Review of Doctor Zhivago (1965) by Kylie P — 30 Dec 2008

Long and not in the happy, good way. David Lean's gift and trademark of employing beautiful photography to paint a picture of epic proportions is the best part of this movie. Using the backdrop of wide open, snowy spaces and dark and ominous city streets punctuated by the red of the Communists to give the film its reputed grandeur made the film visually beautiful, even stunning. The visual aspects are what put the film above mediocrity, and it also had great costumes and score. The story, however, was not executed very well, possibly because some of it was sacrificed to the visual presentation, as Lean really tried to contrast this clandestine romance against the historical and even environmental backdrop; possibly because it was not well adapted (even if Oscar thought so) from the book; or possibly because it was trying to be like Gone with the Wind and just couldn't make it. What there was of the story was sometimes confusing, incomplete, and didn't make sense, and it was helped by some of the dialogue, which sometimes seemed overblown, cheesy, and unrealistic. Plus, all of the performances felt oddly soap operaish except for Sharif's and Guinness' - as in, it all felt like too much, too heavy handed.

The biggest problem with the plot or story or execution of either was that it was never explained or made sense as to why Yuri suddenly felt this magnetic attraction to Lara that couldn't be forgotten and why he would committ adultery for her when he seemed to love his wife so much (and why shouldn't he, she was lovely), and why the viewer should care, especially since this is the basis for the whole film. The events that lead to their first lustful yearning for one another are clipped through poor storytelling, and while the viewer may assume that it's part of the man and the character, that Zhivago was so full of love, he had room in his heart for both women (and to his credit, Omar Sharif was able to show those complexities and make the viewer feel as Yuri was feeling most of the time), it felt like something really big was missing. Guinness was a joy to watch, however. If you love sweeping epic romances that don't seem to make sense, and that are set against a backdrop of violence and turmoil (and possibly belie social commentary about the Cold War), then this film is for you. If you love epic romances that are better executed all around, I recommend Gone with the Wind.