"Heartless" has style and mesmerizing plot that is easy to get lost into. It's mood is so engulfing that it will suck you in and let you feel the world. However this does not mean the movie is perfect. The film lakes development and leaves things rather unexplained. The good outweighs the bad here, so "Heartless" is a film to be enjoyed. The plot is complex so I'll try to simplify it as much as I can. Jaime (Jim Sturgess) should just be a normal young adult in London. A heart shaped birthmark (symbolism alert! this movie is littered with it) on his face prevents this, an outcast mentally and socially. He dreams of living another life, where he is just like everyone else and he may just get his wish. He's offered a Faustian deal with "Papa B" (a creepy Joseph Mawle), a devilish figure. Jaime will be free of his birthmark in exchange for a little thing Papa B wants. "Heartless"is an adventure into the world of what makes good and evil. If there never was good in this world, how could there be evil? One cannot exist without the other. However one can overpower the other and there in lies the mood of this movie. The world is descending into chaos, but only when things are at it's darkest can there be some true light (alot of star analogy in this film).
The film is well acted (Timothy Spall and Eddie Marsan the best of the bunch) , looks great, and doesn't lose it's intoxicating style. Clemence Poesy as the girl Jaime pines over is radiantly beautiful as always. It'd be hard to turn down a devilish deal with her as the reward for me too. While the movie is interesting, it's far from perfect. There is a lot of strange character development Just when someone becomes important, they disappear for quite sometime. Other characters become highlighted people out of nowhere and need careful reflection to see why. The film lacks clear organization, it tends to jump around alot. Also... I'm not a fan of the ending, I understand it, it's fine, but I preferred the original , good vs evil then mind games plot. The film is bright when it wants to be happy, and dark when the evil creeps into the world. It's nice to notice the beautiful skyline and it's contrast to the city below (the symbolism is here as well, it's hard not to see a scene where they aren't hinting at something more.) Heartless is a very good movie, but it's trying too hard and winds up being something it's not.
7.5/10
Recommendation: If you like the style of "Donnie Darko" or somewhat "Jacob's Ladder" then you're in for treat. It's a a great indie-horror/psychological film. it's different than most the recycled stuff now a days so here is a fresh piece of work that will hold your attention.
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