My Blueberry Nights

Singer Norah Jones makes her first transition into acting in "My Blueberry Nights". The film was helmed by Kar Wai Wong, who made the international hit "2046". My Blueberry Nights is the definition of an art film. It's much more about experimenting with visuals than anything else. I didn't particularly care for Wong's technical choices here. There are many scenes where the pacing is slowed, as if it were nearly in slow motion. This creates one of the longest 90-minute films I've ever experienced. A caveat: this is a slow movie, but not so much a dull one. Viewers will probably be looking for any reason not to fall asleep, but I think there's just enough here, with compelling characters to go along with generally strong performances (with the exception of a bad apple in a pile of oranges), to keep people interested and the film recommendable. It's not that the story is dull or inert, it's the way that it's told that keeps it from possibly being something special.

Jones makes an impressive debut as an actress. Should she want to try it again in a better movie, she would be most welcome. Jude Law ("Breaking and Entering") continues to give solid performances in movies that fly straight under your radar. Natalie Portman ("The Other Boleyn Girl") and David Strathairn ("The Bourne Ultimatum") are easily the standouts on the supporting team. Portman is perfectly cast as a young woman who makes her way in life through poker. Strathairn is excellent as a cop that drinks his troubles away after he and his wife separate. The film also features Oscar winner Rachel Weisz ("Definitely, Maybe") as Strathairn's wife, but she gets the bad deal of things. Weisz was born in London and is asked here to play a Tennessee southern girl. Needless to say, she doesn't quite fit the bill.

Grade: B-