"It's not only simple. It's also really beautiful." Uttered early in the film, this line perfectly summarizes "Youth" — well, parts anyway. It's an ornate, bittersweet slice of life, hitting a few grace notes but meandering too much to reach greatness.
Michael Caine stars as Fred Ballinger, a retired composer and conductor. When we meet him, he's vacationing at a Swiss spa with his friend — and renowned screenwriter — Mick (Harvey Keitel). As they meditate on mortality amid the ageless beauty of the Swiss Alps, they find reflections their younger selves in two of the spa's guests — an angst-ridden actor (Paul Dano) and a beauty queen (Madalina Diana Ghenea).
As he harps on career disappointments without realizing he's still in his peak, the actor embodies the idea that youth is wasted on the young. He rolls his eyes at every mention of the role that brought him fame — a robot named Mr. Q. Similarly, Fred dismisses his "simple songs," especially when he is commissioned by the Queen to perform them for Prince Philip's birthday. Miss Universe simply looms over them and the spa like a specter of corrupted youth, symbolizing the seductive side of show business.
"Youth" is most effective when it explores the artistic demons in these men. Like the artists themselves, the film feels more focused when it's immersed in the art world. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino seems to be paying homage to the great Italian filmmaker, Federico Fellini. Like "8½," this is a flamboyant film about a fanciful man confronting the past through his craft. It's like a daydream — wistful and full of whimsy. A particularly beautiful scene finds Fred conducting to the sounds of nature, lost in longing for the music of his youth.
When Rachel Weisz enters the picture as Fred's daughter and finds herself falling out of love with Mick’s son, the movie loses steam. Although Weisz commands the screen — especially in a long, close-up tirade against her father — her subplot slows down the film's more interesting storyline, which is about the possibility of Fred returning to the world of music. Ironically, her beef with him is about how he always seemed to favor art over family, which is exactly what I preferred in the film.
Caine delivers a subdued yet stirring performance, quietly crumbling under pressure from his daughter — and his age. You can see him slowly, softly imploding from fear of the life he left behind and the little that's left to come. Caine has given better performances, but this is still certainly a strong one — an engaging reminder of how magnetic he can be.
None of the actors chews the sumptuous scenery. They deliver delicate, sensitive performances that perfectly fit the film's low-key tone. This film won't blow you away, but it will sneak up and softly strum your heartstrings.
“Youth” is well-acted and beautifully shot. But like a sweet old man, it can be excessively cute and quaint. And it tends to wander aimlessly through emotional terrain. When it finds its footing though, it reaches some lovely emotional crescendos.