The Kiss

Finally, a film with content and true character development. The Kiss, which I viewed at the San Diego Film Festival, is one of the most refreshing films I've seen for a long time. Is it setting the scene for a turnaround in the American film style? I hope so. The storyline flows elegantly throughout the scenes from beginning to end. A realistically rendered emotional scene with Terrence Stamp and Francoise Surel toward the end only makes you wish that the film would not end so soon. A genuine change from the vapid, in-your-face, so-called dramas we have been subjected to over the last few years. This film brings the whole concept of movie watching up a notch. Highly recommend it.

With no screaming visual effects, no killing and no mayhem, this may not be the film for the romantically challenged. What is there is a story with a heart, characters motivated by feelings and passion. A timeless desire for togetherness is molded into two stories that are really one. Artistically crafted with a wonderful score, this is a picture for those who seek the best in people and it reminds us of what can be. I highly recommend this to those of us who still can connect with their heart.

I liked this movie. I really did. I rented it on a whim, because of the presence of Eliza Dushku, Terrence Stamp and yes, I admit it, even Billy Zane. This is what the producers wanted me to do-- these are the actors featured most prominently on the DVD cover art. I was suckered, which is unfortunate, but I'm not mad I watched it.

The writing, direction, production value, and make-up are nothing I can complain about--- . This is a cute idea for a story and the music is pleasant and the costuming is really great, subtly but instantly telling you someone is an ex-professor, or party animal, or all business. The actors mentioned above really came to play, making the most of dialogue that varied from mediocre to cheesy, though the cheesy can be passed off as being quoted from a manuscript that is the center of the films plot.

My lone complaint, though this is a major one, is the actress playing the lead, Cara. She's awful. Atrocious. Community Theater bad. She has one facial expression-- this goofy, awkward smile-- which goes away when she says her lines, then returns instantly. Every actor around her exudes charisma and demands your attention just by being there, but Francoise Surel (the DVD credits say she's a former make-up artist) is a blank slate, her several costume changes are more interesting than she is.

All I can think is, the director cast his girlfriend, which was unfortunate because the rest of the movie works so well around her. Ultimately it doesn't matter, because even with a skilled, experienced or interesting actress in the lead, the film still wouldn't be worthy of a theatrical release, but it was still sweet and charming nonetheless. Perhaps a subplot would have helped-- though it doesn't feel like it, the film only runs 80 minutes.

I can see the producers sitting in their office... "Wow, Terrence Stamp said yes? We're LUCKY to get Terrence Stamp. Eliza Dushku said yes? Wow, she's really popular, we're LUCKY to get Eliza Dushku. Ileana Douglas said yes? Wow, she's an indie-QUEEN, we're LUCKY to get Ileana Douglas. Now, we need to cast the romantic lead, to really bring in an audience... hmm.... do you think Francoise Surel is available?"

Yeah, she's totally some dudes girlfriend. She might be nice in real life, but on film she's just a 6-foot skinny-as-a-rail liability (with D-cups, which seems unlikely). Still, this charming, slightly predictable movie overcomes her... by a hair. It's sweet, romantic and better than whatever is on Lifetime this week.... worth a look.

Reading the disclaimer from the director of this film, Gorman Bechard, makes a lot of sense, as it explains a lot of questions one asked about it while watching it. "The Kiss" must have shown a lot of potential in order for this project to have gone ahead, but it appears there was a lot of cutting, making the film incomprehensible, at times.

The best thing in the film are Terence Stamp and Eliza Dushku, who make the best out of their characters. In flashbacks we see Billy Zane and Francoise Surel as the protagonists of the novel without an ending, and in real life. Alas, these two actors don't live up to what Mr. Bechard probably had in mind.

Since the director was not consulted in the cuts, one can't hold him accountable for what comes out in the screen, yet, one sees the possibilities of what could have been in small doses.

An eager young editor joins the staff of a major publishing house and discovers an old, dusty manuscript with the potential of becoming a best-selling romantic novel. But the manuscript is missing the final pages, and the editor sets off in quest of finding the mysterious author and the story's conclusion.

There was unlimited potential for developing both a suspenseful and passionate story about the lost pages and the missing author. And while "The Kiss" was competently directed by Gorman Bechard, the good premise was not fulfilled, due to the nearly total absence of passion among the main characters.

While Françoise Surel was believable as the mousy editor, she was ineffective in the all-important romantic action. Surel appears in both the main story as the editor and in flashback scenes that recreate the fictional story of the mysterious and reclusive author Philip Naudet (Terence Stamp) and his relationship with his beloved Claire.

At some point in the film, the sparks needed to fly and the chemistry needed to be forged. But throughout the film, there was nothing truly "at stake" for the characters.

The shortcomings of "The Kiss" may be seen when this film is compared to a similar romantic film entitled "The Notebook." In both films, there are two parallel plots set in the present and the past. But in "The Notebook," there was genuine passion; the stakes were high for all of the characters; and the film included a riveting performance by the leading performer (Rachel McAdams) which linked the two stories.

With "The Notebook," I empathized with the characters and their life-changing decisions, and I felt compelled to view the film a second time. With "The Kiss," the most profound detail was in the writer Naudet's suggestion to Cara to read Gustave Flaubert's famous novel "The Sentimental Education." In order to make a film with more psychological depth and emotional life, the producers of "The Kiss" needed to follow that same advice