Blu-ray Review: Xavier Dolan’s Personal Vision of ‘Laurence Anyways’

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CHICAGO – “Laurence Anyways” is a carte blanche project of passion from Québécois director Xavier Dolan, a 24-year-old with two feature films (“I Killed My Mother,” “Heartbeats”) already under his belt. Close to a total three-hour running time and filled with numerous extended musical interludes, it is a bulky movie that could certainly be significantly slimmed down and still be able to leave the same size bruise. For Dolan, however, such hugeness is yet another statement from him and his growing understanding of filmmaking, this project a showcase for his current aesthetic artiness as filmmaker first, storyteller second.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

With a story that doesn’t have the same aspirations as his technical work, “Laurence Anways” tells of a complicated relationship in vivid precision, with bleeding heart interactions playing out in full. As curious as his film may be as it slowly unfolds, his script is certainly boosted by two very sturdy performances from his leads, the gentle Melvil Poupad (Laurence) and Suzanne Clement (Fred). Poupad is intriguing as he undergoes such a drastic life change, but Clement is especially captivating as the more externally conflicted significant other, unleashing volcanic moments of aggression when her inner-arguments can no longer be swallowed. The two enliven this tale of a challenged relationship as they are united in their passion for this project, vitalizing Dolan’s material to a brimming potential. Dolan is a strong copier of human interaction, particularly in his numerous intimate conversations, but directors can only dream of the chemistry shared by these two.

Dolan wears not only the cap of a writer and director, but also that of executive producer, costume designer, and editor. Like Paul Thomas Anderson with his second feature “Boogie Nights,” Dolan is showing most of all that he has a style and ability prove, and has no hesitation to include himself as the primary character in this story. For example, numerous shots are framed with more to be said about the director than the characters actually being filmed; other music-driven sequences represent Dolan’s iTunes library more than any enrichment of story.

Perhaps if “Laurence Anyways” were the project of someone of older age and experience, its artsy moments might face more ready scrutiny. As burgeoning directors are to do, Dolan throws everything out there; but even the shakier parts stick. Here, Dolan’s freewheeling cinematography choices, music video-like sequences, and yes, the running time, come as a fulfilling accomplishment for someone who should also mature nicely soon, with numerous decades to make even sounder films. By then he’ll better understand that stories also make films, not just directors.

Laurence Anyways
Photo credit: Breaking Glass

Synopsis:
A passionate relationship between a Canadian teacher (Melvil Poupad) and his girlfriend (Suzanne Clement) is challenged over the course of ten years when he begins to dress as a woman.

Special Features:
o The Museum of Modern Art Presents: Modern Mondays - An Evening with Xavier Dolan
o Deleted Scenes
o Trailers

By Nick Allen
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com