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An Almost Perfect Affair (1979)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
6/20
6/20:
For An Almost Perfect Affair, Michael Ritchie directs a nice little charming picture that takes place
during the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Keith Carradine and Monica Vitti have great chemistry. When they're together, the movie is good but is
unfortunately sabotaged in the last thirty minutes. Obviously, the ending is a rip-off of what happened in
Casablanca, and I half-expected Andrew Jackson to say,
"Hal, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
By the way, if I saw Hal's film, I probably would agree with Maria's opinion, but there's no reason for him to
dump two years of work for her. Think about it. Also, just because An Almost Perfect Affair is a movie,
Hal can easily do it, but in reality, most people won't go that far. As for the ending, it's apparent Maria
simply had a fling with him and would return to her life, therefore souring the whole show.
Of course, the Cannes Film Festival is the most interesting part, but it all looks stupid, phony, and decadent.
I can never take these awards seriously whether it be the Palme d'Or, the Grand Prix, or whatever else because
many times the winners have turned out to be either silly or pretentious, ending up in the Criterion Collection.
The censorship as shown? It happened to THX 1138 which was made by a nobody named George Lucas who went
on to direct American Graffiti before launching the
Star Wars franchise.
Fully founded in 1946 after WWII, the Cannes Film Festival first appeared in 1939, but Germany invaded Poland
during that time which caused the organizers to call off the festival for the time being. Its creation was in
response to Benito Mussolini messing with the integrity of the Venice Film Festival for two consecutive years.
Hence, the French, British, and American jury members refused to participate and instead went to the Cannes.
Now, you know why you've never heard of the Venice Film Festival.
All in all, Michael Ritchie nearly had it in An Almost Perfect Affair but threw away the romance at the end.