Tempest

This movie was very interesting. It’s not exactly what I was expecting, but that can be a good thing.

Tempest is based on the breakup of a high-powered couple, Phillip (John Cassavetes) and Antonia (Gena Rowlands). Phillip is a famous and powerful architect who longs to drop out of the rat race; Antonia is a former actress yearning to get back on the stage. These two goals are obviously at odds with each other and tensions erupt.

When Phillip discovers Antonia’s affair he decides to quit his job and move to Greece to find his bliss. His daughter, Miranda, begs to go with him to Greece and her parents reluctantly allow her to stay with Phillip during her summer vacation.

Once in Greece, Phillip meets a gorgeous free spirit, Aretha (Susan Sarandon), and they hook up. Life in Greece is not exactly as he had imagined, but he falls into a routine he enjoys. Inevitably, at the end of the summer Antonia comes to bring Miranda home. Phillip doesn’t want her to leave and Miranda doesn’t want to go, so the trio moves to a remote island with a strange inhabitant.

Toward the end, a giant storm blows up and Antonia finds herself on Phillip’s island. The title, Tempest, is literally manifested in the storm, but the entire movie is filled with small tempests between each of the characters. It’s with wit and humor that Phillip weathers these storms and finds the life he had been craving.

Tempest earns four stars. The acting is superb and scenery is phenomenal. I liked the movie, but wasn’t captivated by it; I found myself drifting away at times. Overall, I think Tempest is a movie well worth watching and I certainly recommend it.

Michelle D. Kieffaber