Amélie
Composite Score: 86.5
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Serge Merlin, Jamel Debbouze, Clotilde Molet, Claire Maurier, Isabelle Nanty, Dominique Pinon, Artus de Penguern, Yolande Moreau, Urbain Cancelier, and Maurice Bénichou
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Writers: Guillaume Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content
Box Office: $175.05 million worldwide
My take on Watching This Film:
Amélie is Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film about the titular French waitress whose sheltered upbringing produced a vivid imagination and penchant for mischief, which lead her to meddle in the lives of those around her with the goal of bringing them happiness, and perhaps discovering some for herself in the process. The film stars Audrey Tautou in the titular role of the quirky Amélie Poulain, joined by the ensemble of characters whose lives she seeks to insert joy into (besides the overbearing grocer Collignon, who becomes the target of one of Amélie’s more vengeful ventures as she seeks to save his quiet assistant Lucien from his constant berating). The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay, losing out to No Man’s Land and Gosford Park, respectively. It has also been celebrated for its whimsy, unique style, and Tautou’s performance.
Amélie is, first and foremost, a feel-good film about the potential for human happiness in all sorts of situations, encouraging us to look beyond ourselves for the ways we can help others be happy. In this pursuit, the film succeeds wonderfully, painting the life of Amélie as she pursues happiness for her fellow man as one of predominantly satisfaction, where even obstacles can’t forever stand in your way so long as you’ve got other people in your corner. This nearly unbridled optimism might be a bit much for some viewers, and the quirkiness of the characters, storytelling, and cinematography might feel a bit too odd for everyone to enjoy. It’s definitely an acquired taste, akin in many ways to a contemporary Wes Anderson film, complete with symmetry, rich color palettes, and the French. At the same time, those who enjoy his films will find nothing to gripe about here, and indeed even those who might not be enamored of Anderson’s style might find something to love here. Fans of interconnected ensemble films will be pleased to see the interconnected layers of Amélie’s life coming together. Those who love a good meet-cute will find themselves rewarded with what might be cinema’s longest meet-cute ever. Francophiles can have their love of France rewarded with an aggressively French portrayal of the city of Paris and its denizens at the turn of this century. Finally, those looking for memorable leading performances will find here one of the most iconic leading ladies ever in Tautou’s portrayal of Amélie; from her looks to her mannerisms, she remains one of the most unique, recognizable, and compelling leads in a film from the 21st century.
The quirk and whimsy of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film might not endear it to every viewer, but Amélie’s overwhelming brand of positivity and tongue-in-cheek humor work well enough for most audiences to earn it a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time. You can currently stream this film on Max if you’d like to give it a go in the coming days.
