Watching "Bright Star," the tale of a sterile love affair, is like watching a yacht race on a windless day. So much beauty, so little movement.
The romance of John Keats and Fanny Brawne, next-door neighbors in London in the early 19th century, is filled with scenes that provide lots of sex that never happens. Writer-director Jane Campion provides imagery and wishful thinking, stares aimed at Never-Never Land, sighs of unrequited passion. It's a lovely film, a beautiful film. But nothing happens.
Abbie Cornish, reportedly even lovelier than she looks in "Bright Star," is ready for stardom after playing Fanny, and Ben Whishaw is handsome and dreamy and a model for all the English poets and romantics parodied by W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan in dozens of operettas.
The supporting cast is solid, too, with Paul Schneider as Charles Brown, Keats' housemate, protector, semi-agent. He fears that Keats' poetic talent will be sapped if he gets too involved with Fanny, and he tries to break up the romance. His own light-hearted romance with an Irish housemaid is a different story, however.
Kerry Fox is a delight as Mrs. Brawne, single mother to Fanny and her two siblings. Young Edie Martin is a scene-stealer as the youngest Brawne child.
Keats' beautiful, lyric poetry has been a romantic mainstay for nearly 200 years, and when Whishaw and Cornish speak it, especially as they do while the credits roll at the end of the action, it's easy to understand why. But I repeat, nothing happens.
At the Plaza Frontenac
-Joe
Yes, indeed, no horse races, alien abductions, death threats, kidnappings, time travel, or wars. Nothing happens except day to day living and the budding of first love. I compare this film to fine poetry and find it a work of art.
Posted by: PT | October 01, 2009 at 09:36 PM