Reviews

A fascinating historical personality makes for a stellar miniseries. Yes, it was definitely in color. Rosemary Harris is indeed a wonder, and for masculine eye candy there is George Chakiris ("West Side Story") and Jeremy Irons. Oddly enough, though I currently am a huge fan of Irons I didn't realize he was in this production until I read his biog here on IMDb. George was a feminist of sorts, a woman author assuming a male first name and boldly wearing pants, though she dealt with the usual problems of women since time began (relationship woes, unruly offspring). One of my all-time favorites in the show's tenure, along with "I, Claudius" and "Lily" (Francesca Annis as Lily Langtry, the most celebrated babe of her era).

Like all truly great art, the movie reveals itself in layers that are still unraveling long after the viewing has ended. I felt almost numb as the closing credits rolled, and didn't comprehend until the following day that my numbness was an indicator of how profoundly I was moved. There are sadly to few genuine love stories in the history of cinema; many are rife with mundanities and fluff. But Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhal project a passion that transcends lust. One can well imagine them together the rest of their lives if only they lived in a different time and place. Ang Lee is certifiably one of the top-tier directors of his time.