Sylvia
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Movie Reviews of Sylvia
Movie Review: A conventional scenario; but still an enjoyable film.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the film in theater yesterday. Let me point out first that 'Sylvia' is quite similar to the movies, like 'The Hours', 'Frida', in that it depicts the artistic career of a woman with love problems. For this reason, you can either get engaged with the movie easily, or you might stop watching it, because you've seen similar scenes before. But the Paltrow effect will probably cause you to choose the first option.
To give some bit of introduction as far as what happens in the movie: Syliva Plath is a young poetess, who's been submitting her poems to magazines to receive a review. She finally gets one. But it's a degrading review, written quite harshly. At the magazine's gathering in the evening, Sylvia finds the man who reviewed her, and enchants him with her beauty. This man is Ted Hughes, who also writes poems, good ones. They marry each other. And this marriage is what the whole film focuses on, which is for you to see.
The cinematography is dealt in a perfect fashion, I'm still amazed at how well they revive the old years in the movies. Details such as Louis Armstrong playing on the small radio in the kitchen, Sylvia's mother telling Sylvia of the fold at the bottom of her dress, german words which are squeezed into conversations such as 'Ubermensch' or 'Bienenkonig' make up very enjoyable moments throughout the movie. Perhaps you shouldn't miss this film.
Movie Review: Paltrow's acting surprised me
Summary: 4 Stars
I find it difficult to relate to Gwyneth Paltrow as an actress, although I've appreciated quite a few of the movies she has acted in. This time however, I marvelled at her, really marvelled.
Unfortunately I think that in order to show more complex real-life characters, film makers *must* frame them in the context of their romantic relationships primarily. A film just draws more attention that way.
That is where where I was left wanting in this...that I didn't believe that it was jealousy that unravelled her, or that had he "made her happy" she would not have killed herself. The illness was there, and the death of her father brought it to the surface for the first time. It was a disease.
The fascinating thing about the disease of mental illness, is that the same thing that disconnects a person from the world around them, seems to be the thing that enables them to be extra sensitive to other sensations, and maybe to their own inner workings as well. My favorite line of the movie is when she says that the truth loves her. She sees more.
I think that we're learning more and more that it is a myth to think that a person cannot be creative or tap into genius without continually slipping into insanity, or risking it. I'd like to see more exploration of the topic in film though.
Movie Review: Love takes time; but sometimes Alzheimer comes for it to fade!
Summary: 4 Stars
Nietszche stated once: "The age of marriage arrives before the age of loving each other." Perhaps we may find the clues to intend to comprehend and even approximate us to the horrid existence of a generous, sensitive and sensible personality of this brilliant poetry, whom love definitively did not take into account. Maybe such prodigious talent must pay a prize: to shine and illuminate other touching sensibilities gratifying excessively what that soul lacked: affection and love.
The blackness of the night; the horror of despair, of loving and not being corresponded, the dark brumes of the solitude, the hell of living inside a decreasing circle, struggled by disillusion and all kind of humiliations in live flesh with all the cruel intensity a sensitive soul can bear. Day after day Sylvia Plath walked to that flame, with fears but with lucid resolution, until a day the living will was defeated.
Gwyneth Paltrow made a very exquisite performance around this demanding role; the varied gamut of emotional features was shown with admirable realism, facial grimace, illumination, hairdressing and expressive close ups that accented that dramatic anima state.
When you love and (she or he) does not, you will understand the desert at just three steps of water.
Movie Review: From a Plath fan
Summary: 4 Stars
Not a bad movie, though, like Plath's life as well, it is very depressing, however it is good that such a movie was made, despite protests from Frieda Hughes and the overall opinions of critics. Personally, I feel that Paltrow, who had fought to get the movie made, had made a good decision in taking on such a project, and, although some may argue otherwise, she did accurately portray Plath. (If you do not believe me then I strongly suggest you pick up her UNABRIDGED journals)
However, I was disappointed that this movie was more concerned with her relationship with Hughes than her entire life. Possibly it would be better if a screen adaptation of The Bell Jar was made, since it is not only a great piece of literature, but was also widely received in America during it's publication and, if anything (not to sound redundant), but America is probably fairly more willing to view psychotic breaks and suicide today and would be well received by many. (In case any producers are currently reading in, which I doubt....)
Movie Review: It's A Gas!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Sylvia" is the kind of film that can only work with fantastic actors. Fortunately, the cast is superb. Sylvia Plath was an enormously talented poet who soared to great heights in her early years. Her bouts with depression are well chronicled and to portray her life in a balanced way is difficult at best. Director Christine Jeffs (Rain) knows just when to bring in the subtle (mostly dark) humor and when to dive into the seriousness of Sylvia's disease. Paltrow does an amazing job balancing both sides of Plath's personality, and the film can be exhausting. Thank God for a great cast, wonderful cinematography and well crafted editing. It's not an upbeat film, but if you've never read, "The Bell Jar", you might just end up picking up a copy.