Review by
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Synopsis
Sean Penn plays Cheyenne, an ageing former rock star who’s living off his royalties in a grand old country home in Ireland with his wife (Frances McDormand). But he’s not happy. In fact he’s downright depressed. So when his father dies, he grabs the opportunity to take a journey back to America for the funeral…and learns something about his father, and about himself.
Sean Penn speel Cheyenne, ‘n verouderende voormalige rock-ster wat van die lewe uit sy tantieme in ‘n groot ou land huis in Ierland met sy vrou (Frances McDormand). Maar hy is nie gelukkig nie. In die feit dat hy ronduit depressief. En toe sy pa sterf, het hy gryp die geleentheid om ‘n reis na terug te neem na Amerika vir die begrafnis … en leer iets oor sy pa, en oor homself.
Our Verdict
Truly enjoyable and one of those you could watch a few times without ever getting bored, especially for music lovers. But the journey that turns out to be physical and metaphysical does just seem a little too much of a cliche for someone of Sean Penn’s calibre. And his relationship with his wife never seems quite real. Sometimes the acting seems overdone – like the way Penn’s character walks when he’s depressed. There’s a standout performance by Bono’s daughter to watch out for. Music’s great, of course.
Werklik aangenaam en een van dié wat jy kan kyk na ‘n paar keer sonder om ooit verveeld, veral vir musiekliefhebbers. Maar die reis wat blyk te wees fisiese en metafisiese nie net lyk ‘n bietjie te veel van ‘n cliche vir iemand van Sean Penn se kaliber. En sy verhouding met sy vrou nooit nogal werklik. Soms is die waarnemende blyk oordrewe – soos die pad Penn se karakter loop wanneer hy depressief. Daar is ‘n opvallende prestasie deur Bono se dogter te kyk. Musiek is lekker, natuurlik.