"The Fake" is an entertaining story of fakery in the art world occuring in London. It held my interest without wavering, even though I was reminded numerous times of how films of this nature are often marked by intersections and coincidences of happenstance that lead to progress made in solving mysteries, much like those seen in the Barnaby Jones TV series of the 1970's.
The black and white photography is gorgeous, with interplay of shadows beautifully choreographed. That the stirring musical score is judiciously minimal only serves to enhance the telling of the story. I was worried during the opening credits because the scene of the ship unloading its cargo was obviously shot using two different sets of cargo and edited in a sloppy and careless fashion. Happily, those fears did not carry forth into the film itself and the continuity is nearly flawless. It may seem a little jarring to see an April-October romance play out between Gray and O'Keefe (25 years and 54-- he looks even older), but it is the story and cinematography that count most, and in this case they come together very well. This is an enjoyable and swifty moving program.
The black and white photography is gorgeous, with interplay of shadows beautifully choreographed. That the stirring musical score is judiciously minimal only serves to enhance the telling of the story. I was worried during the opening credits because the scene of the ship unloading its cargo was obviously shot using two different sets of cargo and edited in a sloppy and careless fashion. Happily, those fears did not carry forth into the film itself and the continuity is nearly flawless. It may seem a little jarring to see an April-October romance play out between Gray and O'Keefe (25 years and 54-- he looks even older), but it is the story and cinematography that count most, and in this case they come together very well. This is an enjoyable and swifty moving program.