Review of The Age of Innocence (1993) by Nathan G — 17 Mar 2011

Daniel day lewis is simply a fantastic actor. what may turn off audiences and avid scorcese fans is that it is SO very quiet and uneventful. I respect the fact that Scorcese didn't "cheat" in trying to insert sex or violence but what is left is a film theat revolves around rich people obsessed with etiquette.

of course the point of the whole thing is not really what happens but the morality of day lewis' character or lack therof. whether pfeiffer and the other supporting characters can quite hold up to lewis' performance is questionable, though wynona ryder does an excellent job towards the end of the film.

also there is an annoying narrator who has to come in and explain everything at certain points because scorcese couldn't quite figure out how to let the film talk for itself. but in the positive column it is a fascinating period film with a lush attention to the detail of the luxury of new york's wealthy, there IS a very compelling love story at the center of the film, and day lewis brings the heat.

in the end it falls a bit short but it's still well worth seeing.