The Flawed But Interesting Failure of ‘All I See Is You’ (FILM REVIEW)

[rating=5.00]

All I See Is You is a profoundly dull movie whose efforts are still respectable. Appreciators of cinema for cinema’s sake will find something to enjoy about the film, even if the narrative is as blunt as a baseball bat. This is a film that desires—and tries—to play around in a pool of grandiose ideas but its attempts at a deep dive are skewed into an accidental belly flop into the shallow end.

This is a film about perception, specifically as it relates to married couple Gina (Blake Lively) and James (Jason Clarke). Blinded in an accident at a young age, Gina has come to depend on James to take care of her, creating a unique balance of power in their relationship that’s test after she undergoes a procedure that restores most of her vision.

Director and co-writer Marc Forster (World War Z, Quantum of Solace) was certainly attempting something great with this work, and from a strictly cinematic perspective, his attempts are valiant. Much of the film is presented with a kaleidoscopic vision, telling the story from Gina’s perspective, blurring her reality and ours. This effect continues after her operation, sometimes clearly but, other times, as the truth about her relationship becomes more and more unclear, there’s a blurred edge to his imagery, obscuring our perceptions.

It’s an intriguing effect, one that’s interesting watch. Too bad it’s mired in a rote and predictable plot that projects its secrets long in advance. Forster and his co-writer, Sean Conway (Ray Donovan), have attempted something incredibly ambitious in this emotional case study about relationships and power dynamics. Though they touch upon interesting ideas and make some fascinating observations about the power of perception, the end result falls flat.

Too often, the story delves too far into melodrama (tempered though it might be by Forster’s artful gaze). It’s clear from the beginning of the second act that this is a couple not long for this world, and if ever you’ve watched as a coupled from slowly awakens to the fact that their current relationship isn’t right for them, you know about how the story will unfold. James and Gina are a lifeless couple, who work only when Gina needs someone to assist her in her day to day life. Once she doesn’t, it’s clear where the end will take them.

Not even Forster and Conway’s attempts at diverting into thriller can save this script. Their ambition here has far exceeded their reach, though their efforts are incredibly admirable. Cinematically, All I See Is You is an interesting film to see, but a boring film to watch. Students of technique and style can no doubt appreciate the efforts if not their results. There’s something to be said, too, for the unification of theme and technique, even if the film never quite gets as deep as its makers desired.

As much as All I See Is You is a profound swing and a miss, the swing is still admirable and I respect it. Forster has lost none of the artistic ability he displayed in Monster’s Ball or his latter works. Whatever else you might say about the film its artistry is undeniable. Next time, perhaps, he’ll land a square hit. That, I cannot wait to see.

All I See Is You is now playing in theaters everywhere.

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