Review of W.E. (2011) by Anthony H — 01 May 2012

W.E. is not a perfect movie but is not half bad either. The film is the story of two women one in the 1930's and 1990's. I wish Madonna had chosen instead to focus on the story on the women in the 1930's only. That woman is Wallis Simpson a woman who had a husband who gave up his thrown to marry her. Wallis is played but the lovely and talented Andrea Riseborough. Riseborough makes the film better then it should be. She is so enchanting and charming, I could not take my eyes of her. Her Wallis is a complex woman. A woman who wants to be loved but likes the nicer things in life. The costumes designed by Arianne Phillips are beautiful. Phillips costumes make the film alone worth watching. She recreates the 1930's with so much attention to detail and style. What really ties the film done is the story set in the 1990's. The female character is named wally and she is obsessed to Wallis. She is married to a husband who cheats on her and she is sad. Wally is played by my Abbie Cornish. I loved Cornish in Bright Star and Somersault. In this role she is good but not great. It is not her fault because her character is underwritten. The script is so predictable and weak. This what keeps the film from being great. The film has some great moments and is visually beautiful but the script is bad. Overall it is a great effort from Madonna. Look she tried but she did not make a great movie, but is was pretty and fun.

6.5/10.