WARNING: there could be SPOILERS ahead: it's difficult to make my comments without perhaps giving something away. But I'll try not to!
This is a reasonably interesting film that unfortunately suffers from deviating too wildly from the original plot by the Victorian writer, Wilkie Collins. To modern audiences this film may seem slow or without much point; a shame, since the Collins novel it is based on is extremely exciting (Collins was an unorthodox writer, considered very shocking by many people of his day - far more explicit re. violence and sex than say, Dickens).
Jared Leto stars as a young and naive aristocrat ('Basil')who suffers from having his friendships and imagination restrained by an overbearing and class-conscious father. He longs for excitement. When love arrives, he is overwhelmed, but learns that passion and duplicity bring suffering and dreadful consequences. Basil will learn that the world and other people are seldom as innocent as they seem. Basil is placed in situations where, as the film's jacket says, he has literally 'everything to lose'. Claire Forlani plays the woman with whom Basil falls in love. Forlani is a fine actress, but unfortunately isn't given much to do here. The luminosity, vivaciousness, and little-girl behaviour (which makes Basil love her) that her character has in Collins's book, just isn't there. The remarkable way in which Basil meets her in the novel is completely missing. Christian Slater also appears as Mannion, whom Basil befriends, but again the film script has entirely altered how he and Basil meet, and changes many dynamics of their relationship: he becomes Basil's friend, rather than an enigma Basil is intrigued with; not exactly Collins's intention. The wonderful Derek Jacobi also appears, but again isn't given much great material to work with. He remains a very important character but his behaviour and personality also differ from in Collins's 'Basil'; some important details are completely changed. Basil's relationship with 'sister' Clara also changes. Watchers could still enjoy this quite thoroughly if they don't previously know the book. Those, however, who know the book, will probably be disappointed. Modern films generally tend to try to intensify the plots of classic novels when they adapt them; this film instead dampens Collins's plot. The Collins book is considerably more intense: he was one of the best plotters in Victorian fiction, and great at character psychology. Clearly the intent here was not a faithful adaptation, but I see little reason why the director and screenwriter here didn't keep his major plot points.
Those who like this film should perhaps read the book: they will then know a far better version of the story, especially a far more powerful version of Mannion (I thought Slater miscast, or his role basically wrecked). Basil is meant to be naive and honest, but too often in this film we see him doing or saying things that don't make sense or go too far (again, deviations), yet Leto isn't as intense in his portrayal of Basil as I would like (Basil's mental instability is mostly missing); still, he is easy to like, and certainly remarkable-looking. He is the best among the cast; the others are not particularly engaging. The scriptwriting and editing, as other reviewers noted, are not so good, but the film looks beautiful and has good locations and period detail. A 6.5 out of 10.
This is a reasonably interesting film that unfortunately suffers from deviating too wildly from the original plot by the Victorian writer, Wilkie Collins. To modern audiences this film may seem slow or without much point; a shame, since the Collins novel it is based on is extremely exciting (Collins was an unorthodox writer, considered very shocking by many people of his day - far more explicit re. violence and sex than say, Dickens).
Jared Leto stars as a young and naive aristocrat ('Basil')who suffers from having his friendships and imagination restrained by an overbearing and class-conscious father. He longs for excitement. When love arrives, he is overwhelmed, but learns that passion and duplicity bring suffering and dreadful consequences. Basil will learn that the world and other people are seldom as innocent as they seem. Basil is placed in situations where, as the film's jacket says, he has literally 'everything to lose'. Claire Forlani plays the woman with whom Basil falls in love. Forlani is a fine actress, but unfortunately isn't given much to do here. The luminosity, vivaciousness, and little-girl behaviour (which makes Basil love her) that her character has in Collins's book, just isn't there. The remarkable way in which Basil meets her in the novel is completely missing. Christian Slater also appears as Mannion, whom Basil befriends, but again the film script has entirely altered how he and Basil meet, and changes many dynamics of their relationship: he becomes Basil's friend, rather than an enigma Basil is intrigued with; not exactly Collins's intention. The wonderful Derek Jacobi also appears, but again isn't given much great material to work with. He remains a very important character but his behaviour and personality also differ from in Collins's 'Basil'; some important details are completely changed. Basil's relationship with 'sister' Clara also changes. Watchers could still enjoy this quite thoroughly if they don't previously know the book. Those, however, who know the book, will probably be disappointed. Modern films generally tend to try to intensify the plots of classic novels when they adapt them; this film instead dampens Collins's plot. The Collins book is considerably more intense: he was one of the best plotters in Victorian fiction, and great at character psychology. Clearly the intent here was not a faithful adaptation, but I see little reason why the director and screenwriter here didn't keep his major plot points.
Those who like this film should perhaps read the book: they will then know a far better version of the story, especially a far more powerful version of Mannion (I thought Slater miscast, or his role basically wrecked). Basil is meant to be naive and honest, but too often in this film we see him doing or saying things that don't make sense or go too far (again, deviations), yet Leto isn't as intense in his portrayal of Basil as I would like (Basil's mental instability is mostly missing); still, he is easy to like, and certainly remarkable-looking. He is the best among the cast; the others are not particularly engaging. The scriptwriting and editing, as other reviewers noted, are not so good, but the film looks beautiful and has good locations and period detail. A 6.5 out of 10.