Review of Bright Star (2009) by Stewart S — 08 Jan 2010

While Bright Star is beautifully filmed and deftly written, it is unfortunately rather emotionally bereft of the very qualities it is championing in Keatsâ??s soul-enriching poetry and bewitching first love. Whilst Campion is an admirable film-maker, never afraid to tackle difficult matter, and impressively changing her directorial style to suit the material, here it feels as though she has presented us with a story that is only half-told; it is stark and elementary, when possibly it deserved a few more romantic flourishes. The romance is partly the problem: it never feels real, but something a little too artful and composed. Poetry touches Fanny Brawne but she never understands it, and Keats seems both besotted and confused by her.

Ben Whishaw performs ably as Keats, with finicky mannerisms and a considered, thoughtful impersonation that conveys a brilliant but somewhat deluded mind. Abbie Cornish, as always, is very uneven, making Fanny Brawne a petulant, moody, and rather unsympathetic character. Kerry Fox offers stalwart support as mother, and Paul Schneider is memorable as the caustic Mr Brown.

The whole film feels as though it is conducted lazing about in fields of flowers or slothfully in barely furnished rooms. That said, the script, though possibly requiring more depth of character, is well paced and surprisingly engaging, and the production design is highly evocative of the time.