Review of Grace of Monaco (2014) by Michael D — 12 Jul 2014

As predicted and along with the negative response the film received at Cannes this year, Grace of Monaco bares little representation and is a lazy depiction of one of Hollywood's greatest film icons, Grace Kelly. The picture takes us through a turbulent life in the principality's history as it faces a potential threat from France and the destruction of the tiny nation.

As for Kidman's performance, I was a little disappointed. Although not completely a tragedy, Kidman is able to display some sense of emotion as the tiny principality faces a potentially devestational crisis from the French, but, for me, she did not truly capture the essence and allure that Kelly seem to exude in her all-to-brief film career. But the real question is did Ms Kidman actually capture the essence of the mystery and purity that was Grace Kelly. For me, her performance did not seem to demonstrate that this was a Grace Kelly story it all. The accent sounded more American than British. Kelly's signature elongated smile was barely seen in the picture as Kidman's facial expressions appear unconvincing and constrained as she tries morph into the film icon in some way. However, Kidman's scenes revolving around her potential return to acting with Hitchock's "Marne" did falsely allude that this film many have some serious potential. In the first half of the film, we take a look at Kelly's possible acceptance of going back to Hollywood over the summer to shoot "Marne" and I think Kidman demonstrated Kelly's shear desire and longing to return back to what the world fell in love with her for and the clear choice Kelly has to make in fulfilling her Monégasque duties or to return to her first love, the movies.

There's no question, the film is intricately and lavishly produced with beautiful serene shots of Monaco, but the storyline is so facetious and lacks believability. Is it really appropriate to suggest that Ms Kelly saved Monaco from an invasion by France? Although the picture declares a mild disclaimer that the storyline is partly fictitious, it does little to assist in deciding whether this picture is either a story or a serious biopic.

It's deeply frustrating to see the full potential this film could have had with its lavish production and significant "buzz" around the awards season. It's almost as if the director failed to exploit a great TRUE story in what is one of America's greatest movie stars leaves it all behind at the very pinnacle of her career with an Academy Award-winning performance to rush off to become a princess in a far away, microscopic land to "live happily ever after" with a yearning desperation to return back to Hollywood when reality kicks in. It's like the film missed so many failed opportunities and focused too much on the French-Monaco crisis than providing a small backdrop to how this little Philadelphian girl became a world icon of class, elegance, and style.