As the narrative within 5 to 7 began to unfold, I found myself marveling at the various
aspects of filmmaking: the dialogue written by Victor Levin was snappy and
clever, which he was able to direct magnificently, utilizing the talent of his
actors in a way that made the casting seem inspired. Initially, the only thing
I did not love about Levin’s film was the plot. I have never been completely
sold on the idealized passion of cinematic adultery, and found myself cringing
as the two main characters made their way to the bedroom. It was also in the
bedroom that 5 to 7 eventually won me
over, choosing an old fashioned glamorous approach to the representation of
romance over the indulgence of raw carnal desire. I can’t quite understand how a
film which hardly shows the romantic leads in anything less than undergarments
was given an R-rating, because it is the intentionally mild sentimentality
which causes the film to stand apart from most modern romance.
Somehow this
simplicity of innocent romance is applied to the story of an affair between a
young aspiring writer and the glamorous wife of a French ambassador. Brian
(Anton Yelchin) manages to live in Manhattan
Levin is best
known for producing “Mad Men,” and perhaps that is where the inspiration for
his glamorous approach to romance comes from, especially in the portrayal of
Arielle. What doesn’t come across in his screenplay, despite the spectacularly
witty dialogue and committed performances, is any understanding of the
sophisticated Arielle’s attraction to the spoiled entitlement of an upper crust
twenty-something boy. Even though Yelchin gives a committed and fairly charming
performance, I was never entirely sold on the pairing between these two.
The biggest problem
with 5 to 7 can be forgiven if the
audience is willing to accept the romance without thinking about it too much
about the glaring issues with the protagonist. Aside from the over-used choice
of making Brian a struggling writer, this narrating lead is a bit confounding.
Though his parents played wonderfully by Glenn Close and Frank Langella appear
to be ‘salt of the earth’ types, Brian doesn’t seem to struggle for his dreams
as much as he appears to have countless hours to spend on an affair while he
waits for fortune to come his way. He is an unpublished author living in a
moderately small apartment in Manhattan, but always seems to dress just a bit
too stylish for his status and there is no urgency in his need for success.
Whether this was just Hollywood
The DVD release
includes a making-of featurette and a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
9/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
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