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Christopher Marlowe's 16th century play is radically adapted by Derek Jarman in one of his most powerful films. Using anachronistic imagery, modern dress, gay activists battling riot police and Annie Lennox singing Cole Porter, the story of Britain's only openly gay monarch and the persecution he suffered is given a contemporary resonance by Jarman, paralleling the injustice with prevailing modern-day homophobia. King Edward II rejects his cold wife Queen Isabella and takes a male lover, the commoner Piers Gaveston upon whom he betows gifts and power. The king's behaviour enrages the sober, business-suited court officials and the spurned queen becomes a seething monster whose dresses and jewellery grow more outrageously lavish as her need to vengeance escalates and the plotting begins. Bonus Feature - Derek's Edward - An exclusive documentary featuring cast and crew interviews.
Review
Mesmerising --Rolling Stone
A jewel of a film --Channel4.com
A jewel of a film --Channel4.com
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Being one of only two movies (as opposed to stage productions) based on the works of Christopher Marlowe (the other is Richard Burton's 1967 DOCTOR FAUSTUS), Derek Jarman's 1991 film of EDWARD II would be important for that reason alone. However there is more to the film than that. It's not only what meets the eye but what meets the ear that really counts. Like most of his films, Jarman shot EDWARD II on a shoestring and like many a theatre director turned filmmaker, he follows the time honored tradition of re-interpreting a classic play for the screen. The minimal settings and modern costumes, which were partially budgetary concerns, take some getting used to as does the overtly gay overtone that Jarman brings out which is not for the easily offended even though it can clearly be found in Marlowe's text. However, if you can get past that, then this EDWARD II can be a surprisingly rich and rewarding experience especially on repeated viewings.
After I have watched a film version of a Shakespeare play or in this case Marlowe, I like to run it through my sound system without the picture and just listen to the words and how the actors speak them. The cast for EDWARD II is very strong and their theatrical background comes through with most of Marlowe's lines. Shakespeare was regarded as a playwright when he died in 1616 while Marlowe was considered a poet when he was murdered in 1593. There is poetry in Marlowe's blank verse that even Shakespeare couldn't aspire to although he was the better writer overall. But I digress. With a trio of strong performances from Stephen Waddington, Tilda Swinton, and Nigel Terry, this version of EDWARD II has a raw power that is accentuated by Jarman's visuals and Simon Fisher-Turner's music. Forget the anachronisms like Annie Lennox or the appearance of Queer Nation and focus on the story of a flawed individual who like Othello, "loved not wisely, but too well".
After I have watched a film version of a Shakespeare play or in this case Marlowe, I like to run it through my sound system without the picture and just listen to the words and how the actors speak them. The cast for EDWARD II is very strong and their theatrical background comes through with most of Marlowe's lines. Shakespeare was regarded as a playwright when he died in 1616 while Marlowe was considered a poet when he was murdered in 1593. There is poetry in Marlowe's blank verse that even Shakespeare couldn't aspire to although he was the better writer overall. But I digress. With a trio of strong performances from Stephen Waddington, Tilda Swinton, and Nigel Terry, this version of EDWARD II has a raw power that is accentuated by Jarman's visuals and Simon Fisher-Turner's music. Forget the anachronisms like Annie Lennox or the appearance of Queer Nation and focus on the story of a flawed individual who like Othello, "loved not wisely, but too well".
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I love Derek Jarman and his work but while I think this must have been an enormously powerful anti-homophobia film when it was made in the 1990s, it fails as a production of Marlowe's sixteenth century text.
Jarman closes down all the ambiguity of Marlowe's play and makes this an overt play about gay rights. His characters are far more linear than in Marlowe's text, and there's no character arc or development for Edward. Where Marlowe deliberately complicates whether Edward's crime is one of `sexuality' (an idea which didn't really exist in the C16th) or of political transgression, Jarman makes him simply a victim of homophobia.
Some of the affects are also jarringly over-the-top in baroque fashion e.g. Tilda Swinton's vampiric method of killing...
So if you're interested in Jarman, gay politics, or just a beautifully-shot and visually-stunning film with stark, bare sets, then this is excellent. But if you're looking for a production of Marlowe's sixteenth century play, then this isn't it.
Jarman closes down all the ambiguity of Marlowe's play and makes this an overt play about gay rights. His characters are far more linear than in Marlowe's text, and there's no character arc or development for Edward. Where Marlowe deliberately complicates whether Edward's crime is one of `sexuality' (an idea which didn't really exist in the C16th) or of political transgression, Jarman makes him simply a victim of homophobia.
Some of the affects are also jarringly over-the-top in baroque fashion e.g. Tilda Swinton's vampiric method of killing...
So if you're interested in Jarman, gay politics, or just a beautifully-shot and visually-stunning film with stark, bare sets, then this is excellent. But if you're looking for a production of Marlowe's sixteenth century play, then this isn't it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Brillient Gay classic - the minimal set really works with the inspired lighting creating the focus on the excellent performances. A little over the top - but that's Jarman - you are either a fan of his or not. For those that are, it's an absolute must.
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