Memorable, crazy movie

As Good As It Gets

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

In my previous review of "Jean de Florette", I mentioned the movie "Chinatown". Well, there's a moment in "Manon of the Spring" where a city council is reunited to discuss the emergency of the recent shortage of water and through the anger and desperate frustration displayed by the farmers, I was reminded of the scene where Nicholson was amusingly looking at the sheep invading the L.A council and farmers protested about the absence of water. Watching Berri's movies before "Chinatown" would be recommended if only to give you the idea of how water is precious… which makes Manon's vengeance even more delicious.Indeed, I expected the beautiful Emmanuelle Béart as the titular goat shepherdess to avenge the death of her father, whose hard work and gentleness was destroyed by the cruel stratagem of an evil Noah-Cross like old man constantly hiding behind the trees while his nephew was doing the dirty job, I got the taste of that vengeance but I didn't expect it to be as emotionally rewarding as what the final act had to offer. This is not just a credit to Marcel Pagnol, the author but of Claude Berri, the storyteller, who trusts enough his material not to try to make it more spectacular than what it is. When you have a good story, there's no need for artifices.After watching the first opus, Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) and César (Yves Montand) were all familiar faces, we know the extremes they reached to get the land and grow their carnation, the film opens with these flowers as red as the blood it cost to make that miraculous little possible. But for César, the land was worth a life, because Jean wasn't his blood, he was an outsider. As simple as that, and when the film opens, he approaches his nephew with the same question that in the first film's opening, he tells him it's time to think of having children, it's like a sort of "now, where were we?", after having plotting to the point of death, let's think of life a little.César explains that the Soubeyrans have worked hard enough to make money, the lineage must go on to make sure there's always a heir, without one, even land loses its value, Jean's death becomes pointless. But we know we're in a Greek tragedy format so no evil can be redeemed and when Ugolin crosses the path of Manon and instantly falls in love with her, he doesn't know It yet, but the punishment has started. Convinced that she doesn't know about their secret, he starts a courting session, harboring a ridiculous hunter's outfit to impress her and in one of the movies' most powerful scenes, starts a small smooth talk that escalates (literally) through a chase and where, finally, out of breath, he ends up declaring his flame, as he has nothing else to provide, except his good fortune.We have a taste of Karma with this infatuation but the best is yet to come when Manon accidentally eavesdrop a discussion between two villagers who admit that they knew about the spring and didn't help Jean because it was none of their business, and later, she discovers the spring that feeds all the village and stops it, not only Ugolin and his flowers, but the whole town is punished by Manon. That will be their business after all. And when Ugolin takes his mule to go fetch the water, and is obviously exhausted by the heavy barrels, we think of Jean who went through the same nightmare, when all it took was to have a few words. Whoever killed by the water will perish by the water; this is a great tale of vengeance not because the culprits are punished but because they're punished the right way.The performances of the actors are integral to the film's success, Emmanuelle Béart says a lot without speaking, her eyes are like repressing all the feelings until the final implosion held behind her blond, fiery, almost leonine hair, Auteuil as Ugolin gives a dimension of pathos that goes beyond his ungrateful looks and becomes the collateral but acceptable victim of his uncle's malice. But the best is still from Montand, who as the patriarch, looks like a stubborn man still recluse behind the fortress of his own vileness until a final last revelation comes as the perfect vengeance and the best thing about it is that it doesn't even come from Manon, but life itself which establishes the total failure of all his projects, and he lived long enough to measure up the extent of his cruelty and that's how poetically justice worked, when someone is so cruel he only gets sympathy as his cruelty's victim.Marcel Pagnol was born the same day than Cinema and not very far from La Ciotat where the train made its iconic entrance, it's like he had this gift for authentically depicting human nature, reminding me this quote from Ebert: the more specific the story is, the more universal it becomes because the more it understands the characters, the better we do. That's the power of Pagnol, Berri and the actors, they created so specific characters that they immediately became real, this is high adult drama about things that happen in real life. Even someone who doesn't know much about farming, about water and love will get the many messages about love, greed, bigotry and karma.This is tale for the ages, and one of the greatest French movies that earned its commercial and critical success. I couldn't believe I waited so much time to finally see this masterwork, one that says as much about mother nature than human nature and shows that at least, mother nature played fair with men, only they underestimated how evil and greedy they could be, and how destiny could give them a taste of their own medicine.

The second of two films based on Marcel Pagnol's novel , being perfectly adapted , including heartrending interpretations , superb photography and spectacular outdoors . This is a magnificent follow-up to Jean De Florette dealing with life a Provencal village in the 1920s , there two scheming countrymen planning their neighbour to fail his crop and ruin him by means of traps , as the city-born hunchback Jean (astonishing Gerard Depardieu who had his real-life wife Elisabeth Depardieu as screen-partner) chances for survival fade without water for his rabbits . As in drought-ridden Provence there is a single spring that is blocked by two nasty farmers . This sequel concerns on the adult daughter of the dead hunchback called Manon (Emmanuel Beart who subsequently married Daniel Auteuil) , as the action switches 10 years on , she plots vengeance on the two men , (a veteran Yves Montand and his rat-like nephew excellently played by Daniel Auteuil) , whose greedy conspiracy to acquire her her father's land caused his death years earlier. As there takes place as fight for a fertile piece of land. The vendetta proves greatest than she could ever imagine .This devastating follow-up takes up the tale of envy , deception , ambition and jealousy in 1920s rural France . This following is almost as good as the original , though results to be a less involving effort than its predecessor . The first and second installment were simultaneously filmed at a cost of 17 million dollars , a real French record and was a successful box office . On the whole this picture turns out to be sensitive , colorful and with great dramatic effect thanks to interesting as well as thought-provoking script by Gerard Brach , Polanski's usual , helped by the same director Claude Berri . Very good acting for a French all-star cast , such as Yves Montand who gives a touching performance , Daniel Auteuil is once again extraordinary as the dim-witted farmer and a gorgeous Emmanuel Beart as beautiful but shy shepherdess . Enjoyable support cast such as Hippolyte Girardot as the local schoolmaster , Margarita Lozano , among others .Rich cinematography by Bruno Nuytten , plenty of color with the warmth of a French countryside in summer . Emotive and sensitive score Jean-Claude Petit , including Giuseppe Verdi music . This well lauded and awarded motion picture was compellingly written and directed by Claude Berri , along the first part he creates an imposing achievement ; together they make up a dramatic masterpiece . It was showered with prizes , as British Academy : the best adaptation , screenplay and actor Daniel Auteuil ; and French Cesar to actress , Emmanuel Beart , and actor , Daniel Auteuil . Rating : Essential and indispensable watching . Well worth seeing .

Two part film, that was 1st released as two separate features. Terrific telling of a complex story of intertwined farming families in rural France in the early part of the 20th century. The acting is mostly of the highest order. Yves Montand, one of the most suave men in history is completely believable as a rough hewn, self-centered farmer, Gerard Depardieu, also cast against type, as a gentle, educated city born man trying to make it as a farmer also is astounding. Almost as good is Daniel Auteuil as Montand's not-very-bright son. Only Emmanuelle Beart, gorgeous though she may be, doesn't quite convince me as the wild woman of the fields. Some of it is performance, some of it is how perfect she looks. The story is wonderful in a Dickensian sort of way, with clues and character elements showing up early, only to pay off three hours later. I love the first part even more, somehow it feels more truly tragic and dense, the 2nd part just a bit too neat by the end. But still a grand, intelligent, great looking entertainment.

no doubt its a masterpiece. movies like these cannot be produced on a regular base, its a beauty for all those people who are sick of today's computer effects based movies. Water, jungle, flowers, rocks, natural atmosphere and a beautiful face (Emmanuelle Béart) what else u want in a movie. Though she does not show too much of her assets (there is very brief scene of nudity) but her beauty was on peak in 1986. Emmanuelle is totally irresistible in this movie. story is excellent, all actors performed very well their characters and this is why its overall rating is above 8. I watched it in french luckily subtitles were available in English and after watching this i thought where the hell was this before, i should have seen this before.So guys don't wait and just watch dis classic.