2 Days in Paris

2007

Directed and written by Julie Delpy
Staring Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Marie Pillet, Albert Delpy, and Aleksia Landeau

It’s hard to not watch the first movie of any burgeoning film maker without nervous tension, especially when it is the first feature length film written and directed by indie darling Julie Delpy. Having appeared in over a dozen movies, co-written the screenplay for the hit Before Sunset, and directed countless short films, Delpy is no stranger to the film making process, and therefore bears the burden of heightened expectations. In her debut effort, 2 Day in Paris, Delpy proves that all those years in the industry have honed her into a talented and natural film maker.

The film centers around Marion (Delpy) and Jack (Goldberg), a couple constantly living on the edge of their relationship. We are introduced to them en route to France from Italy, coming home from a vacation marred by stomach flu. Marion is a French ex-patriot who grew up in Paris, but now lives in New York with Jack, a true American at heart. The title of the movie refers, obviously, to the ensuing two days they spend in the small apartment above Marion’s parent’s (Pillet and Delpy) house.

Although not set in New York City, 2 Days in Paris is far and away the closest anyone has ever come to recreating the magic (and turmoil) of Woody Allen. Delpy manages to create almost perfectly what Allen did flawlessly in his films, characters whose neurosis rule their lives. Marion and Jack seem slightly normal on the surface, but after spending a little time with them we find that they are both completely unhinged. As the two embark on tourist escapades around the city, they find themselves face to face with several of Marion’s ex-lovers, each more unsettling than the last. While Marion finds nothing wrong with her history, Jack can barely contain himself. What works so well about the characters is the subtle arc that they both follow. We are lead to believe that Marion is a push over in relationships, as she bears the brunt of many of Jack’s criticisms with half-hearted explanations rather than actual defenses, and Jack’s jealousy seems to be a simple matter of animistic instinct to protect his conquest. By the end of the film, the characters are stripped of these arch types, and allowed to interact with each other in a realistic, honest way. The shifts are so subtle, that we never quite see them happening, but are simply left with the impression that they have.

As a film maker, Delpy’s instincts are brilliantly sloppy. The actual plot of the film is bare, the ideas aren’t exactly original, and many of the supporting characters have little depth. This, however, is all part of Delpy’s grand scheme. The sparse plot and unoriginal thesis take pressure of the back of the film, and lets Delpy’s delightful script and beautiful direction inhabit the body of the film. As for the supporting characters, they are all there to service the plot, but because of Delpy’s keen choice of actors (her parents), they are given an almost secret third dimension.

Much of the cons of the film come not from the sloppy big picture, but the fat in the actual film. While the script is consistently hilarious, there are a few gags that end up falling flat — notably, one involving Jack and several lost tourists. Delpy also relies on a few first film crutches. The use of flashbacks to her quirky youth, and a small subplot involving an eco-terrorist, both slow the pace of the movie and take something away from the confidence the rest of the movie displayed. Also, the ending seemed forced, and didn’t quite do justice to the rest of the film.

What I found that I liked so much about 2 Days in Paris, was that it is a small film. There aren’t many laugh out loud funny moments, or shocking dramatic scenes. It’s biggest strength comes from the sense of security it lures you into, and by the end you’ll want to spend several more days in Paris with the characters. To me, that fact is enough to forgive most of the movies flaws.

7.5/10

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