Far and Away
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Movie Reviews of Far and Away
Movie Review: Irish accents?
Summary: 4 Stars
I really liked this movie but the reviews here are even more entertaining. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had bad Irish accents? Vivian Leigh's Scarlet O'Hara had the worst southern American accent imaginable. Her movie (...."Gone with something?... wasn't it called?) managed to survive it.No story in Far and Away? Let's see... Spoiled rich Irish Protestant girl meets poor Catholic Irish boy and romantic sparks fly as surface insults are traded. Both dream of a new life in America but for different reasons. The parents of the girl are each magnificently portrayed by fine actors. The manager of the wealthy father's holdings, and Shannon's would-be suitor, is a man you love to hate thanks to the fine acting of this character.
The cinematography is magnificent. The story varies from epic to tragic to comic to Western in the way a true Irish immigrant's life would unfold in the period. There's action and humor. There's an underlying dream driving the entire movie. There is a beautiful young woman and a handsome young man who both have the kind of drive an Irish immigrant would need to survive the rough and tumble life in America in the late 1800's.
The costumes and sets are great. The land rush scenes are magnificent and accurately portray what has been captured in still photos of the real Oklahoma land rushes.
There are no gratuitous sex scenes though the bawdiness of life in an Irish Boston whorehouse is honestly portrayed.
There is a triumphant scene at the end where love does prevail over the desire for material wealth through land ownership.
For the life of me, I cannot see what is missing from this movie. I liked it. I bought it. I'm glad I'm not married to some of these reviewers who would complain the luxury car I just bought them as a gift did not have enough lighting around the visor vanity mirror.
Shannon Christie, the spoiled rich girl in this movie, has nothing on some of these reviewers.
Movie Review: Far and Away
Summary: 4 Stars
Joseph Donnelly, a young Irishman facing property eviction after his father's death, decides to take revenge on Daniel Christie, his landlord. Instead of killing Christie, however, he is injured and sentenced to a duel with Christie's arrogant manager, Stephen Chase. Meanwhile, Shannon, Daniel's daughter, is growing dissatisfied with the traditional views of her parents' generation and longs to be modern. She makes her plans to leave for America, and with her help, Joseph is able to escape. Upon arriving in Boston, Mass., they find jobs and begin saving money. Joseph becomes a local barehands boxer, while Shannon works in a chicken processing plant and then as a dancer at the social club. All goes well until Joseph loses a boxing match, after which their money is taken away. Joseph and Shannon are left to starve in the winter cold. Shannon's parents, still in Ireland, face a devastating loss and decide to come to America to be with her. Chase, who joined them, has begun a campaign to find her, but his efforts are unnecessary Joseph brings Shannon to them after an accident. Joseph then heads west to work on the railroad. After many months, Joseph is confronted by his father in a dream, and is reminded of his desire to own his own land. Joseph decides to join the wagon trains and arrives in Oklahoma Territory just in time for the big land race, upon which his fate will lie. This movie is very well done. It is an overlooked treasure. A story that is very intense and involving. I recommend this movie.Movie Review: Release this 70mm classic on Blu-ray!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
The story is simple and as timeless as film. Poor boy and rich girl meet and fall in love despite the obstacles of social status. Hardly original as an idea, but the epic setting and the way the principle cast (Cruise and Kidman) engage the viewer and the chemistry between them make this a memorable film. Regardless of what you think of the actors, this is a must-not-miss film.
Some excellent horseback riding in the climactic scene is a bonus, as is the hugeness of the climax, in the pre-CGI era of filmmaking.
Only complaint is that the DVD release is old. The encoding technology has come a long way since this was released. Compression artifacts are very visible on an HD screen, and sort of spoil the incredible scenery of Ireland and Oklahoma. Also it looks like the colors could use some work. I did not see this film in the theatre, so I don't know if that is the way it was shot or the way it was encoded.
The film was shot on 70mm. The only way to do it justice would be to remaster and release it in high definition Blu-Ray.
EDIT: John Williams' incredible score for this film is by itself worth the price of a rental or even a buy.
Movie Review: Far and Away Tom's Best
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd never seen this and hadn't planned to do so, but it is a surprisingly pleasant entertainment. Cruise, who I dislike, is very good, very young, and makes a strong case for being star-material, in case one ever questioned his credentials. Kidman and he are totally believable as the romantic couple; although the rich girl/poor boy story is getting old, this one is done well. I liked the scenes of Ireland. New York is more persuasively depicted than by Scorsese's treatment of the same 'world' in his awful "Gangs of New York" which was operatic and overblown. Cruise is more believable as a boxer than DiCaprio, the better actor, who doesn't possess the physical energy Cruise has here. Overall, Howard is an intellectually less serious filmmaker than Scorsese, of course, so the film has that old-fashioned how-the-west-was-won look, which no doubt is why critics didn't love this; it's too optimistic for the sour-puss crowd who only like to see America bashed and mocked. But here, as in "Apollo 13" you have Howard's enthusiastic celebration of the American dream. The film has little to be ashamed of, save for the fact that it belongs to a different, earlier era.Movie Review: Rousing Epic
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is incredibly hard to dislike. Even at nearly two and one-half hours it never fails to entertain. The production values are sumptuous particularly the photography and John Williams' lush score. The acting is top shelf. Director Ron Howard in his earlier films had the knack for engaging an audience but afterward you weren't left with much food for thought. This film seemed to me to be informed by the work of David Lean. What Howard lacked, at that time, is Lean's artistry. Later in his career he would address that, "The DaVinci Code" withstanding, with the superb "A Beautiful Mind" and "Cinderella Man". Stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are engaging and have definite screen chemistry. It's interesting to watch them in the early years of their relationship onscreen. Contrast that with "Eyes Wide Shut" when their marriage was probably in it's final death throes. Also engaging is the always dependable Robert Prosky as a genial Irish land baron. Thomas Gibson, who ironically appeared with the Cruises in "Eyes Wide Shut", gives a multi-dimensional account as the film's heavy.