Fingersmith
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Movie Reviews of Fingersmith
Movie Review: lesbian romance in a Dickensian setting?
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little leery sitting down to this since a friend warned me that it was nothing more than a lesbian romance, a genre which -- with apologies -- has so far had little to say to me.
But my friend had mischaracterized the film. "Fingersmith" is supremely worthwhile, filled with enough gripping twists and reversals to bring even the most inattentive viewer bolt upright. While a couple of scenes in the first half are indeed shot through with steamy woman-on-woman smooching, on the whole the Sapphic aspect of the story takes a back seat to other elements of the plot.
So if you can get past the spectacle of kissing women, you've got quite a good film in store for you: at times the acting is unbelievable; and the script is always fresh, convincing, and thoroughly unpredictable.
There are two episodes, which must be separately loaded. The first half features such a jaw-dropper at the end that you'll find yourself wishing you had watched the thing a lot more carefully!
This is a BBC production set in London and environs about the time of the setting of Dicken's novels. But it's far more raw and gritty than even his most seamy outings.
It was also obvious that the BBC spent some real money on this: the outdoor scenes in London, the sets, the crowd scenes, and the production values in general are all very high-quality and convincing. Money well spent.
Movie Review: Top-Notch Entertainment
Summary: 5 Stars
This BBC made-for-TV two-parter is a wonderful adaptation of the novel by the same name. In typical BBC fashion, the Victorian era sets and costumes are authentic, the camera work is artful, and the acting is superb. Perhaps most importantly, the recreation is very faithful to the book. The author of the novel, Sarah Waters, has an amazing talent for storytelling, suspense, and rich characterizations. There are several revelations and twists in the plot that will really surprise you if you haven't read the book first.
The casting and acting are mostly excellent, including the Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton. I look forward to seeing more films by the two leading ladies, Sally Hawkins and Elaine Cassidy, both of whom were believable and touching.
My only complaint is the casting of Rupert Evans as Gentleman. Having read the book, I pictured Gentleman a good ten years older than Evans. Evans does not express the authority, complexity and ambivalence inherent in Gentleman's personality; his Gentleman is a youthful, one-dimensional villain. Fortunately, the other performances and the production as a whole are strong enough that this failing did not detract from my overall appreciation of a very well-made, engrossing and heartfelt drama.
Movie Review: Artistically Adapted.....True to the Novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think I've ever seen a film adaption of a book that was so true to the novel and so beautifully crafted!
The Brits sure know how to script a book!
And the casting was superb! Sally Hawkins brought the character of Susan Trinder full force..... She was every bit the spunky Susan of the book! Maud Lily, played by Elaine Cassidy, held her own with such a gentlewoman's comportment and graciousness under pressure. The chemistry between them was dynamic and compelling from the beginning once they were introduced. And then eventually, as both realized what had been taken from them in their innocence of childhood, they learned to trust in each other.
Mrs. Sucksby (Imelda Staunton) did a fabulous job as the 'missus' with her brood of 'gin suckled' infants.
And Rupert Evans as Rivers, the 'ungentlemanly' Gentleman was quite convincingly as a veritable rogue.
There were a few deviations from the book, but overall it 'played' very close to how it 'read'......A movie that will at once both entertain and shock!
Put this on you TBV pile!.....It's a real stunner!
Suz
Movie Review: Exquisite, compelling, tender, engaging, passionate...
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally, a break out film about love between women. The story is rich and deep, the story twists are brilliantly executed, and the costumes and period takes are flawless. Superb setting backdropped by 1860's England. Sarah Waters has created another wonderful cracking good tale! The plot twist is a stroke of genious! You could never imagine it coming!! The two actresses are absolutely lovely and completely engaging in a very believable budding first love, with tortured betrayal as an underlying current of intrigue. The love scenes are just exquisite; innocence and passion combine in a breathless buildup. Tastefully filmed with romantic lighting and the warmth of the two young women weaving tenderness into the theme of all of the characters self interest. Finally, a gigantic leap beyond the contrived and typically shallow pieces that aren't a story, but bad acting as an excuse to film women awkwardly having sex when no one believes what they are seeing. You can fill two evenings falling in love with these women in two separate episodes.Movie Review: While everyone is entitled to their own opinion...
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm completely confused how anybody that's actually watched Fingersmith, could give it a bad review? I've read the book and I've seen the movie. And, I understand that I just might be the only person on the planet that loved the movie more than the book...The chemistry between Elaine Cassidy (Maud) and Sally Hawkins (Sue) just took my breath away. Amazing indeed! Through such great acting they allowed me to feel their love much stronger than the book did... This by far is the greatest love story that I've ever seen! I truly felt it deeply and believed them to be in love and in love with a fiery passion for one another...Flawlessly beautiful and twisted...All the actors are brilliant and perfectly casted! However it's Elaine Cassidy (Maud) that is a rare talent and most exquisite! I've never felt so "charmed" by somebody that I've never even met before...Elaine Cassidy is very special indeed...Perhaps you may find that you'll agree with me, so I would highly recommend Disco Pigs and Felicia's Journey!