This is a wonderful production, I loved every minute of it. It has everything that you expect of a BBC historical series: an involving story based on a famous classic novel ("Le rouge et le noir" by Stendahl), a solid direction and a well-wrought script, lavish costumes and settings, and top-notch acting by virtually every character that comes along.
Now I have to admit that I never read the original book, so I do not know how scrupulous this rendition to the screen is. But for me it totally worked, this coming-of-age story of young Julien who works himself up from low-birth to the houses of the rich and famous by cunning opportunism, ambition, and last but definitely not least by using his personal charm and sexual appeal. Julien Sorel may not be the most sympathetic figure in literature, but you forgive him much on account of his drive, his enthusiasm and his buoyancy and you keep caring for him in spite of all his bad decisions and all the persons he hurts.
As I said, the acting is overall great, but some stand out even more. Juliens two love-interests are played by Rachel Weisz and Alice Krige. Weisz was still on the brink of her carrier but her talent totally shines through in her very convincing portrayal of the neurotic and eccentric daughter of Juliens master. And I absolutely loved Krige as the modest bourgeois house-wife who is totally swept of her feet by Julien and to her own amazement finds herself involved in a steamy love-affair, and as a result has to cope with all the mixed feelings of sinfulness and passion that afterwards torture her. Krige does a great job and she has a classic, almost serene and timeless beauty that totally explains her attraction to Julien.
But biggest surprise to me was Ewan McGregor as Julien. I know McGregor of course from big movies like Star Wars and Angels & Demons and he never was my favorite, he always impressed me as a bit formal and uninspiring. Whereas in "I love you Philip Morris" he even annoyed me for the triviality of his part. But here, in almost his first screen role, at age 22, he really rocks, he is the roaring engine of the whole production, he is wildly attractive and cute like a puppy, he's smart and desperate and clumsy and arrogant and conniving and lovable, all in one person and all played equally convincing and appealing. What a talent and what a potential this young actor already possessed!!
Are there no flaws? Well, just a few. I didn't like the constant presence of Napoleon as an incarnated figment of Juliens imagination, it got a bit tiresome in the end. And the political circumstances (the post-Napoleon period of the Restoration) are dealt with in a rather superficial way, probably to not scare away the viewers that give priority to romance over history, but to me it was too little to quite grasp the importance of some of the goings-on and the effects they had on Julien. The whole episode for instance of Juliens mission to the Duke of Wellington came a bit out-of the blue and couldn't be placed (by me at least) in the right context.
And then the end !! I won't give it away (and here's of course Stendahl to blame, not the makers of this movie) but I sure had liked it to have turned out differently. Well, that's classic novels for you, where true romance is not restricted to happy endings. Just go and watch it for yourself, let Juliens tumultuous life sweep you away for some 4 hours, you won't be disappointed.
Now I have to admit that I never read the original book, so I do not know how scrupulous this rendition to the screen is. But for me it totally worked, this coming-of-age story of young Julien who works himself up from low-birth to the houses of the rich and famous by cunning opportunism, ambition, and last but definitely not least by using his personal charm and sexual appeal. Julien Sorel may not be the most sympathetic figure in literature, but you forgive him much on account of his drive, his enthusiasm and his buoyancy and you keep caring for him in spite of all his bad decisions and all the persons he hurts.
As I said, the acting is overall great, but some stand out even more. Juliens two love-interests are played by Rachel Weisz and Alice Krige. Weisz was still on the brink of her carrier but her talent totally shines through in her very convincing portrayal of the neurotic and eccentric daughter of Juliens master. And I absolutely loved Krige as the modest bourgeois house-wife who is totally swept of her feet by Julien and to her own amazement finds herself involved in a steamy love-affair, and as a result has to cope with all the mixed feelings of sinfulness and passion that afterwards torture her. Krige does a great job and she has a classic, almost serene and timeless beauty that totally explains her attraction to Julien.
But biggest surprise to me was Ewan McGregor as Julien. I know McGregor of course from big movies like Star Wars and Angels & Demons and he never was my favorite, he always impressed me as a bit formal and uninspiring. Whereas in "I love you Philip Morris" he even annoyed me for the triviality of his part. But here, in almost his first screen role, at age 22, he really rocks, he is the roaring engine of the whole production, he is wildly attractive and cute like a puppy, he's smart and desperate and clumsy and arrogant and conniving and lovable, all in one person and all played equally convincing and appealing. What a talent and what a potential this young actor already possessed!!
Are there no flaws? Well, just a few. I didn't like the constant presence of Napoleon as an incarnated figment of Juliens imagination, it got a bit tiresome in the end. And the political circumstances (the post-Napoleon period of the Restoration) are dealt with in a rather superficial way, probably to not scare away the viewers that give priority to romance over history, but to me it was too little to quite grasp the importance of some of the goings-on and the effects they had on Julien. The whole episode for instance of Juliens mission to the Duke of Wellington came a bit out-of the blue and couldn't be placed (by me at least) in the right context.
And then the end !! I won't give it away (and here's of course Stendahl to blame, not the makers of this movie) but I sure had liked it to have turned out differently. Well, that's classic novels for you, where true romance is not restricted to happy endings. Just go and watch it for yourself, let Juliens tumultuous life sweep you away for some 4 hours, you won't be disappointed.