Review of film: “ELEGY” -- “Higher” education may not be all that “lofty”!

Review of film:  “ELEGY”  --   “Higher” education may not be all that “lofty”!  =

             [ RATING:  6 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Aug 2, 2008 | Rel. Date: Aug 8, 2008 =

[Based on an advance preview].  In this new film, BEN KINGSLEY plays David, a cultural critic / university professor who pulls back from a long-term relationship with friend Carolyn (PATRICIA CLARKSON) when he grows obsessed with his beautiful student Consuela (PENELOPE CRUZ)... 


...  He shares thoughts about life, desires and aging with his long-time friend & cohort George (DENNIS HOPPER), and tries to deal with his ever-angry son Kenneth (PETER SARSGAARD)...


...  All involved give unusually GOOD performances in this adult drama...


...  But, while it’s very well-done on a technical level, there’s a number of SAD [& creepy] elements streaming throughout the periodically slow-moving intertwining stories, and you end up feeling almost “worn-out” by the difficulties suffered by the characters (even tho the end seems to give glimmers of various levels of hope).