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The Russian-Kazakh director and producer was already several steps ahead of the rest of us in some ways.
The conceit itself may sound gimmicky, but the ideas behind it are not.
When you see the characters screen, it looks like youre inside somebody elses mind, Bekmambetov said.
You see every mistake, every subconscious act, whatever.
You see a lot of secrets.
This is not a new thing.
But at what cost?
The film begins with Amy creating her fake Facebook alter ego, a young Muslim convert named Melody Nelson.
Or is this (gasp) the start of true love?
These increasingly blurred lines represent the central tension inProfile, but its not an entirely convincing one.
Theres too much left unsaid, too many emotional leaps that we dont see.
It feels like the film goes in this direction because it has to go somewhere.
Its a movie; we need more.
We are not our avatars, and neither are these people.
(Its being released in theaters today.
(I wont lie.
Bekmambetov understands something about suspense, and he orchestrates these moments masterfully.
And at certain points, the director achieves something even more profound, and troubling.
(It would make an interesting double bill with theAubrey PlazastarringIngrid Goes West.)
Through his ever-smiling, devil-may-care charm, Bilel begins to hold sway over how Amy imagines herself.
She not only winds up aspiring to belong to him, but in some ways tobehim.
Hes even a better cook than she is.
Hes the ultimate influencer.
