Youth

An unusual drama that takes place almost entirely in and around a posh hotel in the Swiss Alps.  The central character is Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine), a retired orchestra conductor.  His lifelong friend, film director Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel) is also staying at the hotel to work on the script for his latest film.  A number of lesser characters associated with one or the other of these two are developed as well.  There is the disillusioned actor (Paul Dano) who is most beloved for a part he hated, Fred's daughter, Lena (Rachel Weisz), who has just been dumped by her husband, and several other lesser characters that are merely glimpsed.

 

The movie has depth and, at times, offers some interesting insights.  Mick tells a young woman that to the young, the future is like that mountain which seems so far away.  To the old, it is the past that looks so far away.  He and Fred also talk about how their memories have faded, childhood memories are virtually gone.  It paints a rather bleak picture at times.

 

Paul Dano was a poor casting choice.  He is both too young for the role and not convincing as a 'star' that might be recognized by Miss Universe.  One fan liked a film where he had a 14 year old son; Dano is 31 now.  How long before had this fictional film been made?  Of course, I have never liked Dano in virtually any role - Prisoners excepted, where I thought he was perfectly cast - so I have a bias.  Nonetheless, his turn as an infamous historical figure was one of the funniest bits in the movie and he did it quite well.

 

Despite a two hour runtime, the movie is extremely slow.  Had I not known the relative durations, I would have thought this was longer than The Hateful Eight.  Many of the incidental characters are developed in non-dialogue shots.  Amazingly, there was quite a bit of nudity but it was almost entirely unrelated to the story, which made it more often a distraction.  The only occasion where it fit was when Miss Universe sauntered into the pool where Fred and Mick were soaking; the dropped jaw look on both their faces was quite funny and the discussion that ensued flowed with the themes of the movie.

 

It does provoke questions.  How much will you remember when you get old?  How will your kids view you?  Fred and his daughter have very different views on what kind of a father he was.  Characters - young, old and somewhere in between - are all explored to one degree or another.  Will you be remembered for the accomplishments for which you are most proud or for the ones you regret?  The answers are for the audience to decide.