Look at Me (2004)

Only the French dare to make movies about such unlikeable people, and only the French can make you like them anyway. Look at Me is a cornucopia of prickly personalities, starting with Lolita (Marilou Berry), an aspiring singer who hates everyone who pays attention to her because of her famous father and assumes that no one would pay attention to her for any other reason. It's not surprising, because her father Etienne (Jean-Pierre Bacri, The Housekeeper), an acclaimed writer, surrounds himself with people who want something from him--including a less famous writer (Laurent Grevill, I Can't Sleep) who finds success thanks to Etienne, and whose wife (writer/director Agnes Jaoui, The Taste of Others) happens to be Lolita's music teacher. Look at Me captures the little ways that fame warps everything around it; Etienne gets away with treating everyone terribly because of his literary stature, to which desire and resentment fasten like barnacles. But it's not just a satire--gradually, through an accumulation of brief glimpses and offhand remarks, these abrasive characters become increasingly vivid and genuine. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Smart movie about unlikable people

I sincerely hope that no one has to have a father like the one portrayed in this movie. This guy is so bad that he should be locked up somewhere where another person can at least try to reciprocate all the nastiness he showers everyone around him with. This is a movie that depicts complex relationships between family members, friends, teachers. It helps us understand that wanting success or acceptance is not bad, for as long as it is not hurting other people around us. It is so satisfying in this movie to see that some characters do grow up as time goes by and at the end they can make choices that are morally righteous. There are some really funny moments in this movie and the fact that it is French makes it all the more endearing. September 19, 2007

Smart, Lovely

I'm looking to find a better title for this review of this very fine film.
Actually I think that the translators could have found a better English title for the film. "Look at Me" seems like a weak title for such a strong film.

The main character, the one who so desperately wants her father to look at her, is Lolita. Obviously named by her mother who left long ago for a yoga camp in the Antilles, Lolita has to bear the irony of being named after a sexy blond nymphet. This Lolita is far from the appearance of her namesake; she is large, plain-faced, and steeped in self loathing. On the flip side of her despair, though, is her ambition to be a Someone in the arts. First she tried acting, failing that she goes into music. Her father. Etienne Cassard, is a famous novelist and can afford to finance her whims but he obviously feels that she is being unrealistic.

Etienne has all of the self-love that Lolita lacks. Or perhaps he lacks it, too, but has managed to become successful, which provides him with adulation, if not the real thing and a very young, pretty new wife, (who could well be named Lolita.) The one character who remains a mystery to me, is his male companion, a sort of assitant,who puts up with Etienne's insults and asks for more. He does say that he used to be a "terrorist" and that Etienne saved him from all that, and he credits him with saving his life. So maybe Etienne is not all bad, after all. Maybe he was nicer before his success? He also offers Lolita's sort-of boyfriend,
Sebastien, a job without being asked.

It is part of the intelligence and appeal of the film that the characters are not one-sided. Although we are supposed to side with Lolita, who pathetically tries over and over to win her father's attention, she is not without blame, either. She throws her friend, Sebastian over when she thinks she has a chance with the cuter, blonder, Matthieu. Sebastian is the name this fellow uses, to cover an Arabic name. Why he falls for Lolita at all, when she treats him so poorly, is a mystery to me. Is he impressed by her social milieu? It doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe he really likes rude, complaining, whining, fat girls.

However...in spite of these inconsistencies, I really liked this film. The heart and soul of it is Agnes Jaoui, the director and one of the stars. She plays Sylvia, who is the moral compass who saves the film from being just another "interesting" display of life among the neurotic, rich and famous. Perhaps it's significant that she is one of the few "principles" who practices an art at the grass roots level. She is a voice coach and doesn't seem to have ambitions to become a diva, herself. She comforts and coaches, not only a group of amateur singers, but her husband,Pierre, another writer, who has his own case of self-loathing.

Pierre's luck changes when he meets Cassard, co-incidentally through Sylvia, who happens to be Lolita's voice coach. Sylvia, is not above a little corruption herself, as she changes her plans to drop coaching Sylvia's amateur group when she discovers she is Cassard's daughter.

Pierre is accepted into Cassard's inner circle, and drops his old collaborator and apparently a lot of his old standards. He even decides he likes rabbit, when Cassard serves it, although he has always hated it. His book suddenly takes off and he gets his piece of the pie of fame and fortune. One wonders how long he will remain high on the cycle of success and when will he decline as Cassard is doing. When will Cassard become jealous of Pierre's fame and turn his nastiness on him?

If all of this sounds very unpleasant, and it is, somehow the director has managed to imbue this film with warmth and beauty. The music, for one thing, is transcendent. Lolita rises out of her heavy slump when she performs, even if she never quite impresses her father. The old church in which the concert is performed is a lovely setting for the ending. It's as if the characters all manage to rise above their pettiness for a little and shift gears. Sylvia confronts Sebastian on his heartlessness and he comes around a little and has what probably is, for him, a pretty nice talk with Lolita. Lolita realized that Sebastian has cared for her for herself and is not just using her to meet her father. Best of all, Sylvia, in a very nice final move, leaves her spineless husband and, on the way out, turns up Lolita's tape loud and clear.

I recently saw another French film, Fat Girl, directed by another female director on the same theme. On a scale of one to ten, I give Fat Girl, a one and Look at Me a ten! June 25, 2007

Triple Triumph

The breath of fresh air - refined, funny, ironic, in the best traditions of the Chekhov's plays, this movie is a triple triumph for its writer/director/star Agnes Jaoui. "Look at me" is the story of 20 years old Lolita (rarely a name mismatches a girl so much. Lolita is a pudgy young woman with a very low self-esteem even though she's got a beautiful voice and passion for singing) who desperately craves her father's attention. Ironically, her father, one of the most famous writers in France, known for his deep, observant and subtle novels is an arrogant, self-centered, and self-involved man who hardly acknowledges Lolita - just to criticize her. He never finds time to listen to the tape Lolita made especially for him in hope to get his interest and approval. The beauty of the script and the movie is that Agnes Jaoui does not use only black or white colors to paint her characters. They turn with their different facets to the viewers and the film itself is a precious gem. The acting is superb by everyone. As a bonus treat, we will hear some of the most beautiful music every written, including the pieces by Monteverdi and Handel.

9/10

March 12, 2007

engrossing family drama

"Look at Me" is a talky but generally interesting French drama about a teenage girl's attempt to earn the love and recognition of her strangely distant father. Lolita is an overweight, aspiring singer who has lived in the shadow of her parent, a self-absorbed but successful novelist, all her life. Even though Etienne seems to care for his very young second wife and five-year-old daughter, he appears to have little interest in Lolita. Indeed, when he isn't completely ignoring her, in public or in private, he is wounding her with deprecating comments about her talent and weight. In the film's other major plot strand, Lolita's voice coach, Sylvia, is also married to an author, Pierre, who has been having trouble getting published of late, until she uses Lolita to secure him an introduction to the young protégé's father.

For the most part, "Look at Me" doesn't go for big flashy dramatic scenes but rather tells its story in a low-keyed way by having its characters interacting in traditionally continental social settings like restaurants, taxicabs and vacation homes in the country. Virtually all the characters suffer from some form of unhappiness or depression caused by their inability to create the lives they want. Lolita spends most of her time brooding over the fact that she can't get her father to acknowledge her existence, let alone support her in her endeavors. One of Lolita's biggest complaints is that people - and that includes boys - tend to befriend her solely as a means of "getting to" her famous father. Even her music teacher uses her for that purpose (though this is one time when Lolita seems unaware of it). So paranoid has Lolita become on this score that she even keeps at arm's length a young man who is obviously genuinely interested in having a relationship with her. The two authors, to varying degrees, have feelings of inadequacy and frustration brought on by either self-doubt about their talent or the fear that have begun to "dry up" as a writer.

For the most part, this is a compelling tale about people who feed off one another and compromise their values to get what they want. Etienne is, in many ways, the most interesting character because he seems genuinely unaware of the callous way he treats others, but he is also the most frustrating in that some of his most boorish actions in regards to his daughter don't always ring totally true. For instance, it is highly unlikely that even he would get up and leave in the middle of his daughter's concert performance to take a stroll outside, then completely ignore her at a party he throws for her afterwards. Too often, we feel as if he is being mean and thoughtless more as a plot device than as a genuine reflection of his character. The film's other intriguing secondary character is Sylvia, the music teacher, who really seems to be the voice of conscience in the story.

Despite that flaw, "Look at Me" succeeds more often than not at weaving a complex tapestry out of a variety of interesting and colorful characters. To that end, the film features fine ensemble work by Marilou Berry, Jean-Pierre Bacri and Agnes Jaoui, who also co-wrote and directed the movie. September 13, 2006

"The Cyanide Is In The Bathroom"

This review refers to "Comme Une Image (Look At Me)", DVD(Sony Pictures Classics)...

"The Cyanide is in the bathroom" a man tells a sulking house guest at his home in the country. A sarcastic but most believable statement. The home is filled with an array of taxing, maudlin, whinny characters.Characters of privilege who cannot see past their own wants and needs.

Lolita tries desperately to gain her father's attention. Just a little nod of encouragement, a show of approval for her singing career, would make her year. But Dad, a famous, wealthy author, can only acknowledge her short comings. He's as shallow as they come. Married to a beautiful young woman, just a little older then Lolita, with another daughter, only 5 years old and already playing the game well. He can not even call the little one by name. "Turn the volume down on 'the kid'..." he screams at his wife as the little girl throws a tantrum for some ice cream.

Everyone that Lolita gets close to, it seems, is after her for a chance to get close to her famous father. A budding Author and his wife, have become part of the circle of friends. The wife, Lolita's singing teacher, who was annoyed by Lolita's plea's for extra help with her voice, until the teacher finds out who her father is. There isn't anyone she knows(or is there?), that does not use her. And is she any different from them? Contrary to the impression her name might give, Lolita, is a bit plain, more then a little overweight, sullen and loves to wallow in self-pity. Can this family be helped???

The film has a wicked sense of humor. The actors portray this shallow group wonderfully. The characters are most believable and will get to you. At times you just want to shake them and say"What's Wrong With You? LOOK AT HER!" It seemed a little slow at some points, but getting to the wonderful finale was well worth the view. Marvelous job of casting, and good work by Director Agnes Jaoui in capturing just the right tone of the story. 3 1/2 stars - I would recommend this to fans of French film as a rental, as although a good view, it may not stand up to repeated viewings. I would however give 5 stars for the soundtrack. Beautiful classical selections, and wonderful voices.

The DVD is very nice. Audio is French,Dol Dig 5.1, with English or Spanish subtitles available. A sharp, clear widescreen presentation with rich colors.

For something out of the ordinary, a film with a sense of humor, a marvelous cast(see detail page info).
and great music, have a look at "Look At Me"
Enjoy with some wine and cheese.
Merci....Laurie
August 17, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...