| John (Joaquin Phoenix) returns to New York to have divorce papers signed by his wife Elena (Claire Danes), a famous, accomplished ice skater. However, she doesn't show up at the airport where they had agreed to meet for the signing. Instead, he is herded by two men to a "family" gathering where he is warmly welcomed while waiting for Elena to come. A web of circumstances gets in the way of the signing, compelling John to extend his New York stay. It is slowly revealed that the "family" so concerned about John and Elena's happiness is actually a kind of mafia planning to kill Elena and replace her with clones in order to rake in all the money earned through her highly-rated performances.
It's All About Love is the kind of movie you have to follow closely-or watch a second time-in order to be fully appreciated. The movie offers substance but somehow something's amiss-maybe it's due to the occasionally stupid or clicheic dialogue, or to the poor chemistry between characters who simply don't connect when they should. It has a good story meant not only to be told but also to be taught. The title itself is a statement, and the plot unfolds to show how far people will go to prove that love is still a higher value than money.
The film portrays villains as cold-blooded characters whose conscience has been dulled by the pursuit of money. But they are by no means alone in the world-indifference seems to have become a norm in the big city, and this is the point reinforced by provocative images like, people hopping over a corpse at the foot of an airport escalator and over another on the subway steps, and an apparently lifeless body dumped in a sidewalk trash can. Even the symbols and images used can be readily perceived to uphold the premise that it's not only New York that has grown cold (it's snowing in July) but also the whole planet which ceaseless snowfall is pushing towards the ice age. And talking about ice-isn't the heroine herself made and unmade by ice, a renowned ice skater with a heart ailment whose marriage is threatened by her career? It's All About Love carries a very valid and relevant message for our time. It champions the cause of love and issues a stern warning about a catastrophe to fall upon humanity should we fail to take heed.
(Date Reviewed: January 28, 2005)
|
