Review of A Room with a View (1986) by Mae B — 29 Dec 2008

James Ivory's "A Room with a View" has to be my favorite film. The elements of a perfect cast, a funny and poignant script, and delicate direction make for a treat.

I recently read the E.M. Forster novel, by the same name, which the film is based off. I had already seen the film a few times, yet watching it with the book in mind made for a more pleasant viewing. Films seem to rarely grab the essence of a book if it is based off of one. One that comes to mind that portrays the tones with exactness is the recent film, "No Country for Old Men" based off the Cormac McCarthy novel. While watching the movie after reading the book, I noticed the way in which the characters are given such gravity in the movie. This is due to the brilliant script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and the cast. This film has a cast that has talent beyond measure. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith provide many laughs, but it is the three characters who are front and center for most of this film that give "A Room with a View" its wit, and were new comers at the time the film was made. They are Helena Bonham Carter, as the heroine Lucy Honeychurch, Daniel Day-Lewis, as the selfish Cecil Vyse, and Julian Sands, as the romantic George Emerson. They show that they understand these characters with the force of their actions. Bonham Carter is beautiful as Honeychurch. She has curiosity and desire in her eyes that keeps getting squashed. Day-Lewis seems to have improvised his characters mannerisms. In one scene, he holds a cup of tea and swats at an insect that is pestering him. It is a short scene but one that will make many fall to their knees with laughter. Sands has the striking looks ripe for romanticism, but he gives his George a confident manner in his "oddity" that makes him an insperation.

The Emerson character is profound. Forster gives him an outlook on the world with that of the philosopher Emerson. George Emerson's love is true for Lucy Honeychurch unlike that of Cecil Vyse, who seems to only want to marry Honeychurch to prove to himself that he is desirable. When in accuality his arrogant behavior repels all, besides his mother who declares, "Make Lucy one of us!" The contrast between these two men in their love for Honeychurch can be seen in the way they kiss her. Emerson is the first to do so when he comes to her in a flower field in the hills of Italy (where the film commences), without any words. It is heartstopping with its passion. Then when Vyse kisses Honeychurch, he first requests if he may then clumsily does so, while tangling up his pince nez. The audience can feel the uncomfortable connection between Honeychurch and him.

I want to thank "A Room with a View" for the passion it shows in its characters that the film makers, actors, and above all E.M. Forster believed that a person is capable of. I have taken away the message of being true to my own emotions, as George Emerson does.

The film shows what films ought to be made of.