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Created Mar 27, 2009 09:57PM PST • Edited Mar 27, 2009 09:57PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   Based on the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby who gets trapped by a paralyzing stroke. He can’t move, can’t speak, and can only see out of his left eye. This movie is terrifying when you think about how you would feel in his situation, and as such becomes incredibly mesmerizing to watch. Those who were close to Jean-Do, his true friends and his therapist were angels bearing patience, and the drama around the effects his changed life was tremendously impactful.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Mathieu Amalric was the main character, and although everything was fine, the movie didn’t exactly stretch his movie skills. All the French actresses were great, just don’t ask me to piece together their names. Also loved seeing Max von Sydow as Jean’s dad.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Perfect 5.0

    The imagery was powerful. Many of the shots — including the memories of being whole were shot from a looking-out perspective – dramatizing both what he was experiencing, as well as what he was missing. And the sadness was very moving, watching his only eye tear-up as he realizes there is no way to effectively reach out to his loved ones. Also moving was the scenes conjuring up the pure carnal enjoyment of food and romance — How would you do without that? Finally, it was brilliant film-making to engross you in a memory, or a fantasy, then rudely snapped back to the present reality of his prison.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Perfect 5.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.6

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0