The Governess
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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.
Movie Review: Starts slow, then comes to a complete stop.
Summary: 1 Stars
Minnie Driver is horribly miscast as the lead in this film, in as much as her on-screen appearance is neither friendly, nor inviting (in the future she should also shy away from anything that involves her getting `wet' argh!-I can't Even imagine watching "Hard Rain"). As the Annabella Sciorras, and the Emma Thompsons before her, Ms. Driver will have to quickly accept the fact that she has little to offer in a role that is supposed to `carry' a film. She just has not the acting skills, nor the on-screen magic that someone like Kate Winslet or Gwyneth Paltrow has, nor has she the energy or effervescence that, say Rose McGowan has.I grabbed the film for Tom Wilkinson anyway, having recently become quite the fan of this British J.T. Walsh. A wonderful character actor who has raised his profile in the US significantly of late with appearances in "Shakespeare in Love", "The Full Monty", and "Sense and Sensibility".
The story fails even the Driver-factor, ambling on like one of those scripts developed in a screen-writing class: `who has an idea?' `how about a young Jewess loses her money and has to take on work in Scotland in the 1800s' `good, but we need some conflict in the first act'...'maybe she falls for the master of the house, but the son has eyes for her as well'...'good'...you know the rest.
And it goes from bad to worse. It's impossible to complete this puzzle with so many ill-fitting pieces.
Movie Review: Pitiful script + great actors = a sad movie
Summary: 1 Stars
Its really sad that such beautiful scenery and great actors are wasted on a very barren plot. I loved the color contrasts from the Jewish lifestyle to the Gentile lifestyle, which gave the scenes their only depth. Minnie Drivers part as a very sheltered but curious Jewess gave her a very seductive display while the mothers pretentious attitude and the daughters devilish snobbery gave Minnies character a challenge. Jonathans use of both loving innocence and mischievous antics made him endearing, and when Minnie spurns Jonathans love it really tore into me to watch him suffer. With all that encouragement, it is truly a pity that this movie deflates on theme and it truly is 105 minutes of boredom. For the life of me I cant fathom why Minnies character is in any way attracted to that cold, nasty old fart?! Plus, I found at least four places where they could have added subplots and beef up the movie but everything ended so cut and dry it was almost as if the script was meant for an after school special. The writers should be sued for misuse of such wonderful actors.Movie Review: Only for the British
Summary: 1 Stars
Avoid it like the plauge> You see British films GO OUT OF THEIR WAY to make their films tediously slow and tiresome. It seems, for whatever off reason, that this style of film is found favorable by Vritish viewers. However, for the rest of us, this will literally put you to sleep. The chemistry is NOT eveident between the main characters, and development is sparse.