It's hard to get much more charming than Gael Garcia Bernal. Michel Gondry's decision to rumple Bernal's clothes, grow out his hair, have him dream extraordinary dreams in a television set made of cardboard egg containers, and to give him dialog in not one, but three languages (English, French and Spanish) only increases Garcia Bernal's charms further. Perhaps it's the best word to describes The Science of Sleep, then: charming.
Michel Gondry's work is so hip that it's easy to forget what a romantic he is. His previous film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was about a couple who have their memories erased, only to make their doomed love affair work the second time around. That picture, however, was not a success--in part because of the awkward performances of both leads.
Jim Carey, a comic known for his broad physical humor, is not meant to play a romantic lead. Poor Academy-award nominated Kate Winslet worked so hard to make Clementine into quirky, free spirit that she came across as terrifically phony with far too many artificial hair colors for one mere role.
Jim Carey, a comic known for his broad physical humor, is not meant to play a romantic lead. Poor Academy-award nominated Kate Winslet worked so hard to make Clementine into quirky, free spirit that she came across as terrifically phony with far too many artificial hair colors for one mere role.
For a love interest, Gondry casts the unassuming (and yes, charming) French actress Charlotte Gainsburg, who recently gave a surprisingly powerful performance as a young housewife in Lemming. Unlike Winslet, Gainsburg comes across as natural: the leggy, skinny neighbor with bookish glasses and a thick blue cabled sweater, worn repeatedly through the film. This character is beautiful, alluring, but real enough to believe in. As Stéphanie and Stéphane, Gainsbourg and Garcia Bernal have a delightful time creating an imaginary world out of modeling clay and miniature cloth creatures.
There's a plot, of course, that has not been outlined in this review: disconcerting dreams, an odd job making pornographic wall calendars, quirky co-workers, a manipulative mother, and troubles in love. The story is almost secondary—and honestly, difficult to recall.
Written and directed by Gondry, it's no surprise that The Science of Sleep is unduly clever. The cleverness, fortunately, comes off as fresh. Gondry's interpretive dream world is well worth entering, and Gael Garcia Bernal couldn't be a better guide.
