Infinity

This is a difficult review for me to write. I purchased this film a few years after seeing the film, because I'm trying to compare 3 different media on the same story (author audio which later became text, same text read orally by a professional reader, and the interpretation of the film makers (the Brodericks)).I count myself incredibly fortunate to have been in the audience for a class to hear to Richard Feynman reminisce about his war time experience at Los Alamos. Whereas our professor, Larry Badash (with 2 other editors) published a book Reminiscences of Los Alamos 1943-1945 (Studies in the History of Modern Science) , the reissue of Surely Your Joking in the form of  Classic Feynman: All the Adventures of a Curious Character (with New Live CD)  can't be over looked. You get to hear Feynman's New York cabbie voice (as others have described it). Buy this book with the CD.I only recently found the audio version of Surely Your Joking which includes material before Los Alamos which was taken from a Chris Sykes documentary interview (this forms the basis for scenes on inertia and lack of meaning about words (birds) in the film. Sykes's own biography based on getting to know Feynman late in his life pointed out early that some reviewers of old Feynman videos thought Feynman sounded less than a great teacher. In the end, the audio version reread "didn't do it" for me.These lectures and recordings form the basis for the Infinity film.Infinity attempts to cover a number of events in Feynman's early life revolving around this romance with his first wife Arline while culminating with both her loss and working on nuclear theory in the Manhattan Project on the first atomic bomb.The Broderick's interpretation of Feynman's early life just didn't quite "do" that for me. They had a hard time trying to convey Feynman's enthusiasm and excitement and his personal romance. So much context gets left out (like why he has to brief the kids working for him <security normally forbid that>) that the film loses its effect.Yes: perhaps it's me, that I have too much context, but that would go for anyone attempting to understand Feynman including the English critics mentioned by Sykes  No Ordinary Genius: The Illustrated Richard Feynman . He's not for every one. I could have used a guy like him when I was much younger (he can be very inspiring to a certain kind of person).My suggestion is to go the the real sources: the book with the CD and the books (Sure and What do you Care? authored by Feynman) first. Compare Feynman's own words and voice to the scene going out the Los Alamos gate and in via a hole in the fence three times. The filmed scene isn't quite as effective. Try a library and read his Red books (his physics text book in 3 volumes, much harder).

I loved this movie! "Infinity" is the story of a very young Richard Feynman and his love Arlene Greenbaum. The couple bravely face Arlene's terminal illness and at the same time, Richard is at Los Alamos working on the Manhatten Project.The script was written by Patricia Broderick who also co-produced with her son, Matthew who starred and directed this sweet film. Maybe it is the time, the 1930's and 40's that give this film such an innocent feel. We see people in this movie who look like real people of that time.Richard lived to solve problems so knowing Arlene (played by Patricia Arquette) was dying and there was no solution to this problem, made him divert his attention to other things such as; could a person smell as well as a blood hound? A coping mechanism.There is some science in this as well but it seems to enhance rather than bog down what is happening. Richard explains neutrons to Arlene using olives and she seems to get it. The numbers he throws around after the encounter with the man with the abacus seem to mystafy her but she seems pleased because he looks so happy.He is stoic when she dies which makes this more poingnant. The success of the bomb and her death become too much for him to take in. So, he reverts to his way of diverting his feelings by talking to a young boy and running an errand for a friend. But it is here that he sees a red dress in a window reminding him of the first time he sees a similar dress with Arlene. There on his face is all the heart break he feels--a very touching moment.Patricia Arquette is wonderful, funny, sweet and tragic in this role. It would be difficult to imagine anyone else as Arlene. Matthew is so sensative and portrays Feynman in such an understated way. Less is definitely more and Matthew seems to understand this. His tender direction can be felt throughout.

I totally agree with one of the reviewers who says that this movie 'aims low but manages to score high'. I am a long time Feynman fan, just like many others, and I don't frankly think anyone could ever capture the essence of Richard Feynman on screen...except Feynman himself! But I think this movie does a brilliant job at portraying the emotional side of Feynman, through his relationship with Arline, his high school sweetheart. The story is very touching, as narrated by Feynman himself in 'What do you care what other people think!' It was a real tragedy she passed away early, as they were a perfect couple. The movie does manage to capture the sentimental value of that wonderful time which the two shared. About the performances, I do not think that Matt Broderick does a great impersonation of Feynman. But then, maybe no one can. On the other hand, Matt Broderick brings out the sincerity and honesty of the man to the greatest extent. He is perfect for the job, as he easily fits the character of a honest, nice and carefree kid. He is wonderfully complemented by Patricia Arquette. From what I have read about Arline, I think she quite fits the role of the clear thinking, artistic and emotional girl who could captivate someone like Feynman. Overall, I think that the movie is very touching, an example of the kind of films which you rarely see these days, and should be viewed as a very nice movie in its own right, bringing out the emotional side of a truly great man.

Delivery & packing excellent.The film no so good, as it is more focus in the personal life rather than academic & professional. Which to me seems to be more interesting

Ich mag den Film sehr, trotz einiger Schwächen. Er ist nicht richtig Mainstream, und der Zweck einiger Szenen wird vielen Menschen nicht auffallen, wenn sie die Biografie von Feynman nicht kennen. Andererseits versucht der Film durchaus, mit der Beziehungsgeschichte ein größeres Publikum als nur die Physikinteressierten anzusprechen. Ich glaube, daran scheitert er ein wenig.DIe Qualität des Films auf DVD ist vergleichsweise grottig und mir in dem Maße bisher noch bei keiner anderen DVD aufgefallen. Je nach Szene ist das gesamte Bild verraucht und mit einer Art Dithering-Pixelmuster vesehen, meist bei den etwas dunkleren Szenen. Dazu irritiert mich der Abspann, der aus einer Fersehübertragung des ZDF von 1997 stammt. So zumindest steht es am Ende des Films, der dann früher zuende ist als die Abspannmusik, die im Schwarz weiter läuft.Man könnte fast glauben, das sei eine nicht offizielle Produktion. Fragen kann man den Verwerter nicht mehr, denn die "e-m-s new media AG" existiert seit gut 10 Jahren nicht mehr.

I'm very interested in physicist Richard Feynman, but this movie does not at all do him and his interesting life justice. In fact, watching this film makes you understand why Matthew Broderick NEVER DIRECTED AGAIN. I think, or at least I hope, he had his director's license revoked.

GOOD

楽曲のクオリティーの高さはデビュー当時からですが、プロモ・ビデオとして完成度ができたのは「Oasis」以降ですね。　曲数は９曲です！「真実の詩」はCMだけですので要注意！！　個人的には、なにげないレコーディング風景が楽しそうな「Week!」のプロモが好きです。　最近、ファンになり、昔の曲を知らない（これから覚えたい）人にはベスト・アルバム的内容なので買いでしょう。