| Subject: Best to like Henry James |
Author:
L Watson
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Date Posted: 17:23:18 03/07/02 Thu
In reply to:
DBSAABER
's message, "MOVIE REVIEWS: THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY" on 16:11:28 03/05/02 Tue
I've watched this movie more than once because I love Henry James' novels. Not everyone does. I also love the director, Jane Campion's work. If you're not sympathetic with James' themes of American innocence and European corruption in the late 19th/early 20th century, his emphasis on duty, pride and obligation, you may not find you like the story or the film. A not atypical question at the end is why does Nicole Kidman choose to stay with John Malkovich, who is shallow, married her only for her money and makes her unhappy, when she could be with Viggo Mortensen, who has loved her faithfully for years, is there when she needs him and whom she eventually realizes she returns his affection? There are academic papers trying to answer this.
This film has a large and talented cast. It is set in England and Italy allowing the director to create some beautiful scenes.
Viggo's role is relatively small. But you may find this worth watching as another example of the chameleon-like ability of Viggo to change the way he looks on screen. I didn't recognize him the first time I watched the film. When I saw the cast list, I asked myself, "That's the guy who was in Crimson Tide?" and watched it a second time still in disbelief. I'm still amazed.
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