sydneypatrick
Joined Jan 2002
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Reviews23
sydneypatrick's rating
I am admittedly fascinated w/ the story of the Papin sisters and its
effect on literature and film over the last 70 years, so I looked
forward to seeing this film - knowing the content (murder, incest) is
as disturbing as it is.
Although the cast gives fine performances, and Sylvie Testud is
truly dynamic as Christine, I cannot recommend this film over
Nancy Meckler's 1994 "Sister My Sister." Where this one seems
academic in its focus on the details, SMS puts the kettle on the
slow burner and lets it heat up to the boiling point. And you will not
find more intense performances than those of Joely Richardson
as Christine and Jodhi May as Lea.
SMS is riveting and ghastly and heart-breaking all at once, where
MM left me oddly unmoved but for the graphic depiction of the
murders themselves which Meckler, thankfully, used a more
Hitchcockian hand to depict in her earlier version. Meckler also
employed a more discreet touch to the scenes of incestuous
love-making, adding eroticism to the taboo that actually enhanced
the impact of disturbance rather than making it a gross out of
fleshy incestuous sex.
So, skip this one and look back on the video shelf for the superior
Sister My Sister, and you'll be happy you did.
effect on literature and film over the last 70 years, so I looked
forward to seeing this film - knowing the content (murder, incest) is
as disturbing as it is.
Although the cast gives fine performances, and Sylvie Testud is
truly dynamic as Christine, I cannot recommend this film over
Nancy Meckler's 1994 "Sister My Sister." Where this one seems
academic in its focus on the details, SMS puts the kettle on the
slow burner and lets it heat up to the boiling point. And you will not
find more intense performances than those of Joely Richardson
as Christine and Jodhi May as Lea.
SMS is riveting and ghastly and heart-breaking all at once, where
MM left me oddly unmoved but for the graphic depiction of the
murders themselves which Meckler, thankfully, used a more
Hitchcockian hand to depict in her earlier version. Meckler also
employed a more discreet touch to the scenes of incestuous
love-making, adding eroticism to the taboo that actually enhanced
the impact of disturbance rather than making it a gross out of
fleshy incestuous sex.
So, skip this one and look back on the video shelf for the superior
Sister My Sister, and you'll be happy you did.
This was one of the more exquisite costume drama adaptations I have seen, with attention to detail absolutely striking in an archery scene that sets the bar for the entire series. Like the novel, it is polarizing in its two stories in one - people seem to either love/hate Daniel's plight or love/hate Gwendolyn's.
Personally, I found Gwendolyn equally annoying in both novel and film. Hugh Darcy, as the eponymous hero, was pretty to look at and delivers a fine, if unremarkable, performance.
But it is Hugh Bonneville as the dastardly Henleigh Grandcourt who took my breath away! He is flawlessly reprehensible, stealing every scene he was in and when he wasn't in a scene, I couldn't wait to see him again! It was terrific seeing Hugh Bonneville in such a role, as he's usually cast in the "very nice guy" roles (Bridget Jones Diary, Iris, Tipping the Velvet, etc). Although he's fine in such roles, as Grandcourt he made my skin crawl with his morally bankrupt, wealthy and pugnacious swagger. LOVED him!
What this series could have used more of was Jodhi May and Greta Scacchi. In difficult supporting roles, both women shine as, respectively, a searching, haunted Jewess and a scorned, bitter mistress. Barbara Hershey makes an appearance late in the series in a pivotal plot device that I won't reveal lest some unsuspecting viewer be bitter with me, and in a limited role gives a performance that reminds us why she became famous in the first place (and at least for this viewer, made me forgive her 'Beaches').
Overall, this adaptation is very enjoyable and recommended viewing for fans of the genre.
Personally, I found Gwendolyn equally annoying in both novel and film. Hugh Darcy, as the eponymous hero, was pretty to look at and delivers a fine, if unremarkable, performance.
But it is Hugh Bonneville as the dastardly Henleigh Grandcourt who took my breath away! He is flawlessly reprehensible, stealing every scene he was in and when he wasn't in a scene, I couldn't wait to see him again! It was terrific seeing Hugh Bonneville in such a role, as he's usually cast in the "very nice guy" roles (Bridget Jones Diary, Iris, Tipping the Velvet, etc). Although he's fine in such roles, as Grandcourt he made my skin crawl with his morally bankrupt, wealthy and pugnacious swagger. LOVED him!
What this series could have used more of was Jodhi May and Greta Scacchi. In difficult supporting roles, both women shine as, respectively, a searching, haunted Jewess and a scorned, bitter mistress. Barbara Hershey makes an appearance late in the series in a pivotal plot device that I won't reveal lest some unsuspecting viewer be bitter with me, and in a limited role gives a performance that reminds us why she became famous in the first place (and at least for this viewer, made me forgive her 'Beaches').
Overall, this adaptation is very enjoyable and recommended viewing for fans of the genre.
Contrary to what the other reviewer here states, this was not meant to be a sweeping vision of history. It was clearly meant as a chamber piece - a chick flick of dark proportions.
While this production does not begin to embrace the scope of Anne's criminal nature, or the greater national ramifications that became of her union with Henry VIII, it doesn't aim to. What it does do, however, is paint a poignant portrait of what it was to be a woman in the 16th century, and how ruthless those days in court were.
I'm a fan of the novel this is based on and am hugely thrilled by this adaptation. It is bold and striking and the lead performance by Jodhi May is one of the most compelling I have ever seen anywhere. It should certainly act as her calling card to producers everywhere that she is more than ready to make the transition from ingenue to adult role. By this performance, I'd say she made the leap long ago.
Jared Harris turns in a dead on performance as the Tudor king who became a tyrant and not the least bit because of his union with Anne Boleyn. The rest in the cast paled in comparison to these two, but that does not mean they turned in poor performances. To the contrary, this was a top notch production I wish greater American audiences could see.
The only glitch for me was toward the end when there is video footage of modern day England, tourists at the Tower of London. I don't get it. But I can forgive one small moment in light of the greater ambition and success of this project.
Period drama should always be so delicious!
While this production does not begin to embrace the scope of Anne's criminal nature, or the greater national ramifications that became of her union with Henry VIII, it doesn't aim to. What it does do, however, is paint a poignant portrait of what it was to be a woman in the 16th century, and how ruthless those days in court were.
I'm a fan of the novel this is based on and am hugely thrilled by this adaptation. It is bold and striking and the lead performance by Jodhi May is one of the most compelling I have ever seen anywhere. It should certainly act as her calling card to producers everywhere that she is more than ready to make the transition from ingenue to adult role. By this performance, I'd say she made the leap long ago.
Jared Harris turns in a dead on performance as the Tudor king who became a tyrant and not the least bit because of his union with Anne Boleyn. The rest in the cast paled in comparison to these two, but that does not mean they turned in poor performances. To the contrary, this was a top notch production I wish greater American audiences could see.
The only glitch for me was toward the end when there is video footage of modern day England, tourists at the Tower of London. I don't get it. But I can forgive one small moment in light of the greater ambition and success of this project.
Period drama should always be so delicious!