Apr 21, 2012
Posted by admin in Movies | 3 Comments
Sleeping Dictionary
List Value: $ 2.99
Price tag: $ two.99
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A beautiful direct to DVD period movie with Jessica Alba,
“The Sleeping Dictionary” was a direct to video film, which is rather surprisingly given both its cast and its look, as borne out by the film winning four DVD Exclusive Awards in 2003 for Best Actress Jessica Alba, Best Cinematography by Martin Fuhrer, Best Supporting Actor Bob Hoskins, and Best Supporting Actress Brenda Blethyn. This really is too good of a film to be a DVD Premier Movie, but hopefully word will get around, even if it is to check out Jessica Alba wearing colorful tribal outfits.
The setting is Sarawak, Malaysia in 1937, when young John Truscott (Hugh Dancy), fresh out of university (where he tended to read books), has come to serve his Majesty’s government as an official of the Empire. The regional governor is Henry Bullard (Hoskins), who oversees the Iban, a tribe of friendly headhunters. John, like his father, has a dream of educating the Iban children, but that requires him to learn the local language and customs. The governor arranges for John to have a “sleeping dictionary,” a local girl who will both teach the young Englishmen to speak the language and tutor him in the ways of love.
The girl selected for John is Selima (Alba), who is half Iban and have British. John initially resists the second part of his education, but in the end falls in love with this beautiful and sensual woman, which violates the taboos of both cultures. Meanwhile, the governor wants his daughter, Cecil (Emily Mortimer) to marry John, and the situation conspires to give our young hero no choice but to stick to the elitist traditions of his own people. Cecil and her mother (Blethyn) know about the sleeping dictionaries, but it turns out that neither they nor John know everything about Selima and the solution to John’s problems that is arranged at the end of the film’s first act becomes unraveled in the second.
This is a beautiful film from writer-director Guy Jenkin, full of stunning visuals of the lush jungle of Sarawak and the native peoples. Simon Boswell’s musical score perfectly compliments the visual splendor. The only real weakness on that side of the camera is the editing, where key moments are shoved aside to move on to the next scene too quickly a couple of times. But the strength of “The Sleeping Dictionary” is in front of the camera, not only in terms of the gorgeous images but the solid performances from the entire cast. Even those who are disappointed that there is a body double for Alba in the nude scenes or that her accent is problematic at times are not going to be disappointed they checked out this 2002 film.
Unfortunately New Line Cinema skimped on the extras for this DVD. All we get is are trailers, mostly for other films, and no insights into whether the sleeping dictionary is a real tradition or part of Jenkins’ imagination. One of the joys of a well made period piece is a look at the fun the cast and crew had with getting it right on screen.
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|A Period Piece Set In 1939 Malaysia–Just A Typical Jessica Alba Romp,
I’m going to preface this review by saying that I think “The Sleeping Dictionary” might have made an excellent movie. But, unfortunately, as it stands–it is more of an interesting failure. Set in 1939 Malaysia, the film’s locale does offer a colorful and lush backdrop to the story. Hugh Dancy stars as a British official who is sent into the jungle to “civilize” the natives. His actual job functions, though, are somewhat sketchy and superfluous. Any time the film spends looking at his actual “work” is only done to provide broad culture clash comedy. He meets a Malaysian girl (Jessica Alba) who is to serve as his sleeping dictionary, a term used to describe someone who will teach him the local language and warm his bed. Of course, the two actually fall in love which brings about a whole new series of complications.
Now if this is supposed to be 1939 Malaysia, it is absolutely the most modernized and Westernized version possible. I couldn’t take this picture seriously for a moment. Getting past that, though, the first half of the movie wants to be a frothy comedy while the second half shifts focus into a romantic tragedy. This jarring tonal switch is not wholly effective. By playing the first part so light, the film doesn’t get us to invest in its story or characters. When things turn more serious, then, it might hold your interest but you are never emotionally involved.
I actually like the fact that Jessica Alba wanted to try a film of a more serious nature, but sadly she falls short. Half the picture, she slinks around like a playful kitten uttering lines more fitting to a modern romantic comedy than a period piece. It’s so out of place as to be disconcerting, but most of the blame really falls on the script’s shortcomings. For those of you purely interested in Alba as a physical specimen–there is a fair amount of sex. She does, however, contort around unbelievably so as not to show any actual skin (except for a couple of obvious body double moments). As for her believability as a Malaysian–I’ll be kind and succinct and say it just doesn’t work.
Hugh Dancy is far more successful as the idealistic official and Bob Hoskins and Brenda Blethyn are reliable, as always. For those looking for a really spirited romantic, exotic epic–I’d suggest Michael Mann’s sublime “Last of the Mohicans.” I just didn’t connect with this film in the way necessary to make it really memorable. It’s not a disaster, it is just unrealized potential. For me, I’m sad to say it only merits about 2 1/2 stars which I’ll round up because it’s pretty to look at. KGHarris, 11/06.
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|Lush scenery and story make up for acting performances,
Despite a sub-par performance by Jessica Alba, I still enjoyed this movie. In fact, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The scenery was beautiful, and the story was intriguing to me of an English colonial attempting to learn the language and culture of a people. Through his education, he finds himself more comfortable with the natives than with his fellow Englishmen.
Hugh Dancy and Bob Hoskins turn in good performances. In many ways, they keep the movie afloat. Jessica just seemed a bit out of place. I’ve seen her act. I know she can do a good job. She simply didn’t seem to have a solid handle on her character. Her accent was about as credible as Kevin Costner’s in Robin Hood. But, I was able to look past this and enjoy this film.
Also, anyone who rents this film with the hopes of “seeing” Jessica topless is in for a disappointment. It is a body-double, confirmed by Jessica Alba herself. Any time you don’t see the actor/actress’s face, 9 times out of 10, it is a body double. And anyone who knows anything about making movies aside from watching them knows that just because the cut to the face of the actor/actress, is not an indicator that it is the actor/actress doing the nude scene. Anytime the movie “cuts” is an indication of a new shot, therefore, not filmed in a single, unending sequence.
So, if you are interested in a good story and some great scenery, than this film should work for you. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of Jessica, then you best move on.
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