Heaven

The movie for tonight was "Heaven" starring Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi. Krzysztof Kieslowski, director of 'Red', 'White', and 'Blue' as well as the even better 'Deacalogue,' has a writing credit for the movie, and his imprint is evident everywhere. It's a good movie, not a great one, but Blanchett and Ribisi are both very good throughout. Blanchett's early distress at the news that her plans have gone awry is entirely convincing. Ribisi's character has the right mixture of naivete and cunning needed to attempt such an outlandish plan. The film is beautifully photographed; director Tom Tykwer has, if possible, adapted a more melancholic and meditative manner than Kieslowski himself had. In attempting the sublime, it several times verges on boring, but what keeps it from becoming so is a plot that is frankly unbelievable. Is this perhaps the point? Ultimately I'm not convinced there is enough to help us in our unbelief, but along the way there are a number of surprising camera shots which emphasize the fantastic nature of their daring enterprise. One in particular is of Ribisi on a park bench, first from the front and then from the back. Another is the final shot of the movie. I'd suggest watching it. B