IR Film Review: THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING [MGM/UA]

The conception of existence and the relevance in reflection of solitude in an interesting conundrum of "Three Thousand Years Of Longing", the latest from director George Miller. His first outing since "Mad Max: Fury Road" and before he started on its prequel "Furiosa" is an interesting mixture of elements. It has harks back to certain elements of "The Cell", "Troy" (in certain ways) and even "The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen" mixed with an element of Peter Pan. It is cerebral and yet visual. Kudos to Miller for trying something new and interesting and obviously with enough budget to realize the FX needed for some of the sequences. But like many a brilliant film trapped between art and commerce, it might not reach as wide audience as it might to authorize its budget per se. Its structure is all over the place and yet very apparent and studied.

The stories told are interesting and yet internal. The key discussion at the center between Tilda Swinton's scholar and Idris Elba's would-be genie is an interesting character study on the notion of want as well as masking but also the release of need in an area where there might not be any. It is a study of faults that in many ways brings the reality of the players to bear but also places them in their own cages per se because despite their best efforts fate and a sense of knowing take a bigger role. There are some beautifully poetic sequences by Miller that are more metaphorical than anything and Junkie XL's score both accents it but doesn't overbear it. "Three Thousand Years Of Longing" is a unique journey that is effective and yet not overly so...well acted but almost too aware of itself...and cerebral yet not as transcendent as it thinks. That said it is beautiful to see a master trying something outside the box while still having his paintbrushes intact. B+

By Tim Wassberg