While I was trying to distract myself from A Round of Applause, a new Turkish film dropped on Netflix.
Art of Love is approximately ninety minutes long. It is a romantic crime drama, aimed at delivering excitement and romance.
But it has large shoes to fill in. Here is my review.
Art of Love Synopsis
When an Interpol officer starts tracking a case of serial robbery, she discovers that the thief is none other than her ex-boyfriend.
Would she stand with the law or get back to her love?
Directed by Recai Karagoz, the movie stars Birkan Sokullu (Güney), Esra Bilgiç (Alin), F?rat Tan?? (Faysal), Ushan Çak?r (Ozan), and others.
What Works for Art of Love?
Finally, the short-lived good streak of Netflix has been broken as I don’t have many positives to mention here for Art of Love.
The movie begins with a scene of robbery during nighttime. Soon, we are introduced to a thief who steals the least valuable paintings when he can easily take away the most precious ones. An Interpol officer gets on to the case and she is shocked to find out the identity of the robber.
With a crisp length at play, Art of Love starts on an interesting note, showcasing its potential. The film’s pace is brisk as well.
Its uplifting, buildup-evoking background music tries to put strength into a lifeless tale, which is commendable.
Lastly, Art of Love is well-intentioned. There is a much-needed message at the end of the film about the value of art.
Though not enough, it is worth mentioning.
How are the Performances?
Birkan Sokullu as Güney, the effervescent thief, has a magnetic charm. The makers wanted him to look sleek and worthy of a specific title, which he does.
His stage smartness enables a thief to woo the audience. Moreover, Birkan’s subtle romantic expressions make way for an adorable outing.
Esra Bilgiç is sweet and ferocious as Alin. She shows resilience while contemplating internally. Her presence is mostly calming. But when Esra makes a choice, it remains her decision.
Be it the thought of growing with the plot or owning the platform, the actress comes good on all the possible fronts.
What Doesn’t Work for Art of Love?
The idea is blatantly simplistic for 2024. We have had similar concepts from various parts of the world. Art of Love aims for the sky but lands on a low-hung tree.
It throws in the bin the benefits of having a good start. The entire story builds on a thief’s acumen.
He has it all mastered, including his team, determination, and objective. Even the cop trailing him is not as high on intelligence.
The storyline is overly banal and rarely comes across as an eventful ride.
The twists are predictable from afar as they are not properly camouflaged using essential elements.
Ten minutes into Art of Love and you already know how the whole film is going to transpire.
Further, the straightforward approach of pretending to put the protagonist a step behind doesn’t auger well because the viewer is able to see through the disguise comfortably.
Unable to produce engagement, the movie fails to arouse the audience. Moreover, the dwindling second half aggravates the problems for the Turkish film.
It tries to project an out-of-the-world idea but cannot even establish its core. For a cat-and-mouse chase to be successful, you first need to create a strong basis for the chase.
Here, the foundation stone is faulty. The thrill of watching a heist unfold never really finds the road.
Stream or Skip?
Art of Love hardly has the heart to propel forward. Hence, it can be skipped.
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