Review – Youth
I saw Youth almost two months ago at the Chicago International Film Festival. Due to reviewing other movies and attempting to have a social life, I was unable to review it immediately after I saw it. Youth is a movie that I have constantly thought about since seeing it. It is a powerful, funny, tragic, sweet look at aging, friendship, family, and life. It also features some Hollywood legends doing some of the best work of their careers.
Retired composer Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine) is on holiday with his daughter Lena (Rachel Weisz) and his film director best friend Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel) at a lavish hotel in the Alps. While there, Mick is frantically trying to finish his final screenplay, which he believes will be his last great film, and Fred is asked to come out of retirement and compose a concert for Queen Elizabeth II. Fred denies the offer, but over the course of the holiday, contemplates the decision, while also handling life as it comes at him.
Director Paulo Sorrentino has done some great work in Youth. The film is gorgeously shot, using bright colors and eye-popping visuals to make the simplest scenes look stunning. The score by David Lang is beautiful and moving. There is also a very human and personal story being told that parallels with the tone and story of the movie. We watch these two old men on holiday having a blast. They see cool shows, have great meals, and hang out with each other. As the audience, it is a joy to watch Fred and Mick at this hotel. There conversations are hilarious, from them talking about regretfully not sleeping with a girl they knew when they were in there twenties or about how many drops they had going to the bathroom. But then, the movie takes a few melancholic turns, as situations in Fred and Mick’s life begin to change, which makes the movie a lot more dramatic. The last third of the movie is truly heart shattering, as certain realizations in the two men’s lives are exposed.
The performances by Caine and Keitel are two of the best of their careers. Caine plays the tortured composer brilliantly. It isn’t that he can’t compose anymore, he doesn’t want to for reasons that would ruin the movie if I told you. It is subtle, yet incredible work and is one of the best performances of the year. Keitel hasn’t been this good in decades. He is perfect as the sweet, funny, ambitious Mick who gets his world shattered by a former actress he worked with back in the day. Caine and Keitel’s chemistry is electric. You really feel like they’ve been friends all their lives. Rachel Weisz does great work as Fred’s daughter who is going through a mid-life crises of sorts after her fiance dumps her for a younger girl. And Jane Fonda is explosive as the former actress who used to work with Mick. She has one scene, but it is a show-stopper.
Youth is a great movie about life, family, and friendship. It makes you think about the past, the present, and the future, and about what really matters in life. It will make you laugh, then bring tears to your eyes. It brings out some of the year’s best performances from some Hollywood greats. This is a sweet, funny, moving, tragic film and one of 2015’s beautiful gems.
MY RATING – 3.5/4
Are you going to see Youth? What are your favorite Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel roles? Comment below, or hit me up on Twitter @kevflix or on Facebook at Kevflix.