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Cinderella (2015)
[★★★★☆] Stunningly Beautiful, but not Daring Enough
Disclaimer: Seen at a early free screening offered by AMC Theaters with my brother and 150+ other moviegoers of all ages.
I have to start my review by saying that Cinderella is a visual and aural delight. Man does Kenneth Branagh ever know how to direct a period piece. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, with sweeping shots of the wonderful Buckinghamshire landscape, and the natural film look along with the excellent costumes really make Cinderella a feast for the eyes. The casting is excellent also, with the standouts being Cate Blanchett hamming it up as the villainous stepmother, and the luminous Lily James delightfully portraying Cinderella. Helena Bonham Carter plays the same slightly off character like she always does, this time as the fairy godmother, but of course she does the character justice. The soundtrack by Patrick Doyle is enchanting as well, perfectly setting the mood, and the soundtrack together with the visuals makes Cinderella worth seeing on the big screen.
The only problem I had with Cinderella is that the sum of its parts are mostly visual and auditory.. The acting is great as previously mentioned, but the story is simply and safely told, with no chances taken, and the viewer can tell exactly when and what will happen. I suppose this is good in a way (especially for Cinderella purists), but personally I would have appreciated something more daring. Still, Cinderella is an extremely well done and charming family film, and is a welcome addition to the Disney canon. (B)
NOTE: Review mirrored on my letterboxd account (CarltonDeleon)