Grand Theft Parsons". All these excellent films share the common approach of dealing with heavy, soul-searching themes in light-hearted ways. They make you think about your life & your philosophy of living, or... you could just enjoy some laughs & silly times. There's something in it for everyone.

"Camille" is rated PG-13 and even that is a bit stern. There's no nudity, no gratuitous sex or violence, and hardly any profanity that I can remember. Compared to other modern rom-coms, it may seem watered down to some, but to me it was even more refreshing. Like a fairytale, there's something about it that makes you feel like a kid again, even though the story can get pretty weird.

The acting & casting is perfect. Sienna pulls off the lead role of being a hopelessly cheerful girl without being sappy or annoying. Her beau is the perfect counterpart: a cynical rogue but with a boyish innocence and cute crooked smile that makes you instantly like him, even when he's being a total butt. And David Carradine as the wise- yet-kooky cowboy... wow, what can I say but he has a great comedy career ahead of him if he chooses to go that way.

So don't hesitate to go see this film. It's a rom-com, a road movie, an emotional drama, a fantasy & above all else a fairytale. If more movies were like this, I'd probably start going to the theater again.