Film Review – Bel Canto

Ever since he made his directorial debut with 1999’s “American Pie,” Paul Weitz has been determined to prove he’s more than just a comedy filmmaker. He’s had an eclectic career, but few of his endeavors have managed to find their creative footing, despite fine actors (“Admission,” “Being Flynn”) and interesting worlds (“Cirque du Freak”). Weitz almost achieves complete screen stasis with “Bel Canto,” which has the advantage of being based on a fascinating true story of a hostage crisis and loaded with capable actors. However, despite the positives, “Bel Canto” doesn’t have much energy, dramatic or romantic, to keep attention trained on the screen. Weitz goes through the motions with this melodrama, and while it certainly hints at pressure points to come, the feature doesn’t follow through on suspense, at times accurately recreating the feeling of being held against one’s will.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com