Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Sammy-Jo Cervantes There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

tomsview A distinguished, divorced, 60-something professor and cultural critic, David Karesh (Ben Kinsgley), who seems to have all his ducks in a row, does something dangerous; he falls in love with a beautiful student 35-years his junior.I didn't know what to expect from this film but there are twists here, which eventually touch deep truths. I must admit "Elegy" had me on the edge of my seat as Ben Kingsley's David Karesh mismanages his affair with the stunning Consuela Castillo (Penelope Cruz), believing it too good to be true and that it won't last; almost unconsciously doing things to make sure it doesn't. All this as she demonstrates her love for him, even wanting him to meet the parents.Ben Kingsley's David Karesh is polished and confident, his celebrity as a critic combined with a cultivated style and a passion for art adds to his charisma.At one point in his seduction of Consuela he shows her a picture of Goya's "The Clothed Maja" (La maja vestida) telling her it looks like her, Of course Goya also did a nude version (La maja desnuda) and by the end of the film Consuela mimics that pose for Karesh in circumstances you don't see coming.Karesh is also having a long running affair with another woman who avoids commitment as much as he does. His friend, George (Dennis Hopper), who he turns to for advice is definitely of the do as I say, not as I do school, and he is estranged from his tightly-buttoned son, Kenneth (Peter Sarsgaard).By the end though, the student becomes the teacher as Consuela imparts important life lessons to the professor, mainly about himself.David Karesh's narration throughout the film is full of painfully gained insights and wisdom, especially on what it means to get old "Old age sneaks up on you, and the next thing you know you are asking yourself why can't an old man act his real age? How is it possible for me to still be involved in the carnal aspects of the human comedy? Because, in my head, nothing's changed"."Elegy" feels a little like we've entered Woody Allen territory with a dash of "Last Tango in Paris", but without the anger. The film builds to a powerful ending where the characters face tough decisions, however we are pretty sure we know what they will do.

SnoopyStyle David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) is a New York cultural critic. He is a dedicated bachelor with only non-committal carnal relationships. George O'Hearn (Dennis Hopper) is his best friend and Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson) is his sexual hookup. As a criticism professor, he becomes attracted to his student Consuela Castillo (Penélope Cruz). He develops a deeper relationship than he initially expected.These are great actors and I really want to love this. David is a head-scratcher character. I can't really get over his May-December romance and he's the reluctant one. It's not only that I don't empathize with him. I don't like him either. The tension depends on how much one wants them to get together. I simply don't care if he figures it out. If he doesn't, he doesn't deserve her.

doug_park2001 Ben Kingsley plays the part of 60ish (in two different respects) author, social critic, and professor David Kepesh convincingly enough, and Penelope Cruz truly shines as Consuela Castillo, a student from Cuba who becomes his lover immediately after grades have been posted. I started to get bored during the middle portions and almost quit watching. Yet, there is a quietly compelling quality to this film that caused me to stay with it. While there's not much in the way of reversals or dramatic action, ELEGY is about real people confronting common dilemmas regarding beauty, aging, and mortality. The dialogue is elegant and meaningful; nevertheless, it's nothing larger-than-life: Just about anyone will be able to relate to the obsessions, suspicions, and tender moments that haunt this romance. The cover and title make it look awfully sad but, while it's no comedy per se, it's often funny and generally far less melancholy than it could have been. There's also some sex, although ELEGY's nothing that many people would want to sit through just for a cheap thrill.On the down-side, the relationship between Castillo and Kepesh is hard to buy in places, and it all seems to happen just a bit too quickly and easily. The fact that he's much older than her is obviously a critical part of the story, but what she really sees in him is never made entirely clear. Still, the good acting, filming, and everything else will probably make it easy enough for most people to at least partially suspend disbelief.

Lawson Lawson 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.