Laura Linney plays a bitter, rich-poor widow in The City of Your Final Destination, a James Ivory drama that wallows in idle reverie and private little wars.
Despite beautiful dialogue, acting and cinematography, the film is disjointed and cries out for fresh treatment. Why should we care about these self-absorbed characters?
The screenplay from Oscar winner Ruth Prawer Jhabvala mentions nothing about author Jules Gund's books. Why did Gund shoot himself in the head? Why is his legacy important? Why does Omar (Omar Metwally) travel to Uruguay to meet the Gunds? Aside from frantic tenure-track efforts dictated by his girlfriend Deirdre (Alexandra Maria Lara), does Omar have a genuine desire to write Gund's biography?
Metwally (Munich; Rendition) is unconvincing in his dalliance with Arden (Charlotte Gainsbourg), Gund's former mistress. Like the Gunds, Omar does not know what he really wants.
Most interesting is Linney (John Adams; Mystic River) as Caroline Gund, a jealous protector of the family's scandals. (Arden also lives on the decaying estate, along with a daughter she conceived with Gund.)
Gund left behind a fractured family including unhappy widow Caroline; his young British mistress Arden (Charlotte Gainsbourg), and their daughter.
Linney's deep hurt seeps through a biting performance. She dislikes Omar, but detests his strong-willed girlfriend even more. Caroline's desire to move back to New York consumes her. When she paints, she copies the masters so she won't have to reveal anything of herself.
Anthony Hopkins makes the most of the script's thoughtful, contemplative lines. As gay gentleman and older brother Adam Gund, he seeks to sell his mother's jewels and improve the family's fortunes. Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) is Adam's younger companion Pete.
Legendary Argentine actress Norma Aleandro is engaging as the vicious town gossip who takes Omar under her wing. The film flashes forward to its conclusion, as Deirdre bumps into Caroline at the opera and learns about the fate of the Gunds.
The City of Your Final Destination was adapted from Peter Cameron's 2002 novel. Ivory has crafted masterpieces such as The Remains of the Day and A Room With a View with co-producer Ismail Merchant, who died in 2005.
If you like The City of Your Final Destination, you might enjoy: Biutiful; Somewhere; Summer Hours.
The City of Your Final Destination 2007 / PG-13 / 1 hr, 58 min
Cast Overview: Omar Metwally, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Hiroyuki Sanada, Norma Aleandro, Alexandra Maria Lara
Director: James Ivory
Genres: Drama, Drama Based on the Book
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