YOUTH (2015)

Not YOUTH/2017, Xiaogang Feng’s big soapy ‘70s saga of an army entertainment unit in the PRC, but YOUTH/2015, Paolo Sorrentino/Michael Caine’s elegiac film about a blocked, aging composer.  Much buzz in the wake of Sorrentino’s previous international success with THE GREAT BEAUTY/’13, but with budget & gross just matching, ‘biz’ something of a let down.  A pity, since this is the more interesting of the pair, while sharing many of the same faults, especially Sorrentino’s over-indulgence in the kind of high-end fashion magazine visuals that made his YOUNG POPE series a slog to sit thru; here too often stopping the film in its tracks.  Ironic, as these ultra-composed/over-studied compositions are also his calling card & greatest artistic strength.  Something of a directorial conundrum!  Set in one of those top-tier Northern Italian luxury Hotel/Health Spa Resorts (balcony view of The Alps included), the current season boasting nightly ‘Pop’ avant-garde entertainment for a gaggle of stymied creators like composer/conductor Michael Caine (with daughter asst. Rachel Weisz); film auteur Harvey Keitel (with ass-kissing acolytes); deep-dish actor Paul Dano (debating an unlikely new role), all in creative crisis.  None more so than elderly eminence Caine, under fierce pressure to raise his baton once more for Queen & Country (literally), reinforcing his rep as a one-hit maestro.  And if the double-helping of end-of-life profundity is a pain, much is pleasingly undercut with unexpected humor growing like weeds between the cracks of personal revelations both wise & tragic.  Including an Edward Albee-worthy George & Martha verbal bout for Keitel & his refusing muse Jane Fonda, the latter in full war paint.  With similar detonations on tap and much jolly depression for all.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Credit to occasional film composer David Lang for coming up with the big ‘Simple Song’ composition everyone spends half the film talking up and somehow not disappointing us when we finally get to hear it.  It’s a stunner, with soprano Sumi Jo & violinist Viktoria Mullova glamming things up in front of a gorgeously lit & arranged orchestra while Michael Caine aces the rare trick of looking like he knows his business as conductor.