In this winky, near-incoherent mess we’re in turn-of-the-century Paris, when courtesans were envied by many. Lea de Lonvell (Michelle Pfeiffer) was the smart one. The one who never fell in love – even now, when she realized she’s becoming a woman of a certain age. Ostracized to an extremely narrow group of friends in their old age, Lea’s best friend is Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates) – and I use the term lightly. Madame Peloux has a promiscuous son, Cheri (Rupert Friend) who spends his days in bed with various women while smoking cigarettes in his free time. We’re never sure why we care about this character from the moment he emerges. But we are aware of his naughty flirtation with Lea and their (not eventual) but instant love and devotion for each other. That too is confusing when later they pine for their romance and we’ve barely gotten over the fact that they’re a couple. But what’s most confusing is that the great director, Stephen Frears could oversee such a mess. What is a feel-good feeling is the fact that Hollywood has teamed an older woman with a younger man. Go Hollywood! Though it’s a shame, she has to look as emaciated as Lindsay Lohan. And while it’s a smart concept – the entire young man/courtesan blues – I never really buy it. Two tiaras for the costumes and the directing
