Bright Star (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Bright Star', written & directed by Jane Campion (The Piano, Portrait of a Lady), tells the story - not primarily of poet John Keats (who penned 'Bright Star') - but of Fanny Brawne, the starry-eyed teenager who fell madly in love with him; and the subject of his many writings. This film is inspired by the timeless love letters he wrote to her in their deeply-felt, but short-lived relationship. Told from Fanny's (Abbie Cornish) point of view, the movie starts in Hampstead, England, 1818; where she & John (Ben Whishaw) meet for the 1st time. Fanny & John are opposites; she's obsessed with fashion & cares not for poetry, he's a tortured writer who knows nothing of clothing. And Fanny is continually egged on by Keats' poet friend, Charles Brown (Paul Schneider); who finds her flaky.
But John & Fanny are drawn to each other. Both share a strong passion for creating art. And before long, they are swept into a platonic, yet emotionally-fulfilling affair that would last 3 yrs. (his poetry acted as both income AND as a conduit for their love). However, Mrs. Brawne (Kerry Fox) was upset that her daughter may want to marry the penniless Keats. And a jealous Charles didn't like that she disrupted the working/living balance that they had. John confronts Charles when trying to explain his feelings for Fanny, "There is a holiness to the heart's affections!" (beautiful dialogue). Railing against the naysayers, Fanny & John's love grew stronger, & more poetic. But in the end, with or without Mrs. Brawne & Charles' blessings ... illness tears the 2 lovers apart.
'Bright Star' is one of the most visually appealing, & wistful films I've seen in some time. Haunting, too - to watch lovers caught in a doomed courtship. And though many scenes are outdoors, their relationship felt claustrophobic. Society, family, friends, or illness ... something was always against them. I enjoyed learning a bit about Keats; who, along with Blake, Wordsworth, Byron, & Shelley, was the romantic poet of the time. And it's his most poignant words which speak about the relationship with Fanny, his imminent death, & his legacy ("A thing of beauty is a joy forever", "I have the feeling as if I were dissolving", "Forever panting & forever young"). Any time Keats spoke one of his odes, I was riveted to the words that fell from his lips; even if I didn't always fully interpret them.
Still, the movie really belongs to Fanny Brawne. She's nervy, headstrong, effervescent, & open hearted; a proud young woman who's seduced by words and undone by emotions. Abbie Cornish not only sells Fanny - the woman - but she sells the romance with Keats, too. We believe in it; which makes the ending more devastating than it already is. What she gives us in the climactic scene is something that I'll remember for some time. Cornish's performance is like watching poetry. Ben Whishaw is stellar as the gentle Keats; a soulful man tormented by love, poverty, & illness. Weird - that he only plays a supporting part in a film about his works. But that's the nature of the screenplay. The only other performance of note comes from Paul Schneider as Charles. His Scottish accent goes in & out; & he overcooks a few scenes. But overall, Schneider continues to impress me with the choices he's making as an actor.
On a technical level, the film is exquisite. The earthy setting, natural lighting, camerawork, sets, costumes, music ... all superb. And best yet, none of it calls attention to itself (like period pieces often do). I recall the lush beauty of a scene in which Fanny collapses in bliss among a field of purple flowers. And there's a metaphorical scene involving butterflies. The imagery is just staggeringly beautiful. 'Bright Star' is the kind of low-key historical drama that should strike a chord with poetry lovers, & those who appreciate intimate, meditative cinema. Also, I loved watching this love story unfold because in today's day & age - where phones, emails, texts, facebook, & twitter act as replacements for handwritten sentiment & real interaction - it's incredible to see WHY romances like this really did exist. People back then had such propriety & patience. Today's lovers can't feel that kind of romance. And that makes 'Bright Star' unique.
Now that I've touched upon the positives of this delicate-yet-sensual love story, it's time to talk about why the film is not a 4-star knock-out. Simply put ... it is very quiet, simple & staid. There are no surprises, & the story is quite linear. The words that come from the script are like ice cream for the ears. But nothing got my pulse-rate above a 40. 'Bright Star' reeled me in whenever Fanny & John were TOGETHER. I was glued to the screen for every subtle glance they made, every caressed finger, every brush of their lips, & every stolen word. But time spent with the other characters felt a bit hollow in comparison.
Jane Campion's previous films are slow, strange, & intoxicating. But this film substitutes the 'strange' for solemn; infusing nature's beauty with the beauty of Keats' words. And thus, other than the doomed romance, 'Bright Star' has little at stake, dramatically. The movie sometimes challenged me to stay with it. Still, I really enjoy thoughtful romantic dramas such as this. I respect filmmakers (such as Campion) who have an artiste's eye. 'Bright Star' is a delicate, and special little film; offering a beautiful, hypnotizing tribute to the suffering duo of Brawne & Keats. And I find myself reflecting upon the various images & moments I witnessed just a few days ago. They linger. And I can't wait to revisit them.
But John & Fanny are drawn to each other. Both share a strong passion for creating art. And before long, they are swept into a platonic, yet emotionally-fulfilling affair that would last 3 yrs. (his poetry acted as both income AND as a conduit for their love). However, Mrs. Brawne (Kerry Fox) was upset that her daughter may want to marry the penniless Keats. And a jealous Charles didn't like that she disrupted the working/living balance that they had. John confronts Charles when trying to explain his feelings for Fanny, "There is a holiness to the heart's affections!" (beautiful dialogue). Railing against the naysayers, Fanny & John's love grew stronger, & more poetic. But in the end, with or without Mrs. Brawne & Charles' blessings ... illness tears the 2 lovers apart.
'Bright Star' is one of the most visually appealing, & wistful films I've seen in some time. Haunting, too - to watch lovers caught in a doomed courtship. And though many scenes are outdoors, their relationship felt claustrophobic. Society, family, friends, or illness ... something was always against them. I enjoyed learning a bit about Keats; who, along with Blake, Wordsworth, Byron, & Shelley, was the romantic poet of the time. And it's his most poignant words which speak about the relationship with Fanny, his imminent death, & his legacy ("A thing of beauty is a joy forever", "I have the feeling as if I were dissolving", "Forever panting & forever young"). Any time Keats spoke one of his odes, I was riveted to the words that fell from his lips; even if I didn't always fully interpret them.
Still, the movie really belongs to Fanny Brawne. She's nervy, headstrong, effervescent, & open hearted; a proud young woman who's seduced by words and undone by emotions. Abbie Cornish not only sells Fanny - the woman - but she sells the romance with Keats, too. We believe in it; which makes the ending more devastating than it already is. What she gives us in the climactic scene is something that I'll remember for some time. Cornish's performance is like watching poetry. Ben Whishaw is stellar as the gentle Keats; a soulful man tormented by love, poverty, & illness. Weird - that he only plays a supporting part in a film about his works. But that's the nature of the screenplay. The only other performance of note comes from Paul Schneider as Charles. His Scottish accent goes in & out; & he overcooks a few scenes. But overall, Schneider continues to impress me with the choices he's making as an actor.
On a technical level, the film is exquisite. The earthy setting, natural lighting, camerawork, sets, costumes, music ... all superb. And best yet, none of it calls attention to itself (like period pieces often do). I recall the lush beauty of a scene in which Fanny collapses in bliss among a field of purple flowers. And there's a metaphorical scene involving butterflies. The imagery is just staggeringly beautiful. 'Bright Star' is the kind of low-key historical drama that should strike a chord with poetry lovers, & those who appreciate intimate, meditative cinema. Also, I loved watching this love story unfold because in today's day & age - where phones, emails, texts, facebook, & twitter act as replacements for handwritten sentiment & real interaction - it's incredible to see WHY romances like this really did exist. People back then had such propriety & patience. Today's lovers can't feel that kind of romance. And that makes 'Bright Star' unique.
Now that I've touched upon the positives of this delicate-yet-sensual love story, it's time to talk about why the film is not a 4-star knock-out. Simply put ... it is very quiet, simple & staid. There are no surprises, & the story is quite linear. The words that come from the script are like ice cream for the ears. But nothing got my pulse-rate above a 40. 'Bright Star' reeled me in whenever Fanny & John were TOGETHER. I was glued to the screen for every subtle glance they made, every caressed finger, every brush of their lips, & every stolen word. But time spent with the other characters felt a bit hollow in comparison.
Jane Campion's previous films are slow, strange, & intoxicating. But this film substitutes the 'strange' for solemn; infusing nature's beauty with the beauty of Keats' words. And thus, other than the doomed romance, 'Bright Star' has little at stake, dramatically. The movie sometimes challenged me to stay with it. Still, I really enjoy thoughtful romantic dramas such as this. I respect filmmakers (such as Campion) who have an artiste's eye. 'Bright Star' is a delicate, and special little film; offering a beautiful, hypnotizing tribute to the suffering duo of Brawne & Keats. And I find myself reflecting upon the various images & moments I witnessed just a few days ago. They linger. And I can't wait to revisit them.