Everything in Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella seems to be working towards an aesthetic that I don't often see in movies. An utter sense of joy and fun. In a movie industry that is crowded with dark and dour movies you don’t get many of films like this. But how refreshing it is, how fun it is,and how energetic it is. I'm not going to bother talking about what Cinderella is about. We all know,and Chris Weitz's script doesn't part from the main story at all. A lot of critics have taken it upon themselves to call the film unoriginal,but did not care actually. The story is definitely something we've seen,but the rest is not. Director Kenneth Branagh (much like in his best film Hamlet) has created a film of endless joy,and energy. The colors pop from the screen,and the costumes created by Sandy Powell make it all convincing. They are so lush in their beauty and color that I can't even believe their effect on me. I was just blown away by them. The staging of the film including that camerawork is just as lush as the costumes preferring sweeping shots that feel epic,and exciting. This especially makes a difference in the royal ball scene. It is a feast for the eyes that is exciting as anything you will see all year. This is really a beautiful film. But that wouldn't matter if the other aspects of the film couldn't hold up, but they most certainly do. Chris Weitz's script is again not that original,but it's witty with moments that a quite funny throughout. The dialogue is unfortunately a little bit sweet even for a Disney movie,but again this is a joyful movie trying to be sweet so in the context of the film it all works. What also makes it work is the fact that the actors are working at their bests to deliver it. Lily James is beautiful in this film,and brings a dreamy and happy sensation to Cinderella making the film’s central character very likable. The Prince is also superb allowing the dynamic of love at first sight work by virtue of the amazing chemistry he shares with James's Cinderella. But no one upstages Cate Blanchett. I was surprised by how much of a nuanced character she created with the little dialogue that she is given. There's an element of tragedy to her which she conveys in almost every scene making it impossible to take your eyes away from her. As far as the other supporting characters they don't really have much to do,but they are all doing fun work that ultimately fits the aesthetic. This is much better than I expected it to be. It's got a script that is kind of stilted and cheesy, but it's a Disney movie and the rest of it is beautiful. I find myself using that word a lot in this review,and deservedly so. This is a great film that is one of the best kids films I will ever see. Great actors, great sets,and great direction. I give Cinderella a 9.5 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |