Best Costume Design. Really, Academy? That’s it? As a good online friend would say, Pffft.
The most overlooked movie of the year, by far, is Bright Star. From the opening shot—an extreme closeup of a needle pulling through fabric—you know you are in the hands of a cinematic master. This intimate look at an everyday act makes it a wondrous thing, as if we have never quite seen it before.
Jane Campion, who wrote as well as directed, has created an incandescent and utterly satisfying story of young love—romantic, and tragic, and true.
Its title taken from his poem of the same name, Bright Star tells the story of the poet John Keats and his neighbor, Fanny Brawne. It follows their relationship from the time of their first meeting, through and after his death.
It is a relationship that develops naturally and believably; each coming into their own as they awaken to each other, and the sensual joys of the world around them.
Their relationship is complicated by his poverty—he’s not seen as a suitable match for Fanny—and by the jealousness of his best friend, who resents her intrusion into their bachelor lives.
Time and circumstance bring their critics around. Even her mother and the doubting friend yield to the understanding that this is not just a bad case of puppy love, but a heavy dose of the real thing.
Abbie Cornish, who plays Fanny Brawne, gives a flawless performance as a young girl awakening to herself, and to love. Ben Wishaw plays Keats with just the right amount of passion and angst—acutely sensitive, but never cloying.
Can you watch this and not be reminded of your own first love, when the world was lit up and new? No, you cannot. Like a great poem itself, the movie delivers us that world again.
If God is in the details, the details are in this film: the wind coming in through the open window in Fanny’s room; her hands as she touches the wall between them; the new coat she sews when she sees his old one, threadbare.
When the inevitable happens, her breakdown is almost unbearable.
In contrast, Up in the Air was a confused, bleak mess of a movie, whose characters and plot points played like cartoons. It was written by a young Hollywood screenwriter who seems to have stumbled across the big themes of our time, but didn’t have a clue what to do with them. The fact that it’s up for Best Picture, and Bright Star isn’t…I’m losing hope for Hollywood. Again.
More on Bright Star:
Stephanie Zacherek’s review on Salon, here: http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2009/09/18/bright_star/index.html
John Keats info here: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/66
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Cary Tennis
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Comments
Just had to write in after seeing your great review of Bright Star. I too thought it was robbed, but knew it had very little chance of getting noticed because so few had seen it (it was barely a blip in the theatres).
Your observations were so spot on ... I had such similar reactions when I saw the film. Two scenes which stood out for me (the first of which I too wanted to pause and replay over and over in my mind):
1) When Fanny and Keats are out in the field with her younger sister, and they play a sweet silly game of "statues" with her. Every time she looks back at them they suddenly stand frozen in whatever position they're in, and she giggles, smiles shyly and continues walking. The blossoming love between them is so palpable, the giddy joy ... I smiled, tears pricking in spite of myself seeing that scene, and wishing I could climb into the screen and play that game right alongside them.
2) The heartwrenching scene when Fanny discovers Keats has died. God, I can still recall it ... her mother takes her by the stairs and both of them face each other, Fanny heaving with heavy, uncontrollable sobs and her mother holding her face on either side anxiously trying to get her to breathe and slowly calm down, yet never negating her need to cry and pour all her anguish out. Beautifully done scene, really ... the mother finally understanding the immense, timeless love her daughter and Keats always had for each other (I thought Kerry Fox was amazing as the mother too).
I will confess ... I actually had to run out of the theatre to the washroom and bawl my eyes out, the movie affected me that deeply, that unexpectedly. Thank God it was at an independent theatre, nearly empty ;o)
Jane Campion should've received a nomination for her superbly understated yet emotionally effective direction of Bright Star. Abbie Cornish also deserved a nomination ... instead 3 of Up In the Air's stars get nominations?!
This year's nominations are pretty pathetic and disillusioning I have to say. If you're going for 10 Best Pic nominations, then at least include Bright Star and Star Trek, geez. A Serious Man, seriously?
Brian – someone else saw it! ;) Glad you liked it too….
Spot on, Jane…when will they wise up to how much of an audience there actually is for movies like this, provided people can find them…(And thank you for the Pfft ;)
Scherezade – thanks for stopping by, and glad you agree. I remember those scenes well, and had a similar reaction to them. I think she’s made a masterpiece…though I have to disagree with you about A Serious Man. Big Colin Firth fan here ;)
jimmy - thanks for reading. It is amazing how quickly this movie disappeared. As a writer, especially, I think you would really like it...
Up to five nominations will be made in most categories, with balloting for these nominations restricted to members of the Academy branch concerned; only actors, for instance, determine the nominees in the acting categories. Nominations for awards in the Foreign Language Film category are made by a large screening group composed of members from all branches. Best Picture nominations and final winners in most categories are determined by vote of the entire membership.
So, if the nominees suck, it's because those in Hollywood are getting stupider and stupider. As JK said, Hollywood is run by middle aged boys who are promoting and putting forward their ilk, thus ruining the industry.
By contrast, the BAFTAs have nominated Bright Star for Best Cinematography.
Speaking of which, I hear Julianne Moore's performance in that was also snubbed.
Scheherezade - d'oh! Thanks for the correction. I had gotten them completely confused. Now I am outraged all over again! ;)
Beautifully written Donna - I look forward to watching this.
Cindy Ross! If you loved the Piano I am sure you will like this….just as stunning, much less traumatizing ;)
Sparking – glad you agree about Up in the Air. It baffles me, how much people are raving about it. The commercials promise one movie, and you get a whole other…Bright Star as a good antidote!