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July 13, 2012

At the Movies: 'Waltz' explores the fleeting nature of love

By CHRISTY LEMIRE
AP Movie Critic

Here's how masterfully Sarah Polley manipulates tone in “Take This Waltz,” just her second film as writer and director: She takes the Buggles' peppy ‘80s anthem “Video Killed the Radio Star,” best known as the song that launched MTV, and finds unexpected poignancy in it. She actually uses it a couple of times in the film, in very different ways, and in both instances the mood she establishes is wistful and assured.

TAKE THIS WALTZ

Director: Sarah Polley

Cast: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby

Rating: R

Running time: 116 minutes

Following Polley's 2006 debut “Away From Her,” which features the loveliest performance of Julie Christie's career, “Take This Waltz” further establishes the young Canadian as an exciting filmmaker to watch, one with a maturity beyond her years. She takes risks, isn't afraid to explore raw emotions and is willing to let her characters make mistakes that could make them unlikable. At the same time, Polley (who's been an actress herself) never judges these people she's created. Instead, she depicts the giddy, fleeting and illusory nature of new love, and lets us get caught up in it, too.


 
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