FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
An (expatriate) American in Europe
Jane meets James in a rather drab adaption
by Leslie StrudwickThe Portrait of a Lady
Directed by Jane Campion
Starring Nicole Kidman, John Malkovitch and Barbara Hershey
Opens Friday January 17th, Check listingsChalk up another mark for period pieces and novel adaptations. After the successes of Jane Austen's classics, Hollywood sees the potential for cash and has decided to keep the theme going. The most recent piece of fiction to go from page to screen is Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady. It is bound to generate some interest as it is Jane Campion's first directorial project since her highly acclaimed film, The Piano.
It is a late 19th century tale of an independently-minded young American, Isabel Archer, who rejects a lucrative marriage proposal in favor of her yearning to experience the world. Her decision stuns many of her British relatives, save for her admiring cousin, Ralph Touchett. Ralph quietly enables Isabel to carry out her pursuit by convincing his dying father to leave her a share of his fortune. But rather than setting her free, her new fortune finds Isabel a target for the manipulations of an unsettling duo. Believing to be befriended by Madame Merle, Isabel is introduced to Gilbert Osmond, who soon woos her into an unhappy and character-breaking marriage.
Nicole Kidman plays the role of the young heroine, Isabel. While hardly being on the mailing list for her fan club, admittedly she brings to the character the strength and naiveté it needs. The American accent lapses a bit here and there, but pick, pick. Of course John Malkovitch is titillating as the sleazy, yet seductive, Osmond, but haven't we seen that before, John? While Barbara Hershey brings nothing to her role of Madam Merle, Martin Donovan does just the opposite with his rendition of the supportive cousin Ralph. Through Donovan, Ralph is the only character that inspires any sort of feeling. While the other performances are solid, yet easily forgotten, Donovan's is the only one that you would think about once the film is over.
While it is hard to say the film is disappointing, it is equally difficult to place it at the classic level of the original novel. Despite Campion's excellent direction, her rendering of James' story of American expatriates in Europe is, well, dull.
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