Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The crushing pressures of social conformity have always been a central concern of Terence Davies' movies, so Edith Wharton's astringent novel of innocence destroyed makes an ideal choice for him. Set in the edgy, nouveau riche ambience of 1900s New York, the story traces the downfall of the lovely but imprudent Lily Bart (Gillian Anderson) in a world where hypocrisy and predatory vice lurk behind genteel facades. Wharton (whose later novel The Age of Innocence was brilliantly filmed by Martin Scorsese) has an acute feel for the subtleties of social nuance, the way insiders and outsiders are defined, and Davies skilfully renders these hints and insidious judgments in cinematic terms. Working to a tighter budget than most period dramas, he turns his limitations to advantage. The film's never in danger of being swamped by the gorgeousness of its sets and costumes, or turned into an exercise in easy nostalgia. The northern austerity of Glasgow effectively stands in for New York. Throwing off the mantle of Scully (from The X-Files), Gillian Anderson gives a powerful and wholly convincing performance as Lily, movingly despairing as her options are closed off one by one; and there's a fine portrayal of self-satisfied brutality from Dan Aykroyd as the chief agent of her downfall. --Philip Kemp
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this as a result of seeing Gillian Anderson in Bleak House where I was astonished by her excellent performance as Lady Deadlock. In this film she portrays the unfortunate Lily so well that it was impossible not to feel for her and her situation as an single girl with no money, having to find a husband. Her situation is compromised by the husband of one of her so-called friends and her depiction of the consequence of this was masterly.
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is truly a visually stunning drama. With the most beautiful costumes and decors. And drama it truly is! We meet the attractive and charismatic Lily Bart, convinced and determined of her success. She has flaws though, for she has morals! And she is willfull. Lily lives in class society, with limited means. she must capture the rich and respectable husband her beauty entitles her to. She must please the right people. She must satisfy her aunt who supports her. She must be vigilant. she must shake off an infatuation with an unsuitable (poor) man. She must play the game. she must make friends of the most venomous and dangerous people. She fails, she falls.
There will be tears.
There will be tears.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is one of the best movies to have been made in recent years - it is simply fantastic. Not your typical costume drama, it follows the life of Lily Bart, a womam fighting to keep her place in society, but unable to bring herself to marry someone she doesn't love just to remain in it. This is a love story, but it is also a very cutting social commentary which discusses ultimately the importance of staying true to ones self no matter the consequences or the preception of others. Gillian Anderson is wonderful, in a very un-Scully like role and Terence Davies unusual style of directing very close camera angles and long conversational scenes creates a beautiful film, which was sadly overlooked in the Oscars this year. The DVD includes interesting (and in one instance essential) extra scenes, a directors commentary, interviews with the stars and crew, behind the scenes footage and Gillian Anderson's acceptance speech for a best actress award. I sought out this film 4 times at the cinema and went to its British Premiere at the Edinburgh Film festival - what bigger recommendation can I give? Just buy it :)
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
wonderful
This film is Art.I loved everything about it.The poetic direction,the stunnng actrice,the splendid settings , the depth of the characters and the tragedy of the story. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tabita M.
Gillian is a great classic star.
I bought this after seeing her amazing performance in Bleak House.She has the knack of pursing her lips,to get a superior look, without it looking unnatural. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. D. Surrey
Perfection!
Beautifully acted, scripted, ravishing to watch, an unforgettable tragedy. Lily Bart is trapped by convention, her only choices to make a marriage with a wealthy man, but... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nell
Mesmerising, thought provoking and visually wonderful
As a fan both of Edith Wharton and of Gillian Anderson (especially after her extraordinary performance in Bleak House) I was amazed to be unaware of this wonderful film until this... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Constructive woman
depressing
As the word "mirth" means (I qoute The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary) rejoicing, merriment, this DVD is very much a misnomer. Read more
Published 17 months ago by vanessa
Great Movie
I read the book by Edith Wharton. It is a great and tragic story. The movie is very true to the book and an excellent rendition. 'Though it could be a little longer... Read more
Published 19 months ago by dickdona
Film does the book justice
This film was very agreeable to the book almost emotion by emotion, and anderson's performance was surprisingly riveting to me. Read more
Published 19 months ago by S. Williams
Sublime - an extraordinary experience
For those of us who have watched the 200 episodes of the X Files, and the two movies, sometimes several times over, it is no surprise to find Gillian Anderson
producing a... Read more
producing a... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ben Hall
Restricted area viewing on this DVD
You sent me a DVD that can only be viewed in the USA or Canada. Why is this?
Published 20 months ago by janee
Stunning
One of the greatest (and most underrated) films of all time. Visually stunning, a perfect soundtrack, and a plot that will wrench your soul and leave you howling. Unmissable. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by Dignam Consultants Limited
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
