Nina Takes a Lover [DVD]

I only give five stars for 1% of movies, but this is not a classic, which I reserve 5 stars for. Thus, 4.7 stars or so.I am old enough to be Laura’s father, and I am not a stalker. But, if ever I did hope a woman half my age would want me, and if ever I did want to stalk someone, it would be her. She is so, so sexy. Yes, I know they didn’t show that much of her body – a shot or two in her underwear and in the bikini. But lovely is not all body. Her eyes, her hair, her smile, her voice, her skin, her facial expressions, coy, cute, inquisitive, knowing, accusing, and her posture and walk, elegant, graceful, all are just so sexy. And the dude Paul Rhys – well as I said, I am not into men, but if anybody could convince me to switch teams, it likely would be him. And again, it was not just his studly body – I thought his facial expressions in the first two scenes when they met and she ate an apple – brilliant. I loved the banter and play, the sensual tease, the building of almost an ache to consummate with sex. It was extremely well done. And I loved the surprise at the end. I knew we would find something about him that would surprise us, but I had not guessed this. If you want a lot of skin, a lot of sweating, grunting, sex, a fast moving slam bam eff me now movie this is not it. But if you want to explore the incredible complexity of human love for another human, the tenderness, passion, curiosity, exploration of something new, that most of us need – this is a brilliant display. Be patient, and you will love it. If you cant be patient, well, you are not much of a lover, and you wont like this movie.

You know those people who say "I could see it coming from a mile away" when there's a twist in a movie? Yeah, I don't like those people. When I watch a movie, I watch it to enjoy it, to experience it, to follow as it moves along, not to analyze details that will make movie/tech/sci-fi people scream how unrealistic it is or for detectives to say the ending was an obvious trope. I like a movie or I don't. I can discuss what parts I enjoyed or what made me mad/sad/disgusted/etc., but I don't think I've ever been the one to have "seen it coming". Well, unless it was too obvious to ignore. (I'm speaking to you: The Matrix Revolutions.)Anyway, I was surprised by the twist in this film. And it only makes the movie better.I'm not a chick-flick type of girl. Give me horror - preferably bad horror. I also enjoy some comedies, when they're done right. Thrillers and chillers? Bring them on. Action? Could take it or leave it, but some are great. Westerns? Thanks but no thanks. But romance? Chick-flick? Gooey happily-ever-afters? I wonder which couples from these movies will fall victim to the 50% divorce rate in America.Admittedly, there have been a few romances I've enjoyed. A few which have turned me into a high school girl crying over her first crush. A few which have touched my heart so thoroughly I've watched them over and over again. Nina Takes a Lover was one of these. I just love this movie. I won't give any spoilers, but if you're looking for something independent that shows a growing love story that seems so realistic and so sincere (and so possible!) which ultimately shocks you with a surprise, this is that movie.I still cry when I see it. I hadn't watched it in many years when I found a free view of it on YouTube. I still wanted to own it, which I really don't do much anymore. I lost a large DVD/Blue-ray collection in 2014 and haven't replaced many of them. Too easy to watch what I want to watch for a couple dollars on Amazon or elsewhere. Plus there's the lack of "stuff" that my new minimalist mind prefers.Let's just put it this way: I paid over $30 for this movie. Considering what else I've said in this review, that should tell you how much I love this movie. Even for those not willing to pay as much as I did, see it if you DO enjoy romance. (Sorry Amazon - it really is free on YouTube.) You won't regret watching it. And if you do, return to Amazon and pay what you can to enjoy it many many times more.

Wow, talk about a bad film. Zero chemistry between the character of Nina and her lover whose name I don’t even remember though I just finished this rubbish film. There’s no showing us that he is a photographer, there’s no build up of their attraction. The entire thing is a mess. It’s a shame that a couple of decent actors were paid to engage in this horrible film which makes them both look bad. Poor pacing as well.

I gave it three stars for the storytelling and an extra star for Laura SG. it was very French. I like the way French directors and cinematographers tell stories through film. It's light and airy with layers of undercurrents and double and triple entendres. This movie did/had that.Another thing I liked about the film was how the sub-characters were not that important yet they were very important in driving the story forward. Although the acting was not tour de force the level of emoting was appropriate for the way the story was told.This was worth a watch for the intimacy alone. Not the sex. The intimacy. It was a chick flick but a self assured man would find something in it he could like.