Review of W.E. (2011) by Ruslan M — 31 Jul 2012

W.E. - TRASH IT (C+).

W.E. tells the story of two fragile but determined women - Wally Winthrop and Wallis Simpson - separated by more than six decades. In 1998, lonely New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) is obsessed with what she perceives as the ultimate love story: King Edward's VIII's abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcée Wallis Simpson. But Wally's research, including several visits to the Sotheby's auction of the Windsor Estate, reveals that the couple's life together was not as perfect as she thought. Weaving back and forth in time, W.E. intertwines Wally's journey of discovery in New York with the story of Wallis (Andrea Riseborough) and Edward (James D'Arcy), from the glamorous early days of their romance to the slow unraveling of their lives in the decades that followed.

Madonna's movie lacks a good direction and most importantly a good screenplay. Most of the times the movie becomes very tedious especially New York's scenes. Madonna was unable to find the balance between the both stories and in the end Abbie Cornish's story seems unsatisfied & unreal.

Both the women Abbie Cornish and Andrea Riseborough are strong but the men of the movie are very week especially Oscar Isaac. He doesn't have romantic bone inside him and his expressions seem more aggressive than romantic. Abbie Cornish is a beautiful tall woman and he looks like a petite in front of her. Abbie Cornish's performance is great as well as Andrea Riseborough. Though personally I found Andrea Riseborough very pale and boring. I saw her for the first time in Resistance which is I think not a movie to judge an actor but still she looks the same even if she is playing the royal. She has this constant look of sympathy, she looks like a woman who is never happy and always lives in pain. James D'Archy is alright but I just couldn't found that love and chemistry between Andrea and him. Natalie Dormer plays a small role of Soon to be Queen Again I think it's in her destiny after The Tudors, W.E. and recently in Game of Thrones.

W.E. has a good production value but bad direction and weak men of the movie makes it forgettable, even Abbie Cornish & Andrea Riseborough's performances cannot save this tedious venture.