Depressed over a break-up with the man she loves, a young woman goes on a road trip, and gets involved in other people’s lives.

CRITIQUE

My Blueberry Nights is a rather small character drama, and its structure is really sort of flimsy; though Elizabeth (singer Norah Jones) and amiable diner owner Jeremy (Jude Law) are the nominal main characters here, they really aren’t given much that is dramatic to their stories.  Instead, the film is really about Elizabeth going on the road and getting involving in other people’s stories, and though these two stories are often interesting, it’s odd that the major dramatic action here really doesn’t involve two leads.

Still, there is something here that works anyway.  Director Wong Kar Wai (In The Mood For Love), who co-wrote with talented long-time novelist Lawrence Block, gives this an ambling, stylistic feel that serves it well, and while the dialogue is often required to carry the story, the conversations are generally crisp and involving.  The soundtrack is also solid, with Norah Jones songs sprinkled in throughout.

Mostly though, this succeeds as an actor’s showcase.  Though Norah Jones’ character really suffers from a lack of development, she does a good job providing a likable core to the story.  Jude Law is very appealing in a role that doesn’t require much more.  Given more to work with are the key characters in the individual stories, with Rachel Weisz and David Strathairn doing strong work as a separated couple trying to cope with their relationships, while Natalie Portman, as a lively poker player, brings some good life to the last third of the movie, in one of her best performances in a while.

The result isn’t perfect; it is slowly-paced and very much a mood piece, while a lot of it feels like a play; it might have also benefited from three tighter secondary storylines, rather than the two somewhat-sprawling ones we get here .  But there’s a romantic sweetness here that the filmmakers manage to pull off well, and ultimately it’s a nice little film.

THE VIDEO

My Blueberry Nights is presented in widescreen.  The visuals are grainy is spots, but overall the look largely works.

THE AUDIO

My Blueberry Nights is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital.  Dialogue, music and sound effects come through clear.  There are English and Spanish subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

Making My Blueberry Nights is a likable 16-minute featurette in which the actors and the director talk about the characters and the movie.

There’s a solid Q&A with director Wong Kar Wai, an 18-minute interview done in April 2008 at the Museum of the Moving Image.

There is a Still Gallery of location Scout Photos and Production/Publicity photos, as well as a Trailer for the film.

FINAL THOUGHT

Small but likable, especially for fans of any of the actors involved.