Elegy

At the outset, Isabel Coixet's 'Elegy' is a classic older man/younger woman romantic drama. David (Ben Kingsley) is a literary celebrity and endlessly charming professor who falls for a quiet, well-dressed young woman in one of his classes; Consuela (Penelope Cruz). He waits until the end of the semester to make his move; and the two end up in passionate, yet distant relationship. David's initial infatuation with Consuela deceives us into thinking of this as a tale of possession and lust. Like 'Closer' though, the seamless time jumping takes us down the road to reveal 'Elegy' as a smart and somber tale about the nature of commitment.
Working from Phillp Roth's novel; Coixet and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer only fail with a half-serious, half-humorous, and pretty unnecessary voice-over narration by Kingsley. He is an actor whose body language and weary face speak volumes about the conflicts and contradictions within. The smart and mature dialouge is enough to communicate to a smart and mature audience - especially when blessed with such gifted actors. Ben Kingsley again showcases his ability to do just about anything. As David, he's as charming and funny as he is tortured by his inability to give himself over to someone else. Penelope Cruz again here plays the object of beauty, but is strong and assured enough to hold her own as the only character who has few doubts about what she wants. His age and experience have all the potential to walk all over her, but Cruz often asserts total control and breaks Kingsley down as a selfish man who can't grow up enough to decide what he really wants. The unlikely pair work really well together, and it's a pleasure watching them - even if we know they're doomed to fall apart.
Coixet shoots 'Elegy' with both an enthusiasm common for foreign filmmakers who come to America and a sense of bleakness. There's just about no sunshine and the cold, upscale rooms are barely illuminated by the gray daylight outside. Even a scene at the beach is layered with fog. It's a fitting setting for such a somber tale about aging people who still have one foot out the door.