My Blueberry Nights Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
A young woman takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of offbeat characters along the way.
| Norah Jones | Elizabeth |
| Jude Law | Jeremy |
| David Strathairn | Arnie |
| Natalie Portman | Leslie |
| Hector A. Leguillow | Cafe Cook |
| Rachel Weisz | Sue Lynne |
| Nate Bynum | Harlan |
| Chad R. Davis | Elizabeth's Boyfriend |
| Trent Dee | Police Sergeant |
| Geoff Falk | Lt. Mervyn |
| Bill Hollis | Doctor |
| Benjamin Kanes | Randy |
| Miller Pipkin | Cook |
| Kenon Walker | Bar Patron |
| Kar Wai Wong |
7.60 out of 10 (425 votes)
Visitor Reviews
very loose and somehow boring script plus consistent imagery from the director
posted on 18 Aug 2009OK. I have waited since 2006 for this movie to come out, being a fan of Natalie Portman and the Director Wan. However the director's very loose style of script just keeps fail me. The imagery itself follows through the director's consistent flow of rough, dream-like quality and his special cinema palettes, which is fine enough to watch and it does work on itself. But when the anti-intelligent dialogs mixes with the dream like image, it puts me into a drowsy state. Though this script is boring (for instance, the actors talking about keys for a long time and does not lead to anything. And 2 people bump into each other with bleeding nose at the same time..... hello? is this suppose to be funny?), it's not that boring than 2046 (the director's previous movie).Somehow I have no problem about the director's methodology of not having a fixed script at the beginning and just let things happen. However I do have a problem when the result turns out to be a bad improvisation. With these amazing actors and Hollywood's money, the director Wan somehow proves himself to be again, just an image-maker but not a story-teller.And I am just too upset about the script that just can't bother about the acting.
Wong Kar Wai does his best but not even his talent could have made this bad script work
posted on 08 Aug 2009Wong Kar Wai first American film is an interesting try by this great director but something gets lost in the translation in terms of narrative and story telling that makes this film a noble and failed attempt by him. The story really does not hold much water in the way it's presented and the narrative feels a bit awkward and unfinished in what's going on right in front of you, not to mention the horrible lines of dialog that comes out of the mouths of most of the characters. Nora Jones does give an interesting first performance and she is quite good but she is blown off the screen by her seasoned co stars who give much more potent performances than the script allows. The best of these performances goes to Rachel Weisz and David Straitharn, who gives much more complexity to their underwritten characters than they should have and if they both had a real script to work with, their story would have been a great movie in itself but the script holds them back like a anchor and you can see that they are trying to keep a straight face while saying some of the lame dialog from the script. Jude Law is really not in the movie much at all and Natalie Portman is the worst served by all of this because despite her up hill battle to give a good performance with how unfocused the script is, she does not have much of a story to work with.I feel bad for Wong Kar Wai, he could have made a much better film than this, especially with the great talent he had working for him but the script is what killed this film and no amount of great talent could have saved it.
An excellent drama
posted on 06 Aug 2009I did not like director Wong Kar Wai's work till I saw his great short for the movie Eros.And,now with the excellent film My Blueberry Nights,my perception about Kar Wai is changing.I had not liked In the Mood for Love,Happy Together and 2046...I had found them pretentious and boring.Now,My Blueberry Nights is all the contrary.This film is not pretentious at all and it entertained me.The story from this film is simple but at the same time deep and intelligent and it also makes a very detailed characterization of characters.The performances are excellent.Norah Jones is a revelation.Her performance in this movie is simply extraordinary and she shows much more presence than a lot of Hollywood "stars" (for example,Julia Roberts).Jude Law,Rachel Weisz,Natalie Portman and David Straithairn were perfectly chosen for their characters.The only complain I have against this movie is that some moments feel a little bit forced.But,in spite of that,My Blueberry Nights is an excellent film which deserves to be seen.
I love Jude Law :)
posted on 04 Aug 2009His acting in this movie is great, Natalie is not bad too. Actually I like their accents. It may sound unlikely but I think I would act better than Norah did in this movie... She looks like... stone compared to the two actor and actress above. Anyway the song was great too.Another recognizable work of Wong Kar Wai, his way of storytelling and using colors are just like "In the mood for love" and "2046". I do prefer "2046" to the rest of his works though :).Sometimes his work can be quite nonsensical... I don't know what the stories behind his characters are... why would they leave and why should they be so... sentimental. But I do love the air in the movies, quiet, calm and yet touching. Actually... maybe it would be better for him to choose Asians to star in "My blueberry nights", their way of thinking is not so like American style...
This is a good film and Norah Jones' role suits her, really!
posted on 19 Jul 2009Well, first of all I have to say that I watched the Chinese dubbed version(I don't think we have the original version showing here, at least not in my city, too bad), so I have missed out on the actors' dialogue and my comment will only be based on their facial and body languages combined with some not-so-good dubbing(in the beginning it actually sounds VERY strange with the dubbing actor's accents and all, but is watchable and you'll get used to it) and a very beautiful soundtrack, not to mention the good cinematography. So here is my RMB¥ 0.02: Generally I think this is a fine little film. It may not be Wang Karwai's best, but it's good and well worth my time and money, and above all, did live up to my expectations. I would recommend it to any serious film viewer.The story is good and simple, and was told in a relaxed yet lively rhythm, which is the usual Wang Karwai style. I do feel however that maybe they could insert another little story into the current two of them (the one with Rachel/David and the one with Natalie), but that may lead to a film too long. I hope there's more material in the movie's DVD.Now onto the actors: I have read in the IMDb forum that a lot of people were not impressed by Norah Jones' performance. However I want to say she's very good for her movie debut, especially in this role, it suits her very well. See, the role is MADE for an inexperienced actor. I'm saying this because the movie already has a very strong cast, and the majority of the story is performed by them. And the story itself also requires some rookie watching and learning from the pros (there is actually quite a lot of shots with Norah's character watching the big stars' from the corner). Norah's role is merely a thread that interweaves through the stories, and through which her role would grow and develop and become more mature and confident in the end. It doesn't NEED to be performed too well. So, on that basis the "childish" performance, the "empty" looks and all: Norah did it adorably, whether it's out of her inexperience in acting or she did it on purpose under the direction of Wang, it worked out fine. It almost feels like two parallel stories going inside and out of the movie, and the character and actress herself are both going through a course developing themselves. I don't know if this is Wang's original idea, but if it's like what I said, I would say this is a very good concept executed wonderfully. The whole thing just goes out and comes around and be "complete" -- it's an Eastern thing, don't know if you American or European guys know what I mean. I think both Wang Karwai and Norah Jones made a very good decision in choosing the actor/her first movie. Bra-Vo.Rachel Weisz did a marvelous job portraying her character. Two thumbs up. Some may say she overacted, I say a little drama won't hurt, plus she makes the whole movie more vibrant and colorful. Two thumbs up again, now that makes four: ) David Strathairn is also VERY good. There's good chemistry between him and Rachel. I didn't recognize him in the beginning, but his performance stroke me as a nice surprise, and when I realized he was Edward Murrow in Good Night n Good Luck it all makes sense. Man what a good actor he is!Natalie Portman was not bad either, again like the other actors she chose the right film to shoot. It's not her usual character, and that's exactly what she needs. But I have to admit Rachel and David were the star of this movie.Jude Law did his average, it could be better, but again it's not important. His job is to contribute his British accent and kiss the actress and make us all feel warm and fuzzy, nothing more is required!: D Though I have to point out that the Chinese actor that gave voice to Jude was a bad Mandarin speaker and couldn't blend in with the others. Failure Mr. Wang, Failure.So, that's it. I really enjoyed this movie and I recommend you go and see it when it's released in your country, better yet, do bring your BF/GF/Husband/wife: )
A review: My Blueberry Nights (2007)
posted on 13 Jul 2009My Blueberry Nights (2007) *** out of **** Directed by Wong Kar WaiWith Norah Jones, Jude Law, Davis Strathairn, Rachel Weisz and Nataly Portman.Well made, catching romantic drama about Jones facing certain love stories. Tipical Kar Wai drama with some great shots and performances, specially with Weisz and Portman and, you'll be glad to see Law in a way you're not accustomed to. A simple journey, with a breathtaking final shot.
Surprisingly beautiful film!
posted on 29 Jun 2009I absolutely loved this film. If you've previously fallen under Wong Kar Wai's spell (Happy Together, In The Mood For Love, 2046), My Blueberry Nights will do nothing to break it. You totally fall for the characters and leave the cinema with a huge lump in your throat. Nora Jones was an unexpected and subtle hit and the direction and cinematography, totally beautiful. I was a little afraid that Wong Kar Wai wouldn't be able to dazzle as he does, with an English speaking film. I was SO wrong! I really think if you love In The Mood For Love and 2046 that there's no way you won't be swept away by this film. Sure, if you want explosions and lots of action then you're in the wrong cinema. I think the people who are saying this film is too slow or "we could have gotten all the information in 10 minutes" have never seen a Wong Kar Wai film before. Who knew Nora Jones was so lovely?
A brainless beauty
posted on 26 May 2009My Blueberry Nights reminds me of a beautiful but brainless girl I went out with.This was a 90-minute Norah Jones' music video saved only by Strathairn, Weisz and Portman's effort to do what's best for their petty roles. No screenplay, no direction, and no concept in a shallow movie where their performance and the visuals are the only thing worth the money paid, this movie is a big pretentious fake -not too surprising from this overrated director. Jude Law's name is in the movie credits but did absolutely nothing on screen to earn that.Gotta love people who write grammar-school-homework summaries of movies...
Closer? More like wide apart
posted on 22 May 2009Putting a musician (Nora Jones) in the lead was a real brave choice from Wong Kar Wai ... and one that didn't backfire! While he's not the first who's done that (see Björk and other singers turned actresses), he's movie does succeed.Of course that is also an achievement of the other actors (such as Jude Law etc.) and the really good camera work seen here. One thing that might annoy you though is the fact that it slow moving (at times it seems not to move at all) and also seems to have no directions it's heading whatsoever. If that doesn't put you off thought, you'll see a pretty good drama/movie :o)
Cream Flowing Over Magnolia Blueberries
posted on 10 May 2009Wong is one of our three greatest living filmmakers. He has transformed imagination for a planet. When real histories are written, artists like this will be appreciated for what they begin, giants compared to politicians who can only try to end things. His last four films were transformative. Now he tries something outside his realm of mastery.Like his main character, he has decided to travel the US in search of love. Also like his main character, he doesn't care about the story, only the afterglow. Its the mood that matters. In his previous films, he literally works without a script, creating an obvious vacuum where the story would be.Here, he simply adopts a story that is so vacuous it leaves a similar hole. With a lesser artist, you would actually pay attention to the story and wonder about it. I suggest you simply ignore it, providing it with no more semiotic weight than the doorknobs which are so carefully photographed.The idea here is simple: he finds a woman who by herself evokes a mood. He's done this before, and found creatures whose screen presence melts boundaries between stones allowing transparent slipperage. In this case, its Norah Jones, who does have a charm. His key image is of her drunk asleep on a diner counter with crumbs of delicious pastry on her full lips. The way he's chosen to carry her image is through her songs, which contain a deceptive tension of confident tentativeness. This is a woman who is intensely unsettled and so is settled in herself. Jude Law plays a sort of urban domestic who prepares and waits, simply waits and draws her back.In between the crumbs and the kiss are adventures with two women played by Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman. They are placed as outer bounds on two sides so that our character's stone can slip home. One is remorsefully constrained by neediness, the other guiltily unconstrained. Both lose men, but not our heroine.Christopher Doyle is not present on this, and its obvious that it is part of the risk Wong is taking: new country, new language, new mode for moodiness, new crew altogether. Different sorts of lingering and saturation. Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
Made me wanna melt..
posted on 02 May 2009I've never seen a Wong Kar Wai movie before, and I didn't know what to expect from this movie. Just that Norah Jones was debuting in it. I love her music. And the movie is spilling over with her beautiful voice.My Blueberry Nights, very aptly named, firstly, is a very short film. Hardly stretching to an hour and a half. By the end of it, I wished it would go on and on and on and on and on... Well, you get the picture.It's just lovely.The characters. Complex in their simplicity. A phenomenal cast. David Strathairn, after Good Night and Good Luck, this defines him. Like everyone else, his role is small in the movie. The fact that Wai is able to put together such a colorful blend of characters and churn out their individual stories so beautifully and in such a minute amount of time is amazing.A special mention for certain bits and pieces of wonderful cinema. Scenes where you'd normally expect a man and a woman to be paired is nowhere there. Particularly the one with Rachel Weisz and Norah Jones. Both characters, quite clueless in their position. A sweet awkwardness. Comfort. Film-making brilliance. Absolutely beautiful.The movie jumps. Comforatably. From one setting to another. Natalie Portman, the versatility of her accents. You'll have to hear it to believe it.Every scene with Norah Jones just made me feel warm inside. She has amazing screen presence. Everyone in this film fits exactly the way it should. Its perfect.And the kiss at the end. It made me melt. I almost cried. I loved My Blueberry Nights. Kudos, Mr Wai. It was wonderful. Thank You.
Best Movie I have ever seen
posted on 22 Apr 2009The movie was excellently made. The plot is very intriguing. the end a very intuitive mix of love. a story of hope for the future and of hatred. Jude and Norah get together. Norah is a Gem in Blueberry nights. Her soft appearance is very welcoming for the role she is playing. Jude is also a welcoming character. He is very eccentric and a bit of a creeper. it is in a cute way though. Natalie Portman is a very cool character who from the very moment you see her you know she will be a key character in Lizzy's life. her confidence is very much an inspiration to Lizzy. and this is so ridiculous that it has to be ten line i have nothing else to say except the it was an excellent movie that i would watch again
"Sharing a smile so far from home"
posted on 08 Apr 2009"a story of a woman who takes the long route instead of the short one to meet up with the man she loves."Basically the bodywork of Wong Kar-wai is impressive, I have seen only a few of his films (Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, In the Mood for Love and 2046) however I really can say that. Now well actually two days ago I finally watched his most recent film; I think that My Blueberry Nights is my least favourite of Wong Kar-wai (if you for an odd reason are curious enough and look for my comments of Wong Kar-wai films you will find that I gave to In the Mood for Love an eight. I'm saying that My Blueberry Nights is my least favourite because I have a feeling that if any of these days I watch again In the Mood for Love I will appreciate it a lot of more) but if I gave to it a ten is just for an obvious and simple reason: I loved it.Anyway, Wong Kar-wai filmed Happy Together in Argentina however this was his first film in a different language, of course in English. He made his journey in America, from NY the West, capturing many beautiful images and practically being the common tourist. He decided to make of NY the home, it is the place where Norah Jones was born and the place where Norah's character found and loose love. Elizabeth is the name of that character and she will left behind that place to join Wong Kar-wai in his journey to the West and to become a watcher. Our first watcher was Jude Law's character Jeremy; he was watching a girl in a very difficult time for her, they had a routine but those blueberry nights could have been forgotten if those letters never appeared in Jeremy's place. Those letters were part of a new routine for Elizabeth, were they way to keep a part of her past. Her new jobs and the new people were the other parts of her new routine, her new life, her new world in the same country. Both Norah and Jude are great; I kind of never liked the fact that Jude Law was part of the new Wong Kar-wai film however he is very cool as that strange character that we never watch in a different place, that is there waiting for those that still can open a door and waiting that his blueberry pie can have at least one piece less. I have to write that I'm not familiar at all with the music of Norah Jones and my ignorance on that subject can be resume with the fact that watching this film I finally knew her physically (similar case with Faye Wong), I never heard a song of her and I just knew that name. She did a great debut, we worry of her character and she is always very well accompanied in the screen with that superb supporting cast. On that way the secondary characters that made Elizabeth a watcher became the ones to follow. They are not complex and we are interested in them. As the journey continues we watch new lands, now casinos, Las Vegas, all wonderfully captured. Natalie Portman will impress you. In the end the journey was for a reason and "it took me nearly a year to get here. It wasn't so hard to cross that street after all, it all depends on who's waiting for you on the other side". Before watching this film it's been a long time for me without watching a Wong Kar-wai film, now I'm kind of exited in order to watch those works like As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild. Can't wait but meanwhile I really recommend you this film that is just a gem, kind of an overlooked gem of last year, totally underrated in IMDb but who cares.
The pieces work the whole doesn't
posted on 31 Mar 2009Wong Kar-Wai's first English language film. Nora Jones stars as Elizabeth a young woman who walks into Jude Laws Cafe after her boyfriend dumps her. After several nights there eating blueberry pie she heads off on the road where she meets a cop in Memphis and a gambler in Nevada.A decidedly uneven mix of a movie that doesn't add up to much. Kar-Wai's beautiful camera work produces some great images but his some time use of slow motion is over used to the point you'll want to hit the fast forward so you see something at normal speed. How the film is shot also produces an overly cramped sense. Much of the Jude Law sequence seems to have been shot through the windows of the café and from one angle. The Memphis sequence is like that as well.The story about relationships rarely springs to life in more than in fits and starts. Its all moments not a whole film. I have no idea why Elizabeth goes traveling other than as an excuse to meet the people we meet. It fragments the film and takes us away from the most interesting thing in the film the chats with Jude Law.The cast is good with the up and down Natalie Portman in up mode as a gambler who meets Norah Jones (fair at the start but gets better as it goes) in Nevada and travels around with her. Rachel Weisz as the wife of the Memphis cop is far from English herself as a woman with a thick southern accent.The joy of the film is the music. This has a stunning soundtrack that drives the film when the writing lets everything else drift. I kept going just to hear the music.The weakest of Kar Wai's films I've seen. There is a good movie in here but it needs to be remade.(I'd love to see the Jude Law bits in a different context)
Soothing road trip for Wong Kar Wai fans
posted on 31 Mar 2009A young woman, getting over a relationship, travels across America to earn money and see the country.I found this to be hypnotic, soothing experience, much like In The Mood For Love. It really does set up an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're really there. I think it's a pretty hollow film, which has turned a lot of people off, but i think there's enough there on the surface. I think the film looked great - the colors and charming set design. Jones was pretty decent, Kar Wai wisely filling the film with interesting characters/actors so she doesn't have to carry the whole film. Natalie Portman seems a little miscast (she looks barely a day over 20 so i don't know why she plays characters out of her depth), but i found Strathairn and Rachel Weisz heartbreaking and Law hasn't been so appealing in years. A nice surprise considering my low expectations.
Lonely Norah Jones talking to lonely characters performed by great actors.
posted on 27 Mar 2009That's basically it. Lonely Norah Jones talking to lonely people who are performed by great actors (Strathairn, Weisz, and Portman). There's no real story, the script, as people have stated, isn't the best. But that being said, I'll say that I really liked it.I saw this at the theater at a late night viewing. And maybe because it was night time, maybe because I was lonely, or maybe because I just had a very crappy week. Whatever the reason, I felt myself falling deep into this very subtle movie. It captures that feeling, that essence, that breeze you feel when you walk home on a crisp night after splitting with your friends and looking back at your day. It's nostalgic, slightly hypnotic, and so comfortable. And as always in Wong's films, the shots and screen was just mesmerizing and beautiful to watch.Big props to the actors. Jones, despite being her first performance, I found somewhat more-or-less satisfying. Law was just okay in his role. The big applause really goes to the three actors I stated above- Straithairn, Weisz, and Portman. They really MADE this film.Also, big props to the director, Wong. Another beautiful, comfortable, cozy visual experience watching this movie.I'm biased, but I'll say it anyway. I liked this film.
My Blueberry Nights
posted on 25 Mar 2009"My Blueberry Nights" is a bitter sweet movie is for anyone who has ever had his/her heart broken, wait a minute that's about everyone, ergo this film is for everyone. With many scenes shot through storefront windows, the film has a great look. The film has a wonderful soundtrack and truly believable characters. The scenes filmed in Memphis, while a bit dark,are particularly poignant and moving. Rachel Weisz does an amazing job playing an unhappy wife. It is easy to her husband's motivation.This may be classified as a chic flick. However the sprinkling of truths about life and love and with a poker subplot this film is a pleasant escape for a guy wants to spend a quiet evening with his main squeeze,a box of tissues, and a six pack.
appealing, if not overly distinguished, indie romance
posted on 19 Mar 2009Despite its status as a low-budget, independent feature, "My Blueberry Nights" boasts a roster of A-list players - Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman - that any mainstream filmmaker would consider it a privilege to work with.In her big screen acting debut, singer Norah Jones plays Elizabeth, a beautiful young woman from New York who, after her boyfriend dumps her, decides to head out across the country to try and forget about her past and make a new life for herself. Working as a waitress in Memphis and the Desert Southwest, Lizzie meets up with a variety of colorful characters, including Strathairn as an alcoholic cop, Weisz as the wife who's been cheating on him, and Portman as a compulsive gambler who lures Lizzie into one of her schemes. In addition, Law plays a café owner back in the city who introduces Lizzie to the delights of blueberry pie and who serves as the letter-writing confidante and emotional focal point the wayward young lady needs while she's off on her travels.As conceived by director Wong Kar Wai and co-writer Lawrence Block, the vignettes aren't all that terribly interesting, actually, but the artful look and tone give the film a hip, sophisticated flavor. And since Lizzie is pretty much just a passive observer of the dramas that unfold around her, we don't become as emotionally invested in the characters as we might had she been allowed to become a more proactive force in the narrative - though we're willing to concede that this approach might well have been necessitated by Jones' neophyte status as an actor. Her work here isn't bad, by any means, but then she isn't called upon to do much more than react to the people and events around her. As a result, it's still probably way too soon to make any kind of definitive prediction regarding her future as an actress.Still, the contemplative, lyrical mood of the film and the sometimes astute and touching observations it makes about both the good and bad aspects of relationships turn "My Blueberry Nights" - its episodic nature notwithstanding - into an enjoyable, if minor, triumph for Wai and his gifted cast.
My blueberry nightmare
posted on 19 Mar 2009First off, some of the cinematography and the music in the film is fantastic. But those are the only positive things I can say about it because aside from those elements this was a load of pretentious rubbish. It's a shame for Norah Jones, as she seems to be able to act, but this did her no justice. Jude Law is just short of saying 'Ecky Thump' so bad is his Mancunian accent. The rest of the characters cannot be empathized with either. This is dross masquerading as art-house. It is slow, it is pointless and it is bad. It's one of those films where every ordinary conversation is supposed to contain something profound. But it doesn't. It's awful and a complete bore from start to finish.
Try a Little Tenderness
posted on 26 Aug 2009Wong Kar-Wai's first film in English is a dream-like, romantic road flick starring Norah Jones in her acting debut. She does a pretty decent job for someone with no previous acting experience, but it's Kar-Wai's directing and the supporting cast that carry the movie.Even though it lacks the depth and wholesomeness of "In the Mood for Love", "My Blueberry Nights" is just as hypnotic as "Chungking Express", and more satisfying than the ambitious and slightly overrated "2046". Jones plays Elizabeth, a heartbroken girl who goes on a cross-country journey in order to forget "him", find herself and save some money. She meets other lonely, troubled characters along the way: a cop (David Strathairn) who doesn't accept his wife's (Rachel Weisz) rejection, and a beautiful gambler (Natalie Portman), who has a tempting proposal for her. Jude Law is the bar owner who falls for Elizabeth, and Cat Power (one of my favourite contemporary singers, whose hauntingly beautiful "The Greatest" is the movie's main theme) has a very special appearance. A few road scenes reminded me vaguely of Wim Wenders' masterpiece "Paris, Texas", which might have been inspired by Ry Cooder, who also composed the music for this film.All in all, this is Kar-Waian love, sensorial orgasm at best... if you like Kar-Wai's style, you'll most likely enjoy "My Blueberry Nights" (and will be craving for some ice cream with blueberry pie after it). If you don't know the genius yet, this is a good start (even if it's not his best work). And the last kissing scene is something to be remembered (Kar-Wai's usual collaborator, Christopher Doyle, chose to work in Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park" instead of this, but the also brilliant Darius Khondji did a gorgeous job as cinematographer); one of the most beautifully shot scenes in recent memory. 9/10.