The Book of Solutions

A decent meta-drama about a neurotic & narcissistic filmmaker with an ambitious perspective from Michel Gondry. Michel Gondry is a hit or miss for me because I enjoyed some of his works like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" but his other works didn't really do it for me. With his latest movie, Gondry proves his talents are still around as the concept, humor dynamics and good performances are around, while struggling with a narrative that feels inconsistent at times.

Throughout, the production, sets, and the camerawork is solid. The narrative explores about the filmmaker's desires to craft something creativity, narcissism, and going off medication as the narrative does offer some fun concepts and ideas. While it is predictable and does need some work, the performances from the whole cast helped to make the narrative still interesting. Gondry's direction and approach is pretty good but unlike his previous films, his style and approach does feel a bit less creativity on certain aspects and it feels like something is missing. Alongside with some uneven concepts and ideas that could have been worked on.

The soundtrack is decent, the dialogue is pretty good, and the characters are okay at best. The main character has some interesting traits but he does end up being a bit unlikeable as the movie continues. Whether it was intentional, the character feels a bit off. Overall, it was nice see Gondry making another movie after a long time. It's no Eternal Sunshine for sure but I did still appreciate some of the movie.

Marc is a director of arty films who, when his latest project is deemed by studio bosses to be a likely commercial disaster, runs away to the countryside to finish it in peace. Pitching up with a few loyal crew members at his kind aunt Denise's cottage, he battles both his artistic problems and mental ones, as well as trying to complete a project he started years before - the 'Book of Solutions', a self-help manual for life. If only he did not keep getting distracted by, eg, making a documentary about an ant, or a cartoon about a hairdressing fox.

It is pretty much Pierre Niney's film, so it is just as well he does very well as Marc - the scene where, with no relevant experience whatsoever, he conducts an orchestra is especially memorable. Françoise Lebrun as Denise and Blanche Gardin as Marc's exasperated editor also do well - as does Sting, appearing as himself.

The film does drag a bit towards the end - it seems longer than its official running time of 102 minutes. And I found the flies who camera-bomb many shots distracting! But it was definitely enjoyable and I may well watch it again.

There's humour in every other frame of The Book of Solutions and that's one major reason why you should check it out. Other reasons include an almost accurate portrayal of the creative process of filmmakers, good writing, and perfect pace. I say this because it's only at the final frame that I understood why the lead guy, a filmmaker, refuses to watch his own film roll for the sake of editing. And exasperated, as you will be too at the beginning because he's eccentric, are his editor, producer, aunt, and field guy. This is the type of film you need to watch twice to understand all the hidden jokes which I'm assuming there are because this is a clever film enacted near perfectly.

(Watched at the 2023 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.)

Without laying up claims to be a breakthrough in Gondry's career, Le livre des solution is a sweet parody of himself and a beautiful thank you note to those faithful people working with him all along. With him, as well as other talented geniuses who lost their mind long ago but still continue working and even, miraculously enough, succeeding in bringing their eccentric and most daft ideas to reality. There is always a lot to mock in oneself, and Gondry very well knows what and how sometimes exaggerating to a jaw-dropping level but still managing to keep it sweet, light, funny and unpredictable.

"The Book of Solutions" offers a compelling look into the tumultuous life of a visionary yet narcissistic filmmaker, all seen through Michel Gondry's unique perspective. While this film interweaves humor with a deep dive into its characters, the plot can wander and sometimes feels overly familiar. The standout performances really elevate the movie, even when the story dips.

Gondry's creative direction is clear, but it doesn't quite hit the highs of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which remains one of my favorite films. The visuals are striking with meticulously crafted set designs and sharp cinematography that mirror the protagonist's internal conflicts. Although it's not Gondry's most revolutionary work, "The Book of Solutions" is a fascinating exploration of how artistic ambition and personal flaws can intertwine.