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Reviews
The Hours (2002)
Deeply moving adaptation
Considering how many books have been turned into films, it is surprising how few adaptations truly succeed. It is so difficult to create a film that not only respects the characters, dialogue, plot and, most importantly, tone of a book but also stands on its own as an artistic vision in another medium.
For me, "The Hours" is one of those rare successes.
I loved Michael Cunningham's book, but how do you convey that work's subtlety and interiority to the big screen? Director Stephen Daldry and the remarkable cast bring that printed landscape of emotional and psychological struggles to another dimension. Luminous central performances by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore are beautifully supported by smaller stand-out turns by Stephane Dillane, Toni Collette, Miranda Richardson, Jeff Daniels, and the amazing young Jack Rovello, among others. And Daldry seamlessly weaves the three time periods (1920s, 1950s, 2000s) together so that they echo, emphasize, and build on each other, in the same way that Philip Glass's score does. (But, if truth be told, the 1950s segment could have been edited a little bit.)
Some reviewers found the film depressing but, for me, it's not just about suicide but about the human condition. What is happiness? How do we live with pain? How do we create? What is love, family, friendship?? I'll take those questions anytime when they are presented as thoughtfully and elegantly as they are in "The Hours."
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: Death Defying Feats (2015)
The beginning of a quick decline
After two delightful seasons of MFMM and a thrilling Season 2 finale, the new season begins with this dud. Ugh.
Phyrne only has to say "My father has arrived unexpectedly." Five simple words. Instead she creates a mystery where none needs to be in order to serve the purpose of a convoluted and unnecessary plot line. Poor Jack is relegated to behaving in an utterly uncharacteristic and unbelievable manner. Phryne knows all the answers, and Jack is the flat-footed copper two steps behind.
It's insulting to the characters and the audience.
The rest of the season was equally disappointing. Double ugh.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020)
ugh
Disappointing on every level. What a pity.
The plot is a low-rent mish-mash of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and other assorted adventures films. (And the props! You could get better quality at the dollar store.) These wonderful actors are given little to do with their characters and can barely manage to speak the wooden and unconvincing dialogue. Also why devote so little time to the core characters, like Dot, Hugh, and Aunt Prudence, that you've built up over three seasons? And why bring in Rupert Penry-Jones if you're not going to use him effectively? And I won't even speak about the now deeply annoying "will they, won't they" plot line between Phryne and Jack.
After the first two delightful, surprising, and tantalizing seasons, the third season of MFMM began to go off the rails, so the fact that this film completely crashes is no surprise but I had hoped for better.
One of the many reasons why I loved Miss Fisher is that, while she was smart, others (particularly the Inspector) were smart as well. She lifted their boats, as it were. In the third season and, especially in this film, she is the only one allowed to be smart, resourceful, and fun. Yes, yes, I understand the show is call "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" but the first two seasons allowed others to shine as well. This embarrassing film blots them out and sinks under its own silliness.
Sparkhouse (2002)
Oh dear
Lusting for Richard Armitage led me to "Sparkhouse." Lust (as opposed to love)will steer you wrong every time. Clearly the other reviewers loved this show, but I couldn't get over its feeble plotting, unbelievable dialogue, and flat ending. Sarah Smart's committed performance as Carol Bolton couldn't save this melodrama for me, and I simply didn't believe the relationship between her character and Joseph McFadden's Andrew Lawton. How could the complex and deeply feeling Carol continue to love the feckless, selfish Andrew? Celia Imre and Nicholas Farrell can do no wrong, and Holly Grainger was quite impressive as Lisa Bolton. But these few solid performances were not enough. And as for the darling darling Richard Armitage, not a shining moment, I'm afraid.