The Age of Innocence (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
If you're hankering for a long, moody, devastating romantic drama, then I recommend Martin Scorsese's 'The Age of Innocence'. The setting is New York City in the mid-1870's, where high society is dictated by who has all the $$ and who has the most moral propriety. Immorality, scandal, or a lack of $$ can mean the end of you. The setting may be America, but 1870's NY was every bit as Victorian as London, England itself. Into the plot steps Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), an unconventional woman who's spent much of her adult life in Europe & is now escaping a horrible marriage.
Since this is 'scandalous', she has to win-over some people & get herself 'situated'. At first, well-ordered Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) becomes a defender of the Countess (as her husband's woes makes her a social outcast). With time, they become kindred spirits, & fall in love. But the trouble with all this is ... Newland is due to marry May (Winona Ryder), Ellen's young cousin - of all people. So Newland's dilemma becomes tragically clear - proceed with what society deems proper & marry young May ... or leave May, capture Ellen's heart, & risk being banished from society's elite.
Scorsese & his writers do a great job (perhaps, too great) incorporating the conflict of societal pressures against love. It can't be easy to resurrect a moral code of behavior from 120 years ago. And he/they do so incredibly well. I say 'too great' (before) because the only fault I have with this movie is that the story is so ... damn ... depressing. This isn't really Scorsese's fault. He didn't write the novel from which the film is based. And many people will love the execution of the tragic romantic triangle. But I spent 133 minutes watching a gorgeous, beautifully acted movie come to a long-awaited conclusion that irritated me beyond belief.
Now, it must be said that 'The Age of Innocence' is one of most beautiful, rich, sumptuous films I've seen in quite some time. Really, in a word: magnificent. I love the historical setting. The colors are vibrant (deep reds, bright yellows, piercing whites). Michael Ballhaus' cinematography is stupendous. i.e., food never looked so scrumptious; interiors never looked so luxurious; the image of men walking down a city street with the wind knocking off their hats; the silhouette of the Countess standing on a landing looking over a sunlit sea, etc. Similarly, the costumes are incredible. I felt like I was IN 19th century NY while watching this. And Elmer Bernstein's music score is stellar; emotional in all the right spots.
Daniel-Day Lewis is very impressive (are we surprised?) as Newland, a man caught between the social ethic of the times & his emotions. Day-Lewis' Newland comes across as smart, good-looking, & graceful ... everything that Ellen could possibly want in a man. And when the plot spirals to its end, I felt despairingly for him. Michelle Pfeiffer is lovely in the role as the Countess. But again, SO lovely, that you just feel miserable for her in the end. Pfeiffer gives a soft, heartfelt performance as the intelligent, but reserved woman who knows she's walking on a thin rope wherever she goes. It's a stirring portrayal; one that could land her an Oscar nom. And Winona Ryder is fine as the quiet May. I just didn't see her in this role. It could have been anybody. But again, she's solid.
You know, it's hard to find fault with 'The Age of Innocence'. Everywhere you look is quality. Everything you feel is authentic. Everything is exquisite, polished & eloquently handled. Parts of the film are slow & emotionally 'hushed'. And this grave tale of Victorian repression, love, passion, longing, yearning & loss was almost too much for me to handle. Still, while I won't be rushing to see it again right away ... 'The Age of Innocence' gets a BIG thumbs up from me.
Since this is 'scandalous', she has to win-over some people & get herself 'situated'. At first, well-ordered Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) becomes a defender of the Countess (as her husband's woes makes her a social outcast). With time, they become kindred spirits, & fall in love. But the trouble with all this is ... Newland is due to marry May (Winona Ryder), Ellen's young cousin - of all people. So Newland's dilemma becomes tragically clear - proceed with what society deems proper & marry young May ... or leave May, capture Ellen's heart, & risk being banished from society's elite.
Scorsese & his writers do a great job (perhaps, too great) incorporating the conflict of societal pressures against love. It can't be easy to resurrect a moral code of behavior from 120 years ago. And he/they do so incredibly well. I say 'too great' (before) because the only fault I have with this movie is that the story is so ... damn ... depressing. This isn't really Scorsese's fault. He didn't write the novel from which the film is based. And many people will love the execution of the tragic romantic triangle. But I spent 133 minutes watching a gorgeous, beautifully acted movie come to a long-awaited conclusion that irritated me beyond belief.
Now, it must be said that 'The Age of Innocence' is one of most beautiful, rich, sumptuous films I've seen in quite some time. Really, in a word: magnificent. I love the historical setting. The colors are vibrant (deep reds, bright yellows, piercing whites). Michael Ballhaus' cinematography is stupendous. i.e., food never looked so scrumptious; interiors never looked so luxurious; the image of men walking down a city street with the wind knocking off their hats; the silhouette of the Countess standing on a landing looking over a sunlit sea, etc. Similarly, the costumes are incredible. I felt like I was IN 19th century NY while watching this. And Elmer Bernstein's music score is stellar; emotional in all the right spots.
Daniel-Day Lewis is very impressive (are we surprised?) as Newland, a man caught between the social ethic of the times & his emotions. Day-Lewis' Newland comes across as smart, good-looking, & graceful ... everything that Ellen could possibly want in a man. And when the plot spirals to its end, I felt despairingly for him. Michelle Pfeiffer is lovely in the role as the Countess. But again, SO lovely, that you just feel miserable for her in the end. Pfeiffer gives a soft, heartfelt performance as the intelligent, but reserved woman who knows she's walking on a thin rope wherever she goes. It's a stirring portrayal; one that could land her an Oscar nom. And Winona Ryder is fine as the quiet May. I just didn't see her in this role. It could have been anybody. But again, she's solid.
You know, it's hard to find fault with 'The Age of Innocence'. Everywhere you look is quality. Everything you feel is authentic. Everything is exquisite, polished & eloquently handled. Parts of the film are slow & emotionally 'hushed'. And this grave tale of Victorian repression, love, passion, longing, yearning & loss was almost too much for me to handle. Still, while I won't be rushing to see it again right away ... 'The Age of Innocence' gets a BIG thumbs up from me.