Movies

Pretentious drivel is about all one can say. Pity because moving Hardy west is an appealing idea but the performers, mood and conceits of the movie are anything but western. Comparisons with Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller are interesting but mostly serve to demonstrate that this is (sorry but it is the best description) still pretentious drivel. Perhaps some enterprising auteur can try this again with a different cast and director but again premised on the Mayor of Casterbridge doing his time in the nineteenth century west but this time without the European music and, one more time, pretentious drivel. I would have noted spoiler and mentioned the end but I could not make it through. Paging Julie Christie.

Peter Mullan is good in most things that he's involved with. I'm definitely a fan, he's a damn good actor. Plus I enjoy Kinski and Thomas Hardy storylines and the slant on this was interesting. Beautiful scenery and some fine camera work. But overall this was a clunker. The actress "Sarah Polley" was just simply awful. She spoilt it so much for and irritated me that I wanted to turn it off. Why do actors/actresses get parts based soley on their good looks. Perhaps she is good in something else, but this movie really did hang very much on liking this young lady and she lost a good opportunity with this part. Pity. I'd like to see this novel made again but this time, base it back in Wessex where it belongs. Nice try.