Sleeping Beauty (2011) (Blu-ray)

This is a brilliant choice-slow paced and wide shot: visually stunning. Lucy is an endearing character and you are really drawn in to her situation.

I watched this to the end with as open a mind as I could muster but it disappoints on virtually every level. I caught myself checking how long was left to go several times. The acting is unusual at best, not bad, just unusual, and thats being polite. There is very little dialogue from which to piece the story together, and from what little story there is, you are obviously left to unravel for yourself, however when you do, its a very disappointing anti-climax.

I admit that Emily Browning who plays Lucy commits to her role and does the best she can with it, but the material is a challenge. Most of the film is strung together with symbolism, which some directors have used to great effect, but it is done very badly here. Lucys character is strange in the extreme, she burns the money she owes for rent and appears to have feelings for someone called the Birdman who is drinking himself to death. I should point out that it is only in the presence of death that Lucy shows any emotion at all.

Lucy sees an advertisement in a paper that turns into what appears to be high class prostitution, the only catch being that she will not be awake when the encounters take place. We of course see each one in detail, however no intercourse takes place. All her clients are ageing men who struggle to perform any act at all and one has to wonder why they bother. I have read one or two reviews where this movie is highly praised but as far as I am concerned, its the kings new clothes. One star is generous.

Just a horrible, self-indulgent mess. It's just too full of itself and thinks it's much better than it is. Emily Browning is good, but that's the only "saving" grace. I won't say don't watch it, given some of the reviews I've read, but I really hated it.