Review of A Few Days in September (2006) by Warren W — 05 Dec 2007

Firstly disclaimers: this is not a action/spy/conspiracy theory movie about 9-11. This is a drama featuring "retired" spies/underground operatives and their families, who of course are not truely retired, as no one is ever free of the world they became involved in.

It's a pretty simple plot, an aging, elusive operative (Nolte, who we don't see 'til the very end of the film) wants to meet with his American stepson and estranged French daughter (the two never knew of each others existence) leading up to the day of Sept 11th, 2001. He calls on help from a friend and "spy trainer" (Juliette Binoche) in France, though the meeting is foiled due to a musing assassin and former co-worker (John Turturro), who is looking to kill the elusive father. So the gang has to wait for a rescheduled meeting, in Venice, hoping to lose the pursuing killer, while Binoche's character also negotiates selling info and dealing with other underworld figures that want to figure into this meeting.

I think this movie has gotten a lot of criticism due to false expectations (see disclaimer), the somewhat anti-American sentiment by the characters, and the slow pace of the movie.

I liked it, and maybe I'm a sucker for these "road movie"-ish wandering around Europe kinda flicks, but it had a lot to appeal to me. Sara Forestier was DAMN cute, and did a very good job playing the part of a distrusting daughter, that hates Americans, hates her father (who is American), cranky, but does eventually loosens up spending time with and getting to know her half-brother. The chemistry between all the characters develops as the movie goes on, and turns out to work pretty well! The dialog, especially when it gets a little political, is realistically done IMHO (reminds me of conversations I've had with Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans), puts forth some informed speculation about the relationship Nolte's character had with Iraq pre-Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm, the US's hand that's been played being Saddam's ally then foe when he invaded Kuwait, and without saying anything explicitly, how there was a buzz that something would happen on Sept 11th that would impact the global market amongst these "insiders".

So don't expect any revelations by the end of the movie. A Few Days in September, much like Turturro's character (who was a little over the top), muses about love, hate, poetry, non-partisan global interests, and a bit about the US's role in the whole mess of the Middle East. Nothing shocking IMHO, be it in the story, script, or overall acting....but it was decent with some good points.

What I thought was also interesting was a bit of the camera work (though I as a little disappointed there weren't more panoramic views)...which was often out of focus, and Binoche was given the line, as Riley's character asks her the question "why do you look around without your glasses" (associated with some of the out-of -focus shots) to which the reply is "to see things differently". I think this is FUNDEMENTAL when seeing this movie, if not maybe something we SHOULD ALL TRY TO DO in this day and age.

Oh, and I should also mention: the film has one of the most intense pillow fights! :P.

In conclusion: decent movie, worth renting, enjoyable if you have an open mind and patience (which you must have if you've read this far!), if you like sleeper dramas with a hint of spy intrigue. But certainly the movie has flaws, as this could have been a masterpiece, but falls a bit short.