Release Date: August 8 (limited)
Director: Isabel Coixet
Writer: Nicholas Meyer, Philip
Roth
Cinematographer: Jean-Claude
Larrieu
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Penelope
Cruz, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson
Studio/Run Time: Samuel Goldwyn
Films, 108 mins.
Being an intelligent, self-satisfied,
confident and worldly college professor is not enough to protect
David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) from the power of love in Elegy,
Nicholas Meyer’s film adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel The
Dying Animal. While having a reputation for seducing his female
students, Kepesh continuously avoids any kind of lasting
relationship, until he meets Consuela (Penelope Cruz), a dark-haired
beauty of Cuban immigrants who becomes Kepesh’s lover, but also his
obsession. Like an infatuated schoolboy fearful of rejection, he
pines over her when she is not with him but keeps her at bay when she
is close. While the age difference seemingly means nothing to
Consuela, Kepesh uses it and his belief in carnal adventures without
commitment to sabotage any kind of possible future together.
While employing all his incredible
talents, Kingsley, at times, says more with a simple stare. Cruz does
well to keep up, but as Kepesh’s superiority complex breaks down
into self-doubt, regret and fear, Cruz takes the opportunity to
gamely shine as an actress. Dennis Hopper serves as Kepesh’s
friend, primarily as a sounding board to the professor’s
indecisiveness. Unfortunately, it’s the use of Hopper’s character
that later weakens the film as it sidesteps into some awkward moments
surrounding an academic speech. That, and a seemingly forced ending,
keep Elegy from being more than a character vehicle for one of
our greatest actors and an opportunity for some creative dialogue on
the pitfalls of romance.