The Governess
|
DVD Cover Information Actor: Bruce Myers, Florence Hoath, Harriet Walter, Minnie Driver, Tom Wilkinson Director: Sandra Goldbacher Brand: DRIVER,MINNIE DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.33:1 Running Time: 115 minutes DVD Release Date: 1999-02-16 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| New | New Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $3.24 | ||
| Used | Used Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $1.34 | ||
| Collectible | Collectible Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $27.02 |
Your purchase is protected by the A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee. Amazon.com automatically transfers your payment to the merchant so you'll never need to pay a merchant directly. Amazon.com A-to-z Safe Buying Guarantee covers both the delivery of your item and its condition upon receipt.
Movie Reviews of The Governess
Movie Review: Few Shining Moments, Many Long, Pointless Stretches
Summary: 1 Stars
Exploring wonderful literature from our past, such as the recent magnificent Jane Austen revivals and the renewed interest in Shakespeare, has unearthed timeless tales of wonderful force and clarity. Through the faithful adaptations of these masterpieces, we get a glimpse of another lifetime. Unfortunately, force and clarity are two virtues The Governess lacks.An interesting storyline with much potential, Minnie Driver plays a Jewess in late 19th century England who loses her father to murder early in the movie and chooses to flee London to become a nursemaid to a young gentile girl in the country by posing as a Christian herself. An infatuation ensues between the master of the house (Charles Cavendish) and Mary Blackchurch (Driver's assumed gentile identity) leading to a fairly unbelievable affair. We find out that Mr. Cavendish is working on some photographic experimentations, and lo and behold Mary has the answer to most of his problems, both scientifically and emotionally.
Good performances by all, but characters as flat and undeveloped as the crude photography they are trying to refine. The film tries so hard to be important, it is neither entertaining nor believable. Perhaps one of its greatest flaws, however, is its incredible lack of pacing. Most great British films keenly understand the fine development of subtlety through attention to detail which requires more time. The Governess is just slow. We see several minutes of pointless interaction which neither develop characters nor move plot and becomes, instead, gratuitous sexual encounters or simply a vehicle to show off set dressing.
The cast is capable of more and one comes away with a sense of "this could have been great, or at least good." Instead, it is neither great nor good and has one looking at the clock to see when the counting will stop.