Bleak House
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Movie Reviews of Bleak House
Movie Review: Victorian Mystery
Summary: 5 Stars
I caught the first two hours of this adaptation of Dickens Bleak House on Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday night and I was immediately hooked. If you love dark Victorian mysteries this is a must see. I remember hearing promos for the show stating its starring Gillian Anderson but I thought it was some English actress with the same name as Scully from the X-files. What a shock when I realized I watched Scully for I did not realize it at the time it was her. Ms. Anderson becomes Lady Dedlock replacing her FBI professional pant suits outfits for a Victorian frock. Although common elements to both characters are repressed emotions and icy personalities. I have not read the novel but the show is emphasizing the mystery aspects of the story with Lady Dedlock trying to hide a secret from her past, how everybody's fate is somehow bound into the Jarndyce case over disputed wills and what role if any Esther plays in all of this. Also, the series focuses a sharp eye on the byzantine legal world of Victorian England that makes the US legal system seem the epitome of efficiency. Charles Dance is great as the ruthless barrister Tulkinghorn who sets his sights on uncovering Lady Dedlock's secret. Anne Maxwell Martin is great as the innocent and virtuous Esther Summerson. Besides Ms. Anderson some might recognize Mr. Dance who has seen roles in various movies and TV series including the villain in the Eddie Murphy Buddhist action-adventure movie The Golden Child, and Denis Lawson, who plays the benevolent John Jarndyce, was Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars movies. Like any Dickens novel this TV series is filled with interesting often eccentric secondary characters from the young law clerk Mr. Guppy to Miss Flite.
The atmosphere is dark with lots of mist, fog and rain as one would expect in a Victorian novel. You have the contrast of the romantic elegant world of Lady Dedlock's estate and the cozy feeling of Bleak House estate with the grim, mud and muck that the lower classes lived in. The period costumes and sets are top notch. The series for me captures the essence of the Victorian period. Can't wait for the series to play itself out.
Movie Review: A great miniseries...completely blown away!
Summary: 5 Stars
Warning...Spoilers in this review
I thought this miniseries was fantastic. Sunday night Masterpiece Theatre has become a regular habit, initially b/c my options were restricted to only 13 channels through Charter's Limited Basic Cable/Internet package...now b/c the productions are so darn good! Gillian Anderson is wonderful as Lady Dedlock. She never quite nails the British accent, but her acting is so good, that her "uppercrust" American accent does not detract from her overall stellar performance. Like so many Dickens' novels, timing, or rather bad timing, is everything. Lady Dedlock abandons her estate b/f witnessing her husband's reaction to her past life. She was convinced that he could not love her knowing her "shame." I was heartbroken when she died before realizing how much her husband loved her and how little he cared about other people's opinions of her. Esther got a chance to hold her mother before Lady Dedlock died in her arms.
Lady Dedlock had transferred her motherly affections onto her lady's maid (a very young woman about the same age as Esther), since she thought a relationship with her real daughter impossible. You can tell how much it meant to Esther when she discovered she had an indelible place in her mother's heart: she found a handkerchief monogrammed "E" among Lady Dedlock's belongings.
I never read Bleak House, so I did not know "whodunnit." I regret that I briefly suspected Lady Dedlock b/c all of the evidence pointed towards her. The real culprit sent vicious letters incriminating Lady Dedlock, but her acquaintances believed her above suspicion and gave no heed to the false accusations.
The acting is top-notch, and a new generation of young actors are taking center stage in these BBC productions. I was very moved by this miniseries (crying uncontrollably for many minutes after it ended). I'm not much of a Charles Dickens' fan (I'm all for his concern about the exploited underclasses, but I can't stomach his unsubstantiated-in-reality stereotypes), but this novel/screenplay captures the spirit of unconditional love.
Movie Review: Masterful version of Dickens' novel
Summary: 5 Stars
This version of Bleak House is superb in its presentation of Dickens' lengthy novel, and as good as any other film of his works. Making this film rather "easy" to follow in terms of plot, characters and mood is just the way it is presented in a series format. There are 8 episodes, each approximately 30 minutes long, which allows someone to easily leave and then pick up the story again.
As with any Dickens' book, there are many plots to follow. The main one is Esther Summerson's arriving as the house of Jarndyce and trying to not only discover who she is (her background), but come to terms with the events of her "disgraceful" birth and her mother, who she has never met. Other subplots include Jarndyce's influence over Esther and the other two orphans who comes to stay, Ada Claire and Richard Carstone, as well as the seemingly never-ending case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which seems to have an ill-effect on those who become too obsessed with it. As the story unfolds, Esther discovers more and more about her mysterious past. Like many of Dickens books, there are many references to untimely and strange deaths, mysteries that need to be resolved, cased that need to be closed, and a bevy of villains and heroes.
Likewise, there are many interesting and eccentric characters to keep track of. We have mysterious Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson), callous lawyer Tulkinghorn, greedy Smallwood, scatterbrained Miss Flite, odd and unusual Guppy, noble characters like Captain George and Allan Woodcourt, orphan boy Jo, and quick-witted Detective Bucket among others.
This is a magnificent series that captures the essence of Dickens. While the film itself is quite long, it doesn't seem long because there is so much to tell. What makes the story a joy to watch are the detailed scenery, lighting, costumes and superb acting. The film's mood is definitely dark Victorian, with satire thrown in for good measure. If you want to step into Dickens' world in film, this is the way to go!
Movie Review: "You shall see, on the day of Judgement..."
Summary: 5 Stars
If you've yet to watch a BBC production of a Charles Dickens novel or read any of Dickens' works for that matter, this version of Bleak House could not of come at a better time for you. Andrew Davies, the screenwriter, is able to move each scene along at a brisk pace, skillfully edited, but without sacrificing the rich subtleties of Dickens' language and characters. It's absolutely amazing how this modern speed has benefited this production. It's infused with refreshingly intelligent dialogue, characters that are sharply drawn and guided by their objectives that are clearly understood from the moment you meet them. Together, they give the story exuberance, vibrance, and intensity to situations that are utterly dismal or even horrifying. The story intensifies with the introduction of each character and it's absolutely thrilling to watch someone who's seemingly trivial become vastly important to someone who, on a social level, would normally have nothing to do with them. This story has it all: juicy secrets, lies, death, murder, blackmail- I can't recommend it enough! There's a fabulous cast: Charles Dance ( Mr Tulkinghorn) & Burn Gorman (Guppy) are most impressive. Philip Davis as Smallweed is so wonderfully yucky, he's just a huge belligerant blister and always out for personal gain. I was also shocked but delightfully surprised with Gillian Anderson as Lady Deadlock. We see a woman who, by birth is naturally distant, a cold but dutiful wife, and obviously depressed but very careful not to draw attention to herself. We know Lady Deadlock has a champion poker face, but what is important, what is so intriguing, is when we see a crack in the mask. Gillian is a smart actress to craft the movements of this self-controlled woman as if her life depended on them--and it does. I could go on and on about this wonderful character. It's maddening not to discuss the plot, the story being so utterly compelling. Adaptations of this kind are very rare. Thank you BBC. Thank you Andrew Davies.Movie Review: A *must have* for any period piece enthusiast!
Summary: 5 Stars
This period piece mini-series has it all - drama, mystery, romance, crime, tragedy, even a bit of comedy. This is right up there with Pride & Prejudice and North & South. I watched a little bit each night and every day at work, I was happy at the prospect of coming home to have the treat of watching another segment of the movie (I watched it on Masterpiece Theatre via my DVR but am buying it since it's a "keeper"). It's a great mix of a little bit of everything. Some scenes show the dirty side of Victorian-era London, some are dark and "Gothic-like", the daytime outdoor scenes in the country are light and airy "eye candy" - these ones remind me of some Jane Austen movies (P&P, Sense & Sensibility, Emma). The central theme of the movie revolves around a lawsuit and a mystery. I don't want to spoil it and it looks like enough is said on the subject anyway with all of the other reviews here. For me, the best part about this mini-series was the assortment of oddball supporting characters who were perfectly cast - the nerdy, ambitious and awkward "Mr. Guppy" and my favorite - the irritable, cantankerous, miserable, "Mr. Smallweed". He can't walk but instead of using a wheelchair, he gets carried about in a chair, cursing and whipping the person carrying him and then constantly asks his granddaughter to "shake him up" because his bones are aching and settling. So Judy shakes him and you hear these crunching noises, like when you're being adjusted at the chiropractor - it is simply HILARIOUS! I loved everything about this movie. The movie started out a bit slow when "explaining" the Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce case but it was necessary to the plot. After that though, it was all very fast-paced, never boring. I was completely engrossed in the story - I laughed and I cried. I was sorry when it was over which is the mark of a great story! This is a "must have" for any period piece enthusiast!