The Invisible Woman (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Famed author/public speaker Charles Dickens was the Brad Pitt of his day back in merry 'ole England of the mid-1800s. He was enough of a 'celebrity' to excite the masses & be the subject of much gossip. Recognizing all of this, Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) was extremely careful to keep his relationship with young actress Ellen 'Nelly' Ternan (Felicity Jones) far from the spotlight in ... 'The Invisible Woman' (directed by Fiennes & written by Abi Morgan). There were rumors of their affair, especially around the time Dickens separated from his wife of 22 years (Joanna Scanlan, of The Girl with a Pearl Earring). This film is slow, sedate, dignified, & thick with a sense of sadness. Now, I'm sure there were moments of joy in the years Dickens & Nelly spent together, but we don't see any of them in this movie.
Most of 'The Invisible Woman' transpires btwn. 1857-1870ish. In 1857, Dickens - a father of 10(!) - 1st meets Nelly when she works as an actress for a production of The Frozen Deep. For a bit, Dickens' interactions with Nelly, her 2 older sisters, and her career-molding mother (Kristin Scott Thomas, re-teaming with Ralph Fiennes again - remember their steamy romance in 1996's The English Patient) are ... proper. Eventually, however, the attraction btwn. he & the then 18 yr. old Nelly becomes too powerful for either of them to ignore. Nelly is everything that Dickens' wife isn't: she's smart, curious, literate, fascinated by his works, & attractive. But society prevents them from fully committing to each another. Nelly is repulsed by her own adulterous actions. And depression settles over her.
In the movie's 1883 segment, 13 yrs. after Dickens' death, we learn that Nelly is married & has a son ... but her past love affair haunts her like a ghost she cannot get rid of. She takes long, vigorous walks on the beach & loses herself in the past. At the age of 44, we see how she struggles to work through her depression to move forward in life for her husband, her son, & her career without being held back by her history with a man who treated her as if she were ... invisible.
This film is meant for those of us who are interested in delving into the private lives of long-dead masters of art. We get to travel back to Victorian England & witness how the 'other woman' existed & coped with life at that time & place. This film is a passion project/labor of love for Ralph Fiennes and, as he always does, he submerges himself into this legendary role. Even better, however, is Felicity Jones, whose portrayal of Nelly Ternan is quietly devastating; showing range & depth as a sensitive woman forced to face adversity while trying to appear resilient to it. Visually, the period detail is exceptional. I completely understand/approve of this film's Best Costume nomination for The Academy Awards. Hell, the production design & haunting, lamp-lit camerawork would be worthy, too.
'The Invisible Woman' humanizes Dickens & gives us insight into these events in his life. I like that the movie touches on how women 'dealt' with moral improprieties & depression (or didn't). But the narrative structure introduces problems. Opting for a scattershot account of the love affair (jumping from 1883 to 1857 to 1866 to 1883 to 1858, etc.) instead of a straightforward chronological account made everything felt too clipped & emotionally stunted rather than having a strong cumulative effect. Another problem is the pacing. To put it plainly ... it was glacial. No film should have as many pregnant pauses & meaningful stares/glares as this one does. All that said, it's a decent film that should please Charles Dickens enthusiasts as well as those viewers with an affinity for unhurried, beautiful, British costume dramas.
Most of 'The Invisible Woman' transpires btwn. 1857-1870ish. In 1857, Dickens - a father of 10(!) - 1st meets Nelly when she works as an actress for a production of The Frozen Deep. For a bit, Dickens' interactions with Nelly, her 2 older sisters, and her career-molding mother (Kristin Scott Thomas, re-teaming with Ralph Fiennes again - remember their steamy romance in 1996's The English Patient) are ... proper. Eventually, however, the attraction btwn. he & the then 18 yr. old Nelly becomes too powerful for either of them to ignore. Nelly is everything that Dickens' wife isn't: she's smart, curious, literate, fascinated by his works, & attractive. But society prevents them from fully committing to each another. Nelly is repulsed by her own adulterous actions. And depression settles over her.
In the movie's 1883 segment, 13 yrs. after Dickens' death, we learn that Nelly is married & has a son ... but her past love affair haunts her like a ghost she cannot get rid of. She takes long, vigorous walks on the beach & loses herself in the past. At the age of 44, we see how she struggles to work through her depression to move forward in life for her husband, her son, & her career without being held back by her history with a man who treated her as if she were ... invisible.
This film is meant for those of us who are interested in delving into the private lives of long-dead masters of art. We get to travel back to Victorian England & witness how the 'other woman' existed & coped with life at that time & place. This film is a passion project/labor of love for Ralph Fiennes and, as he always does, he submerges himself into this legendary role. Even better, however, is Felicity Jones, whose portrayal of Nelly Ternan is quietly devastating; showing range & depth as a sensitive woman forced to face adversity while trying to appear resilient to it. Visually, the period detail is exceptional. I completely understand/approve of this film's Best Costume nomination for The Academy Awards. Hell, the production design & haunting, lamp-lit camerawork would be worthy, too.
'The Invisible Woman' humanizes Dickens & gives us insight into these events in his life. I like that the movie touches on how women 'dealt' with moral improprieties & depression (or didn't). But the narrative structure introduces problems. Opting for a scattershot account of the love affair (jumping from 1883 to 1857 to 1866 to 1883 to 1858, etc.) instead of a straightforward chronological account made everything felt too clipped & emotionally stunted rather than having a strong cumulative effect. Another problem is the pacing. To put it plainly ... it was glacial. No film should have as many pregnant pauses & meaningful stares/glares as this one does. All that said, it's a decent film that should please Charles Dickens enthusiasts as well as those viewers with an affinity for unhurried, beautiful, British costume dramas.