With such a superb novel as a basis, it would take gross incompetence to ruin a movie that is based on it, and Scorsese, though not the obvious choice to direct this movie, is incapable of making a bad movie.
Scorsese's direction is ocassionally jumpy, but still superb, although the use of narration can be distracting at times.
The revelation in this movie is Pfeiffer's performance as the social outcast, which greatly outstrips that of her co-stars and shows a range in her acting that her previous movies did not allow her to show. The performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as her support and possible lover, is surprisingly uneven and below par, while Winona Ryder does well as the wife of Day-Lewis, despite not getting enough screen-time to develop the character fully.
The rest of the support cast including Miriam Margolyes and Alec McGowan, give wonderful performances, either comic or dramatic, and provide the superb backbone on which this film is built.
A movie that is beautiful from costume and set-design, to music and scenery, a triumph throughout.
Scorsese's direction is ocassionally jumpy, but still superb, although the use of narration can be distracting at times.
The revelation in this movie is Pfeiffer's performance as the social outcast, which greatly outstrips that of her co-stars and shows a range in her acting that her previous movies did not allow her to show. The performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as her support and possible lover, is surprisingly uneven and below par, while Winona Ryder does well as the wife of Day-Lewis, despite not getting enough screen-time to develop the character fully.
The rest of the support cast including Miriam Margolyes and Alec McGowan, give wonderful performances, either comic or dramatic, and provide the superb backbone on which this film is built.
A movie that is beautiful from costume and set-design, to music and scenery, a triumph throughout.