Film Review: "Elegy" (2007)Writer Nicholas Meyer, also know for directing two of the most accomplished Star Trek movies with the original crew from 1966 - "The Wrath of Khan" (1982) and "The Undiscovered Country" (1991) respectively - prepared an adaptation of a Philip Roth novel from 2001 with the original title "The Dying Animal"; yet did not dare to direct for second time after also-arranging the screenplay for "The Human Stain" (2003) starring Nicole Kidman and Sir Anthony Hopkins based on another Roth's novel out of the year 2000, where the direction went to Hollywood veteran Robert Benton (born 1932).The direction for "Elegy" had been given to female director Isabel Coixet by producers Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi, who fairly prepares her leading actors Sir Ben Kingsley as the teaching Professor David Kepesh and actress Penélope Cruz as his student Consuelo Castillo to ongoing screen chemistry; nevertheless at no time get them to get out of the comfort zone to make a daring step towards heart-breaking melodrama with a thrilling touch. Instead writer Nicholas Meyer and the director decide to change the novel's ending to an lesser effect of dramatic mediocrity under further at times high-tension build-ups cinematography with a long dolly-push-in take within a Manhattan apartment's living room onto the character of Kepesh reminiscencing on an all to present death allegory in modern life.But then again the direction of Isabel Coixet denies itself consequence in jumping between relieving suspense-blocking scenes with David Kepesh's best friend George O'Hearn, portrayed by welcoming final screen appearances of deceased actor Dennis Hopper (1936-2010) and actress Patricia Clarkson as the character of Carolyn, who saves the leading man any time, when some on-screen conflicts might start to hurt to break open a darker passage towards thriller elements instead given chances away for considerably unnecessary - due to the initial novel subject matter - happy ends.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

Poorly cast movie Penelope Cruz comes across as a complete airheadShe is so superficial and unauthentic as can be this is Hollywood at its worstTotally self indulgentCruz has no on screen chemistry what so everThis was movie that had some potential but the direction in consort with the shallowness of Crus acting made it a wasteShe can't play a school girl at all it is laughable and a waste of timeHer character is completely affective dull and blandThere is no way the Kingsley character could find her attractive

Life with crossroads happen. Every person has a crossroad to define the next segment of our lives, either the road not taken or the risk of judgment makes cowards of us all. Wisdom comes from truthfully looking back at those choices and helping the next generation. Kingsley's character has the choice comes at the invitation to a party. Whether it is nobler to join our friends in the decision to join their choices or hide away and hope the fix happens without them.If you can imagine the noblest among us having difficulty dealing with these decisions, you can imagine us mere mortals frozen by the same choice. The answer is to know the difference between the week and the weekend, the importance of the work of our life and the course of our lives. To bear the brunt of the slings and arrows of our heart or jump into a life not known we all know. To enjoy the pursuit of happiness for whatever short time we have or to chicken out in the comfortable world we have created. Choose the bold, is the lesson this movie teaches me. Aim for the top even if you are just a teacher on TV. It's Penelope Cruz for crying out loud and every minute it lasts has a chance to be the best life can bring. Their are so many parties we have decided to skip even though we know afterwards, when the pain in our chest subsides, we will be stronger for the decision, no matter the foolishness it may present.

Penelope Cruz is 10 years too old for the role, but she's plausible as a 22-year-old and surpassingly beautiful. Ben Kingsley is a formidable actor. And both Dennis Hopper and Patricia Clarkson are excellent. Although it may be difficult to understand why a gorgeous young girl like Consuela Castillo (Cruz) would fall in love with a professor 30 years her senior, Kingsley makes it believable. And with the presence of Patricia Clarkson as the professor's sometimes lover of many years and Dennis Hopper as a sage (?) old poet and friend, the eventual cooling of the passionate relationship seems quite natural. But when it turns out that Consuela has breast cancer and reinserts herself into the professor's life, we are in maudlin Love Story territory and the movie simply cannot carry the weight. Why? Because, while she is a or maybe the major character, the story is really not about Consuela but about the professor coming to terms with his advancing age. So the focus is less on the likelihood that this beautiful young girl will die without having lived than on the certainty that the older man may have to face a burden and endure a grief he hadn't bargained for. It's a good movie, well acted but an impossible mix to swallow without gagging.