UnowPriceless
hyped garbage
Steineded
How sad is this?
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
jpschapira
During the short and entertaining ride that is "Tempo", there's not one scene where you can't help but thinking: "This looks like a movie made for TV". Apparently, that's not the reality…In its cast it has consecrated stars and other young and very talented actors that wouldn't be uncomfortable at all with a "star" position.Three main characters call all of the shots, when two women get too involved with a charming man and end up in a love triangle situation that includes a robbery, a police chase, guns and more elements than at least these characters expected to deal with. What the movie tries to say is that sometimes we don't measure our actions and we cross a line…Yes, that line.A film like "Tempo", with its typical storyline, must at least get you involved with the feelings of the main characters; and it doesn't fail in that department. The writing team includes L.M. Kit Carson (who once adapted the brilliant "Paris, Texas") joined by Jeremy Lipp and Jennifer Salt; writers of some clever and engaging TV series.So the director Eric Styles seems to be the only one a little far from television between the crew (John McCarthy is basically a series composer) and although probably everyone said it already, he brings a lot of style to the table with his intensively focused cameras during some crucial shots and his fast motion management when the film finds its adrenaline moments. Helped a lot by cinematographer Robert Fraisse, Styles achieves the quality of the image that's as good as the film can offer.A few things fail in the plot and with the general idea, which is why the movie doesn't become good; but the emotion you get from the first scene doesn't vanish at all, and you want the best for this flawed human beings. Rachael Leigh Cook, between the best actresses of her generation and more beautiful each day, gives a desperate tone to her character that makes us believe love can actually happen fast, when you're alone in some place and you need it.However, her character is flawed because she is not able to think things twice. Hugh Dancy plays the young attractive man supported by an older woman that cares for him. Even when his character cares for the woman too, he allows himself to slip, considering he will resolve it in the end; but he's not able to do it, because he's flawed. Dancy portrays all of these shades solidly; yet he completely fails in achieving the American accent.The older woman I mentioned before is the character played by Melanie Griffith. Griffith has always had to 'find' the role: "Milk Money", "Now And Then", "Forever Lulu" are some of the films in which the role fits perfectly for her; without mattering if the picture is good or not. "She always speaks the same way", I told my brother; and he said that people can't chance their way of speaking…In "Tempo", the role fits for her and eventually fits for us; luckily.
Molybedenum
I'm quite sure that many movie watchers have seen this type of plot before, but it is always intriguing to see how the actors and actresses bring it into being. The structure is lacking, which we can heap on to the writer. The interesting thing, however, is the irony that becomes apparent within the character development.There is a girl portrayed by the lovely Rachael Leigh Cook, who looks at herself as the portrait of American apathy and rebellion. She admits to having commited a crime while in school, and also finds herself insanely attracted to the real badass, the car booster. She is the perfect picture of what Ben Folds sings about in "Whatever and ever, Amen." The only problem is that she really isn't prepared for what bumming around with a badass brings.Through the plot, we are allowed to watch her mature, or at least we are left with a hope that she does. Her penchant for ditching responsibility lands her in France, but then she begins to take on more and more responsibilities as time goes on. She offers to house the guy, she remembers that she forgot to lock up the shop and returns to do so, and in the end, gets rather shaken up for having been attracted to the dark side of things.The acting is good. The actors make the pain that they suffer seem very real. Frustration, fear, anger, jealousy, and passion are all imparted to the audience. The movie didn't get boring.The direction of the movie is rather bland, however. The shots were not spectacular, and the lighting was not memorable. There were no interesting angles, and sometimes it seemed that everyone was a little out of place.So, in the end, this movie is more of a character study of the youth of America; how the youth like to think that they're bad, even though they probably can't handle things that are really evil.
RealLiveClaude
Since Rachael Leigh Cook is one of my favorite actresses, I couldn't resist to see her latest work. I know since Josie and The Pussycats that she mostly did direct-to-video movies and indies, and that was the opportunity to see her again in a European setting...This time, it's Paris. I was not very thrilled to see a déjà-vu subject of the love triangle, set on illegal antiques'smuggling business background, but with Rachael there, I might be in for a small treat...The result here is partly entertaining. Eric Styles uses the flashback to tell the story as it begins in a car chase in central Paris. Mostly a story about betrayal, survival and mostly choosing between love and reason.An antiques smuggler works for a rich mob dealer. She is sent for a contract in Germany in order to get paid and then refund a debt to another mob member. In the meanwhile, her boyfriend falls in love with a jewellers'boutique employee, Jenny. Unfortunately, when the lady smuggler comes back, she catches her lover in the act. However, her smuggling didn't do well and she must comes up with the money to reimburse the mob guy in order to save her life. For revenge, she intends to use her boyfriend's mistress naive nature for a night heist at the jewellery shop to refund her debt. Will it succeed ?Performances are okay: Rachael Leigh Cook (with an audacious caracter going beyond the simple kiss...), Hugh Dancy and Malcolm McDowell are doing good here but Mrs. Griffith lacks the charm she had many years ago with movies like Body Double and Working Girl. Too sad for such an actress who stills have some sexy assets at her 40s...The story's okay, and it's good fare compared to recent releases who are with big budget but with low quality.Watch it for fun, and gaze the streets of Paris with Ms.Cook !
rdash
At first look, Tempo has the appearance of a low budget European or Canadian film. While there are some stunning shots of Paris, the overall quality of the film and its special effects are less than average. However, if you can get past that, you discover a great performance by Melanie Griffith. Although you know that you are not suppose to like her character, Melanie's quality of vulnerability has you rooting for her character. Her whispery voice is put to work here in which every man alive just wants to protect her. Her co-star Hugh Dancy also does well in this film and is very believable, while Rachael Leigh Cook doesn't fair so well. I just didn't buy the chemistry between her and Dancy. Although Griffith is old enough to play Dancy's mother, she had much more chemistry with him.While the film will never win an Oscar, and may be predictable, it is a great renter. In fact, what surprises me is something like Tempo doesn't get a theatrical release, but on the other hand we have to put up with garbage like The Guru.