Review of W.E. (2011) by Lauren D — 21 Nov 2012

Had this film not been directed by Madonna I think it would have more highly rated. Having two competing story lines is always hard to execute, indeed there were moments in this film when you wished you remained in one story line or the other.

What was pleasing though was the use of Southeby's exhibition rooms connecting 'Wally' to 'Wallace' and in so doing bringing Wally the love she was so obsessed and intrigued by whilst also releasing Wally from an all consuming obsession with W & E.

Many critics have cited the advert quality to the filming techniques used and in many ways they are right. However, inappropriate with an era and icons which were so style-centric for such an approach to be used.

Moving on to the cast though, the star of the show was, naturally Andrea Riseborough who was fantastic and absolutely captured the 'Simpson Spirit'. Simpson had recently been portrayed to great success, such as Gillian Anderson's portrayal 'Any Human Heart' but less successfuly in the revival of 'Upstairs Downstairs' but Riseborough managed to capture the facial expression and clipped tones even if her accent did wander slightly.

James D'Arcy was solid but not special as for Abbie Cornish, her character was a tough one to play as she was emotional but at the same time cold. In many ways the nature of Wally's character prevents this film from being a commercial success.

Everybody wants to see W&E but sitting through graphic scenes of Wally's fight with her abusive husband or her desperation to have children with a man she knows is having an affiar is a harsh trade off for thirties porn.

Whilst we are forced to feel sympathy for Wally we don't necessarily engage with her and I'm not sure whether we are meant to, certainly her occasional smiles are such a relief from the austere black and white appearance.

The film does offer up some lovely filming sequences, a stella performance by Riseborough against a lovely score by Abel Korzeniowski with notable appearances from James Fox and Geoffrey Palmer. The lack of dialogue distances us though from Wally's character which will no doubt leaving some viewers thinking "w.

E"....Sorry.