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Reviews
The Turn of the Screw (1999)
Good performances, lack of atmosphere.
The turn of the screw is one of Henry James' easiest novel to read, and also one of the scariest books ever, for its sense of suspense and that way to play with your nerve. And it has very cinematographic writing, when reading the most intense parts of the book you can't help but seeing it, it just scream for a movie adaptation.
Well this film is as a whole quite good, very faithful to James' text. It doesn't reduce it to just another ghost story, but respects that the characters' psychology and neurosis really are the heart of it. The cast is very good, especially Jodhi May. But that little Miles boy couldn't ever be described as an angel, he's just evilly annoying and obnoxious from the start. Colin Firth, as "the master", has approximately 3 minutes of screen time to settle his dashing, charming gentleman of a character, make the governess so in love with him that she'll accept the weird job condition (and may even explain her later neurotic state), and make such an impression that has to last 'til the movie end. And he does that just well, because he's sooooo adorable.
My only disappointment is the lack of general atmosphere, it's mostly too distant, and scenes like the first appearance of each ghost don't produce the shock expected (well, if you've read the book...). All of other "ghosts scene" is quite effective, if not very subtle (think dramatic music). The very end is also a lot more explicit than in the book.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Very enjoyable, not so much for the leading couple
When I first saw Shakespeare in love in 1998, Gwyneth Paltrow had just won her Oscar, and I was mostly curious about that. So what I remember from then is that indeed, she impressed me for being so luminous, giving a passionate, yet fresh performance, something that alas, she hasn't been quite able to reiterate so far... Now watching it again on DVD, I'm only sorry that I don't care much for the Viola/Will relationship. Joseph Fiennes plays well, but he looks dull, and at the same time too modern and not exactly a credible Shakespeare. Otherwise, it's a delightful movie. The basis idea is very interesting, it's cleverly written, perfectly directed, it provides us with some moments of pure comedy, and the costumes are gorgeous. But its best quality lies in that exceptional gallery of supporting characters (with the possible exception of Ben Affleck, mostly being Ben Affleck in breeches). They're all three dimensional, often hilarious, played by the cream of British actors with the likes of Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Rupert Everett, Geoffrey Rush... And the most enjoyable maybe being the always wonderful (and handsome) Colin Firth, as the "villain", irritating, laughable Lord Wessex, managing to make touching, lovable and still utterly funny a character who has all the circumstances against him. To the point that I don't understand why Viola is complaining!