The Face Of An Angel [DVD] [2015]

This film seems to getting a tough ride and isn't nearly as bad as some would suggest.It's far from perfect and seems to start to unravel after half an hour into several different films, never quiter making up its mind what it is, or wanting its cake and eat it, which might explain the overall frustration and dissatisfaction of many viewers.The interviews, with actors and director - pointedly not writer and cinematographer - make much of everyone's "intelligence" but the main character seemed extremely stupid.There are echoes of several much better films, Citizen Kane - unravelling the mystery, Don't Look Now and even Manhatten - Cara Delevingne played the Mariel Hemingway role, albeit platonically, even down to the same distinctive eyebrows.I bought it because of Winderbottom's previous work and the fact that I have been to Perugia a number of times, as a base to explore Tuscany, and so took a greater than normal interest in the murder trial. Much nonsense has been written about the dark side of the city - here transposed to Sienna. I have walked around at night in perfect safety, it is far safer than many european cities. Of course, if you wish to buy drugs from criminals then you might come across some dubious characters.Like his Tristram Shandy film, "A Cock and Bull Story", Winderbottom seems hell-bent on filming the impossible so we shouldn't be suprised that he fails. This one is full of workings out in the margin, which might fascinate some, but will infuriate others. He throws everything in the mix - documentory, a bit of gallo, Bertollucci romanticism, and ends up with an Eton mess, tasty but formless and with far too much sugar. The last refuge of a scoundral is not patriotism but sentimentality, and that is what we are untimately left with. It is also extremely pretentious with his references worn on his sleeve rather than woven into the fabric.Winterbottom is an extremely interesting film maker and it is worth seeing one of his highly ambitious failures rather than the more perfectly realised films of others who aim far lower.A theatre critic once said of Neil Simon, "He didn't have an idea for a play this year but decided to write one anyway." Winterbottom had several ideas - perhaps too many - and decided to release his notes. A work of art is a series of choices but Winterbottom seem incapable of choosing and therefore can not be considered an artist.

Disappointing film based on the Meredith Kercher murder case in Italy. It starts off as the director's (Michael Winterbottom) take on the case using different names and a different Italian city. Daniel Bruhl is Thomas, a film director who has been asked to make a movie using a book about the case, called 'The Face of an Angel' written by Kate Beckinsale's journo. But he then starts to have some sort of breakdown as he looks further into it. He takes drugs and has disturbing dreams, which either trick you into thinking they are real; a sudden cut to Thomas waking up in bed, 'it was just a dream', or are just plain ridiculous.It strains credibility too much, and seems self-indulgent as though it's really about Winterbottom, the actual director who wants to make the movie about himself.It does say some interesting things about the cynical press circus surrounding the case who just see the investigation as grist to the newspaper mill, with free expenses paid trips to Italy.If you were hoping for a meaningful take on the murder case though, this is not it.

VERY GOOD

A muddled messy mixed up movie which was a shame as it has a lot going for it. Bruhel and Devaligne are excellent and the merging story of Knox and a fictional murder are the intriguing. But it cant decide whether its art house or a mainstream thriller which lets it down as it gets muddled and Beckingsdale is miscast

interesting approach to tell the story. Allows us to be subjective rather than seeing it from the first person, in this case the suspect. And Cara shows us she can act believably too...

The film didn't really have a plot, there was "no underbelly" the guy got swept up into. Shame as the actors in it; Cara Delavingne & Kate Beckinsale were good. Could have been so much more.

Quite a fast movie, scenes change awfully quick & the ending is a bit dull but apart from that it’s good. Divulges deep into the main story & has Cara Delevingne in so you know ...

do no t know where this was going