THREE SENTENCE DVD REVIEW: ELEGY (***)

Isabel Coixet's somberly themed yet gorgeously photographed drama Elegy (***) is a thoughtful (if sometimes boring), occasionally darkly humorous May-December romance between two very different people (Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz) who were never likely to find happiness. Cruz, who is partially or fully naked throughout much of the film, gives her richest and best English language performance yet, and Kingsley, as always, exudes class and distinction (Dennis Hopper also turns in a juicy supporting performance). Coixet's film, working from a smooth but slightly meandering screenplay by Nicholas Meyer, goes for the tear ducts towards its conclusion, and even if I wasn't blown away by the movie, it's certainly worth renting if you're in the mood for a serious, slightly depressing, artsy-fartsy type night of entertainment.