Review of Wuthering Heights (2011) by X X — 26 Jul 2012

Please note: I have not read the book.

This is not your grandma's period drama. It is down-and-dirty, gritty and bleak; working class to a fault and all the better for it. Not only is this reinforced by a narrative that shies away from manor houses and the courtly behaviour of the rich (and when this is present it's presented in a fairly negative light) but also the stylistic tone of the movie - howling winds replace a soundtrack (the sound design is phenomenal), hand-held cameras run wild through the hills and Arnold beautifully plays with focus, natural lighting and close-ups throughout.

That's the not to say that the film is all monochrome, in fact the opposite is true as the raw nature of the film gives way to a tender and real relationship between two doomed lovers at its centre. If I had any complaints it'd be that the first half of the movie is better than the second and I wasn't a huge fan of the 4:3 aspect ratio the director insists on using.