| The
Review: |
For those teenagers out there in
the wide world who find it fustrating when their parents punish
them, consider this: Have they ever forced you to marry someone
you didn't love? Have they ever whipped you repeatedly on
the backside (with a real whip, mind you) until you were made
to comply with their wishes? Have they ever sold your life
down the river by placing you in a position of authority to
protect their own religious beliefs? Chances are not many
people will be able to relate to these aspects of the life
of Lady Jane Grey, the central focus of Trevor Nunn's "Lady
Jane," which tackles the life of the teenage English royal
who assumed the throne for a mere nine days after the death
of King Edward VI, son of the deceased King Henry VIII. ***
Jane (Helena Bonham Carter, in her
introductory big-screen role), a girl whose hunger for knowledge
and firmness of religion were once considered an admirable
trait by those who knew her, would become the centerpiece
of a plot concocted by John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland
(John Wood), who understood that in order for England to remain
faithful to the Reformation, the throne's true heirs (the
Catholic Mary and the Protestant Elizabeth) must not be allowed
to assume their rightful reign. Working with Jane's parents,
the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, he devised that the girl
would marry his son, Guilford (Cary Elwes), and then be put
on standby until Edward's final hours. ***
What they didn't count on, apparently,
was for Jane to take on a will of her own, or that she and
Guilford, at first at odds with one another, would develop
romantic feelings that eventually became love. Now whether
or not this mutual attraction has a basis in historical fact
is debatable, and many have denounced the film for its preference
of fiction over truth. But for what it's worth, this aspect
of the plot is convincingly scripted and well-acted by Carter
and Elwes, and only the most ardent historical buffs won't
be tempted to feel for Jane and Guilford in the later events
that led to their eventual execution. ***
On her own, Carter exudes a screen
presence that is remarkably powerful for a feature debut:
she employs Jane with a strength of character and a courage
the likes of which can be found in such a performance as that
of Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth." Writer David Edgar's script
tackles many of the factual political facets of the time and
place with intelligence and tension, most notably the religious
aspects, which would be the hot topic of battle and bloodshed
for many more years. Nunn directs all of this with sincerety
and a belief in his work that shows in the final product,
making it that much more enjoyable. At times, "Lady Jane"
may seem like a costume party with some big-name attractions
and expensive-looking production values, but the performances
and the believable (albeit lengthy) story manage to keep a
certain aire of authenticity about it.
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| Image
and Sound |
A solid presentation with some noticeable
flaws here and there. The 1.85:1 anamorphic image exhibits
good color accuracy and saturation, commendable contrast and
shadow delineation, and edges that are sharp with some minor
enhancement halos present. The source print is blemished with
some dirt and scratches here and there, and there is more
grain than usual, but overall, the picture holds up. ***
The sound is mastered in Dolby 2.0
Surround, and while it's not one of the better tracks of its
kind, it works well with the movie. Occasionally the surrounds
come alive with the score or some sound effects, all of which
sound good enough, but this is mostly a dialogue-driven track,
and for the most part it is clear and natural. Deep bass is
minimal to the point of being absent, but it isn't needed
much. --
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