Just when you thought “Southland Tales” could stand as the year’s most mystifying movie, along comes Francis Ford Coppola with his first new film in 10 years. “Youth Without Youth” is puzzling on two fronts: It’s hard to understand the story, and it’s also hard to understand how such an experienced filmmaker could make something this bad.
Coppola adapted the script from a story by Romanian philosopher and writer Mircea Eliade. At the center of the movie is an event: An elderly professor (Tim Roth) is struck by lightning while crossing a street in Bucharest, and during his recovery becomes unmistakably younger and healthier.
As World War II passes and the man lives on through the 1950s and ’60s, he becomes more obsessed with completing the great book he’s always worked on. But he also remains obsessed with the woman (Alexandra Maria Lara) he gave up in youth.
For a while this is interesting, because of the science fiction concept and Coppola’s typically lush approach. At times he seems to be channeling one of his Italian filmmaking heroes, Luchino Visconti, in dressing the film with grand furniture and clothes. Even the old-fashioned opening credits are gorgeous.
But as Coppola wades into metaphysical questions, and Roth’s character splits into two people, the movie collapses. Perhaps there are filmmakers who could handle this material, but Coppola is out of his depth.
It makes you wonder whether the director of “Apocalypse Now” hasn’t really been a very talented set dresser all along. When tethered to strong material like “The Godfather,” Coppola flourishes, but in the world of philosophy, he’s dull.
“Youth Without Youth” isn’t helped by the central presence of Tim Roth, an excellent actor whose dour presence is grating over the long haul. Roth is also overwhelmed by the handsome design of the movie, which hops around Europe with scenic dexterity.
It’s nice that Coppola decided to return from his layoff with something experimental, something that isn’t just another job of work for a Hollywood studio. You might imagine that, for the 68-year-old Coppola, this represents his own declaration of renewed youth. I hope he makes 10 movies in the next 10 years, and that none of them is like “Youth Without Youth.”
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