Review of Bright Star (2009) by Nick O — 30 Mar 2010

A Victorian England atmosphere is a tricky tactic to conquer. A filmmaker is often obliged to revel in the mid-19th century rather than either outskirt of the era. With Bright Star, writer-director Jane Campion has her heart in the right place. Unfortunately though, that doesn't quite cut it.

I can understand one's excitement of getting that perfect story concept, and thinking of scenes and characters to fill the void. What weighs all of this down is the execution. Bright Star's premise, the romance between poet John Keats and his lover Fanny Brawne, is decent enough. Though hence the term "romance". It boils down to your specific taste in cinema, and maybe this just isn't my type of movie. Though no matter how hard I looked, the intense stare I fixed at my television, I failed to find the romantic elements most have from this.

Bright Star is one of those cases that has wonderful performances in something that's otherwise mediocre. Abbie Cormish surprised the hell out of me with her turn as starstruck Fanny, who turns into a schoolgirl at the sight of our next actor, Ben Whishaw. He accurately portrays the deep confusion and loneliness that come with being a writer.

Above all, Bright Star is a gorgeous film to look at. Establishing shots by Campion are one of the only things that kept my eyes consistently glued, accompanying Greig Fraser's breathtaking cinematography and Janet Patterson's Oscar-worthy costume design perfectly. Sadly, it's what's on the outside that makes Bright Star anything more than the emptiness it holds within. I wouldn't say it's a movie that takes itself too seriously or with overwhelming sophistication, rather than a tone that politely says "take me or leave me.".

The ending is where acting flourishes, and when the story peaks when it should begin to climax. The dialog is a bit too spot-on for my taste, and the ending isn't told any differently than a generic romance would have finished. I was hard-pressed to love it, folks, but sadly this is one pill I couldn't swallow entirely.