Amélie
★★★★★ - Masterpiece.For years, I've seen Amelie included on lists of movies that are considered to be the peak of cinema as an art form. Unfortunately, due to the sexual content, I neglected to venture into this film until I became an adult - a decision I don't regret, but one I'm glad I overcame.
Amelie is, in its own, strange way, beautiful - it's a film that celebrates the odd and exalts the oft-forgotten, simultaneously pairing gorgeous aesthetics with common, every day people. While the people the film portrays may be flawed, messy, and on occasion, downright psychopathic, there's an irresistible charm to each of them, helped greatly by the film's whimsical tone.
With a stellar cast and boatloads of creativity, the film keeps audience members on their toes by consistently withholding information, highlighting Amélie's weird antics while simultaneously engaging the viewers. I'll admit that there were times when I was a bit confused as to what was going on, but the film always managed to explain it in perfect timing. In that sense, its pacing turns out to be brilliant.
The only real flaw I have with it is the sexual content I avoided this movie for in the first place. While some of it is humorous, there is one scene in particular that went a bit to far for my tastes, as well as some unecessary nudity and images seen in an equally unecessary porn shop. I also wasn't fond of how bizarre the ending was, nor did I particularly like the tunnel scene.
That being said, the shop scenes might be funny to other viewers, and it didn't ruin my experience.
Conclusively, Amelie is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece, blooming with color, interesting shots, an engaging and unpredictable script, and a hero with a quirky, unforgettable, sincere heart. Even if it has minor flaws, it's still an astounding piece of ar and definitely earns the praise it has received.