The Science Of Sleep – Review

Reviews


credit: www.impawards.com

Theatrical release: Sept. 22, 2006

Director:

Michel Gondry

Cast:

Gael García Bernal……….Stéphane Miroux
Charlotte Gainsbourg……….Stéphanie
Alain Chabat……….Guy
Miou-Miou……….Christine Miroux
Pierre Vaneck……….Monsieur Pouchet
Emma de Caunes……….Zoé
Aurélia Petit……….Martine
Sacha Bourdo……….Serge

It’s an established fact that Michel Gondry is an outstanding director who pushes the boundries of what we see on the screen even before one views The Science of Sleep. One need only look at Eternal Sunshine And The Spotless Mind, one of 2005’s best films, as well as his music video direction to see how beautiful cinema can look through his lens.

With Eternal Sunshine Gondry worked with Charlie Kaufman’s amazing script to give us a fantastic film about love that knows no bounds. This time around Gondry writes as well as directors, and a dilemma comes up. Can his writing ability keep up up with his already established directing ability?

It does, as The Science of Sleep is a remarkably well-written film. The dialog in this film is hilarious, and more often than not rings very true even when it’s off the wall.

Couple this with Gael García Bernal, an amazing actor whether he’s speaking Spanish, French, or English. He speaks all three in The Science of Sleep, but it’s his expression of emotion and his comic timing that are most relevant here. His ability to speak without dialogue is tremendous and is showcased here.

Bernal plays Stéphane Miroux, an artist who has just moved from Mexico to France to live with his mother after the death of his father. Stéphane is a man who finds more comfort and connection to his dreams than he does to reality. He gets a job doing type setting for a calander company and he hates it. Intent on making a calander of his own, he comes up with a unique theme: “Disastrology,” wherein each each month has a picture or a rendering of a disaster.

Everything changes for Stéphane when Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg) moves in next door. The chemistry between them is instant, in a way that can only happen in the movies. Stéphanie instantly becomes apart of Stéphane’s dream world and he falls deeply in love with her. But the deeper question remains: Does she feel the same way?

The grander themes of love aside, one thing that must be touched on is Gondry’s use of visual effects. What makes Gondry so amazing is that he adheres to a more traditional school of thought, relying less on CGI and more on stop motion and other effects. It’s a nice touch in a cliched world of computer drawings and blue screens that has taken the life out of many lesser movies.

This is where a bulk of his talent lies, as Science has some spectacular dream sequences that are a feast for the eyes. It’s hard to describe any one of them and do it true justice, but it is well worth the venture to see it.

The Science of Sleep also has a well-written romance as well. The relationship that develops between Stéphane and Stéphanie is completely believable. These are two wonderful, relatable, and yet ultimately flawed people who don’t always make the right decision. It’s easy to completely understand why they do what they do, though, as Gondry really seems to have a grasp on human relations.

Inside Pulse’s Ratings for The Science Of Sleep
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
STORY

10
ACTING

10
ORIGINALITY

10
LOOK/FEEL

10
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE

10
OVERALL
10
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years