alenahagen

Save yourself time and watch "Something like happiness" one more time to enjoy work of director. Story is weak and unreal: Closet gay guy comes to teach in village, abuses young boy and his mom saves him, after he tries to commit suicide on her field where she feeds cows every day? And after puke and glass of water he is OK to break stones. After some difficulties, whatever they were, young boy comes back home and birth of calf in which all three of them assist make them to forgive and they live happily ever-after...widowed mother, guy gay and abused boy. Oh...and we know that it is straightforward movie because we saw a scene with puke-cleaning so it is clear that director does not embellish the truth? Oh, give me a break. The only thing I liked was a music, wonderful one.

This movie is supposed to be based on a book - well, they have nothing in common but word geisha. It would be OK if there is at least some inspiration by real geishas world, twinkles of reality in pink tasteless soup of unreal content. Alas - movie from beginning till the end is based on what is supposed to excite viewer. It is from the beginning constructed on premise "what might be more exciting?" until at the end it is just an empty flock which is not even done nicely. For instance "geisha's dance is awful not only for any Japanese but even for European... I am pretty shocked that it is even nominated for Academy Award...but I guess it is not exception for Hollywood. Still usually movies have some positive qualities for that honor. Shame, there was everything there - subject, story,, money...and at the end of the day all was lost. Alena

I was looking forward to see this movie - story looked great, De Niro is a great actor...what could go wrong? Well - I am very disappointed. All was much under expectations. Do not get me wrong - nature was fantastic(but I might better see documentary about this place) and story still might be interesting...only it feels that HOW it was done is so shallow in comparison how it was there to be. I will skip criticism of some technicalities - language of Indians, using muskets in water and so on... Problem was that symbols were hitting into the face...nothing was left to imagine, to feel. All was very much on surface and did not go deeper. People there were not real, did not have personality...

My overall feeling was like if I am invited into great french restaurant and am served hamburger with french fries and drinking coke. Too bad... Alena