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Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson, Peter Sarsgaard ... see more see more... , Deborah Harry , Charlie Rose , Antonio Cupo , Michelle Harrison , Emily Holmes , Chelah Horsdal , Marci T. House , Alessandro Juliani , Tiffany Lyndall-Knight , Andre Lamal , Shaker Paleja , Kris Pope , Julian Richings , Tania Saulnier , Michael Teigen , Laura Mennell

Adapted from author Philip Roth's novel The Dying Animal, director Isabel Coixet's elegant tale of obsession explores the relationship between a highly respected professor (Ben Kingsley) and an imposs... read more read more...ibly gorgeous grad student (Penélope Cruz). As their relationship deepens, the professor finds his ego challenged by the girl's enchanting beauty. Dennis Hopper and Patricia Clarkson co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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60% liked it

71,644 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

114 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Isabel Coixet

Release Date: February 10, 2008

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DVD Release Date: March 17, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (2,003)

  • Saxia
    November 18, 2010
    Saxia
    I liked it despite it's relatively low rating. It portrays the raw and sharp edges of lust and love. Kingsley is charming and Penelope is as beautiful as ever!

    ... read morecontent7.flixster.com/photo/11/57/07/11570709_gal.jpg" border="0"/>
  • neverteaseaweasel
    October 29, 2010
    neverteaseaweasel
    I had initially rated Elegy much higher than this, but have changed that now with the review. I watched the film a couple weeks ago - and enjoyed it - but the thing is that absolutely nothing stuck around; there is absolutely nothing particularly remarkable about the film. Penelo... read morepe Cruz is charming, feisty, and vivacious, but what else is new? The only other thing I remember at all, is that Ben Kingsley's character is terrible. I mean, he is convincing enough, but just completely dislikable. I'm not really that fond of Philip Roth's work in general. He's a bit of an old perv and that really shines through in his male characters - especially those professors who sleep with all their students, while cheating on their mistress. It's all overtly sexual, but not in a shocking way and not in an erotic way either. It's just kinky. The only problem with Miss. Cruz according to Mr. Kingsley is that she doesn't just love him for his stick. God forbid that she actually likes him as a person! And those are the three things to note about Elegy. So, I guess the film is watchable, but it is extremely flawed. Really there are more flaws than anything to pick apart to praise. There just isn't anything left.
  • bbcfloridabound
    August 24, 2010
    bbcfloridabound
    This movie suxs, during first 30 min was going to give it 1 star, but as it continued and it kept hitting closer to home. Nothing short of 4 stars.
  • TheMachinist
    July 28, 2010
    TheMachinist
    "We see the beautiful shell. We're blocked by the beauty barrier. Yeah, we're so dazzled by the outside that we never make it inside."

    Isabel Coixet directed 'My Life Without Me' back in 2003. I enjoyed the film very much and spent a lot of time getting a DVD copy for myself. I ... read moreremembered Coixet's name and waited to see if she could make a film as good as 'My Life Without Me'. 'Elegy' has its good moments, coming close but no cigar. What?

    Ben Kingsley plays a cultural critic, David Kepesh, that has his own classes at the University. He understands superficial beauty and when getting his eyes on Penelope Cruz's character, his life will change. A woman that is worth the "Perfect 10" mention, is beautiful inside and outside. But can Kepesh understand the beauty in front of him or is she just a "trophy"?

    To be honest, I had difficulties to keep my eyes wide awake at the beginning. There's a lot of dialogue, which is by no means a bad thing, but they just don't get anywhere with it? I don't know if it's highly intellectual to keep on asking "How many have you been with?", "How'd you do it?" etc. And another thing that bothered me a bit was that the two characters had like zero passion between them. How are you supposed to believe that this love they have would be any more special than others?

    What I liked about 'Elegy' was the two lead actors work. Ben Kingsley did a great job as the emotionally handicapped older man. The further the movie goes, the further is his character developing. Penelope Cruz is truly one of the most beautiful women on the face of the Earth. I've enjoyed seeing her perform on the screen and I like her versatility.

    'Elegy' was in the end somewhat of a disappointment. I enjoy serious drama but it doesn't have to be boring. The chemistry between the leads is in no way passionate, so it was hard to "get in to the mood". The actors on the other hand, do a very good job. Patricia Clarkson as Kingsley's fuckbuddy is also very good, in fact maybe the strongest performer in the whole movie.

    If you're still hesitating about watching 'Elegy', here is a strong reason why you should watch it: Penelope Cruz's breasts. Nuff said. Why you shouldn't see it? If you dislike dialogue based drama and find it highly impossible to get through the first 30 minutes without snoozing to Lalaland, don't bother.
  • Redlats
    July 24, 2010
    Redlats
    There is more to this movie than you see on the surface. It is not a typical May-December romance. Ben Kingsley's character seeks out younger women as conquests, but doesn't quite know what to do with Penelope Cruz's character when there actually is true love between them.
  • lewiskendell
    April 18, 2010
    lewiskendell
    Elegy tries to be one of those profoud, statement movies, that makes you look at life differently after you've seen it. It may even succeed in this aim for some of it's viewers. I wouldn't know. I'm too uninterested in these kinds of movies to give them much of a chance. Elegy is... read moren't bad by any means, but I couldn't have enjoyed a movie very much if I kept checking to see how long it would be before it was over. It just wasn't for me.
  • romy861
    April 11, 2010
    romy861
    Very moving film, even if I did spend most of it wanting to throttle the stupid main character. Certainly not the most likeable character in a film - older man who should know better, chasing younger girl and being possessive about her while at the same time seeing someone else ... read morehimself, and not being honest with either woman. It really was true to life with the arrogance of the particular type of man who has had his pick of many women over the years and thinks nothing has changed. On the plus side, he does redeem himself by the end, but it's possibly too little too late. I also....SPOILER... just love how he berates Patricia Clarkson's character for never having had a child, when he did himself, and stuffed up - yeah, like having a child makes you an adult. I don't think so!
    I would have to say this movie really works and all of the cast in it do very well and are convincing. Whether or not you would enjoy this probably does relate in some way to your age. I think someone over 30 may appreciate it more than say a teenager, just because it does deal with things a younger person may not have felt or experienced yet, and they may find it somewhat slow.
  • guaybanex
    February 6, 2010
    guaybanex
    Poetic paint drying salvaged by luminous Cruz.
  • paulsandberg
    December 10, 2009
    paulsandberg
    An intelligent script performed stunningly by not only Kinglsly but Cruz and, in a minor role, the always reliable Patricia Clark. Dennis Hopper also does a nice turn as a fellow academian.

    The central theme is a tome to ageing, and how a man who still believes himself vibran... read moret has to confront the perceptions and preconceived notions of others. He worries, and ultimately dooms the only true love he has found by not being able to overcome that hurdle; which is shocking considering his intelligence and otherwise worldly view.

    Cruz is taken by this man 30 years her elder, and it's not due to some puppy love or nievete - some seem to forget that she's not just a college student - she worked as a para-legal before she decided to enter college. No, she sees something in him and falls in love with him, not for what he represents, but for the man himself. I think that in many cases she knows him better than he knows himself. That he ultimately lets her down by overthinking things is the nexus where the back third of the film has its few missteps, but the New Year's eve ending, with her coming back into his life after two years, while seeming contrived and a bit cliche, allows Kingsley to attone for his mistake and find redemption for his soul in the final line "I'm here".
  • bookmunki
    July 9, 2009
    bookmunki
    i really enjoy phillip roth's books with david ganesh. however, i didn't care for this movie. dennis hopper as a confidante is disturbing. i don't like watching old people have sex.

View All Elegy Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards
November 10, 2008
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

With his fierce, impeccable craft Kingsley shows us around David's tortured, preening, desperate psyche. Full Review

Leslie Felperin
October 18, 2008
Leslie Felperin, Variety

Sparse, low-budget drama, helmed by Spaniard Isabel Coixet, intelligently translates Roth's meditation on lust and mortality without soft-pedaling its narrator's brutally honest, unabashedly sexist vi... Full Review

Ray Bennett
October 18, 2008
Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter

Penelope Cruz is outstanding in an otherwise lame male fantasy.

Bill Goodykoontz
September 4, 2008
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Elegy is a rare treat: a serious film that, thanks to Kingsley and the rest, doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
August 29, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

A remarkable example of the actor at his best -- conveying wounded hurt or burning hunger with a glance. Full Review

Andrea Gronvall
August 22, 2008
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

Elegy gives Ben Kingsley one of the best roles of his career. Full Review

Tom Maurstad
August 22, 2008
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

It's beautifully photographed and slowly paced, all the better to emphasize the film's emphasis on and exploration of deep feelings. Full Review

Tom Long
August 22, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

The best dramatic film of the year so far. Full Review

Roger Moore
August 22, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Occasionally touching, always interesting. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 22, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The difference this time is the overall quality of the performances. Kingsley and Cruz make the most credible lovers [director Isabel] Coixet has ever paired. Full Review

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    • David Kepesh: Times passes when you're not looking.
    • David Kepesh: When you make love to a woman you get revenge for all the things that defeated you in life.
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