Review of My Cousin Rachel (2017) by Abb J — 14 Sep 2017

My Cousin Rachel: Ironically, Rachel Weisz stars as the titular character in this period film about a young Englishman who falls for the mysterious and captivating widow whom he suspects of killing his guardian while abroad in Italy.

While this remake of the 1952 film starring Richard Burton and Olivia DeHavilland has all of the expected gorgeous cinematography, set design and costumes, it is the standout performances by Weisz and Sam Claflin (Finnock in the later Hunger Games films), as the increasingly unstable (or is it poisoned?), lovesick, would-be heir to his late guardian's estate, that has us wondering what is real and what is imagined.

An abrupt ending, which mirrors the Daphne du Maurier novel from which it was adapted, is its weakest point, but it is still a well done character study. B+.