Jack and I liked a lot this beautiful drama about a strong young woman, a feminist ahead of her Victorian England time, and the life she carves out for herself despite three suitors trying to tie her down. Carey Mulligan, as leading lady Bathsheba Everdene, smiles much more than she did in Inside Llewyn Davis and Matthias Schoenaerts, as shepherd Mr. Oak, smolders just as he did in Rust and Bone. Michael Sheen's Mr. Boldwood bears less resemblance to Tina's Fey's wishy-washy boyfriend, whom he played in Admission, and more to the deep and conflicted William Masters in the excellent Showtime series Masters of Sex. Tom Sturridge (last blogged in On the Road) is also good as shifty Sergeant Troy.
Danish director Thomas Vinterberg, acclaimed for The Celebration (Festen - 1998), creates a magnificent world with the help of screenwriter David Nicholls (most recently adapted his own novel into One Day), who adapted Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel, and cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen. Two-thirds of the movie is shot outdoors in magnificent English settings.
The lovely music by Craig Armstrong (Ray (2004), Moulin Rouge! (2001), The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Great Gatsby) can be streamed in its entirety on this link. Mulligan sings in the movie and over the credits with a sweet, clear alto.
I did see the original 1967 version with Julie Christie, Alan Bates, Peter Finch, and Terence Stamp, but I don't remember it. What I do remember is that it was my first and only date with a family friend (dating would have been a bad idea but he remains a good friend to this day) and something bad had happened to him that day--maybe a grandparent in the hospital? I'll have to ask him.
You don't need to take our word for it--Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging 85% and its audiences 78. Do see it on the big screen while you can. Many scenes in low light would be muddy on your home televisions.
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