Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Weak heist-romance has language and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Art of Love
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ART OF LOVE, former gallery owner Alin (Esra Bilgic) is still getting over the disappearance of her billionaire ex-boyfriend Guney (Birkan Sokullu), who had mysteriously up and left without explanation. She's now an Interpol art theft agent trying to catch a bold thief who is stealing paintings from museums, in some cases during museum hours. After a bit of investigation, she's alarmed to learn that the clever and capable thief is her ex. She sets a trap for him, allowing Guney to think he might win her back if she travels with him to Prague on business. He steals a painting from a museum there and also from the private vault of a murderous drug dealer/businessman, despite his impenetrable and foolproof security system. Will he get away with it?
Is It Any Good?
The trouble with Art of Love is that the filmmakers try to create a vibe -- in this case, of romance and humor -- without writing either of those particular attributes into the script. The far better movie about a kazillionaire adrenalin junkie who steals for the thrill is the 1968 The Thomas Crown Affair (and even its 1999 remake). At least in those stories we believe the two protagonists actually like each other. Here, neither lead is especially compelling. Alin's distaste for Guney is palpable and the idea that she would drop all of her fiercely-held principles about law and order and right and wrong to be with the criminal she's been chasing is laughable. That Alin's bosses and colleagues, who have been spending manpower and resources on finding the egregious art thief, might consider dropping their case against him without a second thought also seems absurd.
And things get really silly when people start explaining themselves, as they tend to do in really bad movies. Guney steals paintings because art only becomes valued after it's been stolen? Huh? The filmmakers seem to think that feeble explanations are just as good as strong explanations. This is a theory they may want to reconsider.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way filmmakers try to create a vibe -- in this case romance and humor -- without writing either of those into the script. Does the love story seem believable? Why or why not?
Do you believe Guney's explanation for why he steals art? Why or why not?
How does the movie portray the ultra-rich? Does Guney seem like a bored rich kid or like a responsible adult? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 13, 2024
- Cast : Esra Bilgic , Birkan Sokullu , Ushan Cakir
- Director : Recai Karagoz
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 19, 2024
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