moonrocks152

I'd like to say that although the script was horrible at least Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken made the film worth a watch. We're talking about two fine American actors here.

But, even if you've enjoyed every performance you've ever seen from Johnny Depp or Christopher Walken, take a pass on this movie. I've never seen a more uninspired performance from either of them. Ever.

As for the script here's the deal - Some people who are politically connected want a certain governor dead. These are high powered people with serious money and inside connections with law enforcement. It would be very difficult to stop them.

Well, unless of course their plan was "Let's grab some random stranger off a train, kidnap his daughter and blackmail him into killing the governor for us."

Yea, that's gonna work.

The Three Stooges in a Banana Republic might come up with a assassination scheme like this. It still wouldn't work, but at least it would be more fun to watch.

I won't spoil it for you and tell you how things work out for Johnny Depp and his daughter but then again, do I really have to?

And what's up with all the revolvers? I haven't seen this many revolvers in a film since the Dirty Harry films in the 1970's.

Ondine brought together some sweet stuff - the beautiful Irish coastline, a mythological Selkie sea creature, a struggling fisherman whose life wasn't quite on track. At least two or three original, refreshing films could have taken off from there.

But no luck. Less than half way through, I felt stuck in a contrived, overwrought plot that lost all touch with its unique starting point. A creative opportunity missed.

Granted, Ondine has magnificent scenery and music. An interesting premise. Fine actors. But the film wastes all of these and hurries itself into just another Hollywood play by the numbers script. By the end of the movie I was completely bored, not caring how any of it worked out.

I second the complaints about the lack of English subtitles. Yes, if you focus you'll get most of what's said. But when native English speakers are losing 10-15% of the dialogue then there's no excuse for not including English subtitles on the DVD.

A thoroughly self-absorbed French boy wonders why three lovely women aren't quite meeting all of his expectations. Spend an afternoon with him and you won't be wondering so much.

The atmosphere and scenery were beautiful, so was the acting. Eric Rohmer has made some very sweet and intimate films but in this one he over analyzed young love until my head hurt. It was a bit too much.

If you allow yourself, you can pretend that all of Gaspard's dilemmas were interesting and profound, but they weren't.

Advice to Gaspard - Relax. Think about someone other than yourself for, I don't know, maybe five minutes. You'll see that things will work out just fine.