DIRECTOR: Jane Campion
STARRING: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw
There is so much I want to say about this film that it is difficult for me to organize my thoughts. Every once in a rare while a film comes along which impacts you in ways that most people, including yourself, do not particularly understand. That is what Bright Star is for me. After looking back on 2009 I have decided it is by far my favorite film of the year (look out for my future Top/Worst 10 of 2009 post). To be quite honest, though, it is a little hard for me to articulate why.
Bright Star tells the story of nineteenth century Romantic poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his love affair with the girl next door, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Fanny is a talented fashionista who designs and sews all her own outfits; she has no patience for poetry, which she deems “a strain.” Keats, on the other hand, is the epitome of genius unappreciated in his own time, struggling to get by and caring for his brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Despite a few tiffs at the budding moments of their relationship, they quickly fall in love, only to have their romance cut short by an inevitable reality.
What makes this film stand out from anything that American cinema is capable of producing is the fact that it is — no joke — perfect. Everything about it is perfect. Every shot is breathtaking, every costume is flawless, and the pacing forces you, the audience, to slow down and experience everything that Fanny and Keats experience. You feel every fluttering emotion that they do; when they hold their breath, so does the audience; when they feel heartbreak, you feel it with them.
Aside from all the aesthetic beauty that the film provides, what truly makes it great is the work of the actors. This film introduced me to my two current favorite actors, Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish, who are both so good at what they do that it’s easy to forget that they’re actors. I will forever be enraged by the fact that Cornish didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. It is an absolute travesty. I’ve never seen an actress portray such raw, soul-crushing anguish as she did, and I will forever respect her for it.
I could go on and on for a while, but hopefully you will go see it for yourself. I truly hope that you do.
FINAL GRADE: A+
STARRING: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw
There is so much I want to say about this film that it is difficult for me to organize my thoughts. Every once in a rare while a film comes along which impacts you in ways that most people, including yourself, do not particularly understand. That is what Bright Star is for me. After looking back on 2009 I have decided it is by far my favorite film of the year (look out for my future Top/Worst 10 of 2009 post). To be quite honest, though, it is a little hard for me to articulate why.
Bright Star tells the story of nineteenth century Romantic poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his love affair with the girl next door, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Fanny is a talented fashionista who designs and sews all her own outfits; she has no patience for poetry, which she deems “a strain.” Keats, on the other hand, is the epitome of genius unappreciated in his own time, struggling to get by and caring for his brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Despite a few tiffs at the budding moments of their relationship, they quickly fall in love, only to have their romance cut short by an inevitable reality.
What makes this film stand out from anything that American cinema is capable of producing is the fact that it is — no joke — perfect. Everything about it is perfect. Every shot is breathtaking, every costume is flawless, and the pacing forces you, the audience, to slow down and experience everything that Fanny and Keats experience. You feel every fluttering emotion that they do; when they hold their breath, so does the audience; when they feel heartbreak, you feel it with them.
Aside from all the aesthetic beauty that the film provides, what truly makes it great is the work of the actors. This film introduced me to my two current favorite actors, Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish, who are both so good at what they do that it’s easy to forget that they’re actors. I will forever be enraged by the fact that Cornish didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. It is an absolute travesty. I’ve never seen an actress portray such raw, soul-crushing anguish as she did, and I will forever respect her for it.
I could go on and on for a while, but hopefully you will go see it for yourself. I truly hope that you do.
FINAL GRADE: A+
No comments:
Post a Comment