And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...

Check this out on Sundance; it's all about the eyes and the music. Irons and Kass, speak with their eyes and Lelouch gets it all. Kass's voice and eyes take "lounge singing" to a whole new and great place. The non-lineal mix of fantasy and reality worked for me, as did the interweaving of Kass's songs and the Moroccan scene. As an American I enjoyed the fact that the actors spoke their lines in whatever language worked: the Italians spoke Italian among themselves, French to Moroccans, the Moroccans Arabic and French, & of course, Jeremy's French was more than passable. Were that I were as comfortable in multiple languages--it says we can all be hospitable and get beyond what we were born with.

...and I don't know why. "And Now Ladies and Gentlemen" isn't so much the light drama it appears to be as it is a rich, ebullient, zesty feast of film fare for the viewer. Yes, there's a story in which Iron's plays an amnesiac con-man who encounters a beautiful jazz singer with a similar health problem. But, however interesting the story is, it's just the glue which binds together a colorful potpourri of film fare from jazz ballads which flow like honey to cute/clever con schemes to ocean voyages to exotic locations to variegation of cultures/languages to beautiful/handsome visages to...etc. Whether intended or not, this film is a wonderful celebration of life to be enjoyed, not analyzed. (B+)

Thank you, Claude Lelouch, for such a beautiful movie! I am still thinking about it days after seeing it. Musical, suspenseful, poignant, and ever romantic, it has something for everyone, including wonderful work by Jeremy Irons and Patricia Kaas, with a welcome Claudia Cardinale. If you're tired of chases, explosions, crash and burn stories with no story or emotion, check out this movie. It's refreshingly adult. Highly recommend for people who like to think and be entertained at the same time.

The smart and bold thief of jewelries Valentin Valentin (Jeremy Irons) decides to leave his mate and travel around the world for one hundred days in a sailing boat. In the coast of Morocco, he has an amnesia problem and comes onshore looking for a doctor. Meanwhile, the piano-bar singer Jane Lester (Patricia Kaas) is brokenhearted when her lover leaves her to stay with her beast friend and decides to accept a job in Morocco to forget the past. An incident in the hotel where they are lodged joins them and they fell attracted for each other.

"And Now…Ladies and Gentlemen…" is a delightful romance, with many attractions: the story is very charming; the cinematography is beautiful; the chemistry between the elegant Jeremy Irons and the lovely Patricia Kaas is stunning; and the voice of the gorgeous Patricia Kaas is awesome. This singer is completely unknown in Brazil, and I was surprised and touched hearing such beautiful interpretation of wonderful songs. Patricia Kaas herself alone makes this movie very worthwhile. It is difficult to assimilate Claudia Cardinale old, but she has a great performance in the role of an unfaithful countess. Claude Lelouch is amazing as usual, making a perfect combination of an attractive story with the magnificent interpretation of this wonderful Patricia Kaas. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Amantes & Infiéis" ("Lovers & Unfaithful")

Plenty of food for thought and honey for the music heart'n'soul. The story of this weary master thief and a disillusioned (with love)jazz singer meeting,finding common ground and falling 'for each other' is age old. However, their common ground is quite unusual and a bit of a stretch (but hey...it's a story). Where they meet and how the story plays out, is an unexpected and interesting twist. To my mind, the acting and Morrocan setting are great. Jeremy Irons is his usual cool and collected self and the lead actress suits the part beautifully...and can she sing!! The soundtrack, to my mind (and heart) definitely steals the show. - I love blues/jazz and I found this sound track hauntingly, thought provokingly absorbing.