Review of Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) by Timothy N — 08 Oct 2015
Bathsheba Everdene attempts to run an estate without the social benefits of marriage in this Thomas Hardy adaptation.
Director Thomas Vinterberg may have been well aware that late nineteenth century feminism may seem passe to a modern audience, so he spends the majority of this adaptation focusing solely on character development, particularly that of Bathsheba and Gabriel. As a result, the novel's criticisms of late Victorian society take a back seat to the rather pedestrian romance, which unfolds predictably.
Carey Mulligan is lovely and strong, but there's too much modern independence in her performance; we don't doubt for a moment that she has the capability of running the estate, yet for the original Bathsheba, this may have been a matter of some suspense. Matthias Schoenaerts is dreamy, and that's about all that can be said for his performance.
Overall, Far from the Madding Crowd is a competent adaptation of one of a great author's lesser novels.
This review of Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) was written by Timothy N on 08 Oct 2015.
Far from the Madding Crowd has generally received positive reviews.
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