dromasca Director James Gray returns in his 2013 production of The Immigrant to one of his recurrent themes - the one that made him known in the first long feature film he made Little Odessa - immigration, and to his preferred background which features also in his debut but also in the more recent Two Lovers - New York. Actually his other well known feature film We Own the Night was not located too remotely as well. In all his last film we also enjoy the presence of Joaquin Phoenix, an actor that I highly appreciate. We can already speak about a cluster of works happening more or less in the same milieu, with a team of actors and a style of story telling that make it consistent. Not necessarily successful - to my taste at least.This story of two sisters arriving in New York in the 1920s, and their fight to remain in the New Promised Land and survive by all means could have been made in 1930, or 1960, or 1990. It would have looked a little different as technical means differ, but otherwise not too much seems to have changed. The 2013 version adds too little from an emotional point of view to really make a true emotional or social impact. Neither does the passionate and tragic love story between the pimp and the new innocent immigrant look too true. It starts as a story of mutual destruction, it continues as a tragic love triangle, it ends by destroying the charmer and the harmer in a too much expected way.If there is one actress who can play wonderfully melodrama today on screens, this is Marion Cotillard. She does exactly what is expected, and so does Joaquin Phoenix. This is not enough. Director James Gray knows how to tell a story on screen, but his style must overcome the clichés in order to free the good director we guess he is. Chaplin's film with the same name made almost 100 years ago still remains a stake of value hard to exceed.

g-bodyl The Immigrant has to be one of the most overlooked films of 2014. It only came out in limited release, but I believe the film should have received more press, especially with the talent involved. This is a sweeping melodrama that has such a captivating story that hearkens back to days of old when these kind of films were released almost weekly. This story is also a history lesson in a sense that the film gives off a vibe of 1920's New York during an era of immigration, prostitution, and Prohibition. The film shows the dangers that these foreign newcomers must face in a strange, new land.James Gray's film is about a woman named Ewa who arrives in Ellis Island with her sister, Magda after coming from Poland. The sisters are separated as tuberculosis overtaken Magda. Ewa is forced out into the NYC streets where this man named Bruno takes her under his wing in the form of prostitution. She does not like this life, but she may find a way out when she meets this magician named Orlando who promises her a new life and a chance to reunite with her sister.The acting is very, very good. A film with the three leads it has should not be confined to limited release. Joaquin Phoenix gives a very strong performance as Bruno. It seems a rather restrained performance, but great nonetheless. Speaking of great, Marion Cotillard also impresses me in her role as the scared, lost Ewa. Marion should have been nominated for an Oscar with this role. Finally, Jeremy Renner does an excellent job as Orlando, and I feel he should have more screen time.Overall, the Immigrant is a beautiful, well-acted film and it's a rare film that gives a woman this kind of role in this day and age. Not only are the actors are in fine form, this film features some amazing lush cinematography. The camera shots of 20th-century Manhattan is just beautiful. This film needed more press, but alas the lack of people seeing this movie does not stop it from being a good, old-fashioned period piece.My Grade: A-

Anjelica Pappin Like, 3 stars max. I found it boring, way over-dramatic, and extremely obvious. There's no character development or any reason at all that either of those dudes would be soooo in love with her. Her character could have been 10 million times more interesting. It was like she was doing a great impression of a Polish immigrant who had a lobotomy. "I make money" "I need my money" "My sister is here" "Where is my sister" .....over and over again for 2 hours. Actors are way too good to be in something with a script that poor. No edge, no script, no reason to watch this movie. BOO. I couldn't even figure out if she was smart or dumb the entire time - what a terrible female figure - she doesn't fight against them, just kind of whimpers and goes along and spits out her "money" or "sister" line repeatedly. ugh.

evanston_dad Marion Cotillard is one of the most lovely actresses currently working, and she struggles hard to make something of this blah film, but her talents are mostly wasted."The Immigrant" starts promisingly, but it's not long before the film begins to sag under the weight of dull pacing and a relentlessly somber tone. Joaquin Phoenix ratchets up the ick factor to play a man who takes advantage of recently-emigrated women and with whom Cotillard's character strikes up a queasy relationship, not so much because she likes him but because he's the only thing resembling a protector she has in an unfamiliar world. Jeremy Renner is a welcome presence as a rival for Cotillard's affections, but he has far too little screen time and leaves the film too early. Phoenix is absolutely repulsive to look at (as usual) and listen to with his mush-mouthed line readings, and his unpleasantness overwhelms the film and everything in it, including Cotillard.Handsome production values and some good moments tantalize the audience with what might have been under more dynamic direction and with a different leading man.Grade: C+