The Wings of the Dove

Rating:
Summary: Exellent!
Review: Helena bonham carter gives a wonderful performance. She really should have won the oscar. Linus Roache is also brilliant as Densher. It is an exellnt film.

Rating:
Summary: Carter deserved the Oscar for her fantastic performance.
Review: Helena Bonham Carter is nothing short of brilliant. In my opinion, the lavish sets and the gorgeous costumes alone made this movie worth watching. However, all the characters were well-developed to the extent that your heart was also broken at the end along with the players. Most intriquing story, a different take on the love triangle. Carter conveys the raw emotions so powerfully, her presence so important to the film. I wish she was not overlooked by the Academy. She is a remarkable actress to be sure.

Rating:
Summary: These wretched aristocrats can't even heat their houses.
Review: Helena Bonham Carter is one of those rare actresses in Hollywood that is able to completely involve the audience with her passion, her terror, or her conniving plans with only the flutter of her eyes. She can literally tell an entire story with just her eyes. They are so full of passion and desire throughout the course of this film that you cannot help yourself but keep your own eyes focused on them. When she is on screen, her eyes demand respect, and she finds it. Perhaps this was why this film was her best film to date, being recognized by the Academy and from her fellow peers. I think that the reason this film was different than all the others is because of Carter and several outside factors. While these factors do skyrocket this film in my eyes, there is one element that keeps this film grounded and somewhat ruined.

Let me begin by saying that I hate, absolutely dislike, all period piece films. I can be honest enough to say that I have never seen a period piece film that I simply adored and was taken aback with, until I watched The Wings of a Dove. There was something about this film that just grabbed me and immersed me into the world that director Iain Softley had created. First, it was the characters. As I mentioned before, Helena steals the show with not only her deep character study and development, but also with those passionate eyes. You can see hints of intelligence and stupidity all rolled into one, which really helped develop the rest of this film. To accompany Helena through this journey, you have two other actors that keep up their end of the bargain. Linus Roache compliments Helena perfectly. His honest devotion to this conniving woman and his lack of self-preservation gives us that character that we know little about, but are quietly rooting for. Then there is Alison Elliot, who literally comes in with guns a-blazing. She is the most difficult character of the film due to the amount of layers that she must convey, but in the end she shines and brings upon us a very emotional ending. Throw in the mix a cameo by two great actors, Michael Gambon and Charlotte Rampling, and you have quite possibly the best names to helm this project.

With characters going to their full potential by the strength of some amazing actors, what also compliments this film is the charismatic story that helps lead the actors. Seasoned with a feeling of Dangerous Liaisons, this film takes us to a whole new level of sophistication and lust. When one woman will stop at nothing to ensure that she has the lifestyle that she desires, plus the man that she wants, she will look past friendships and morality. This shines through in not only Henry James' novel, but also in Hossein Amini's screenplay. With the amazing talent of Softley directing, we have scenes like that at the beginning of the film (eerie wordless Strangers on a Train moment) coupled with gorgeous shots of the "City of Love", Venice. We have a multi-faceted story that goes beyond my premature expectations.

While I felt this was an amazing film and Carter should have been recognized more for her role, there was one scene that I felt pushed me into that "brick wall" of cinema. It was as if I was travelling quickly through this film, taking in all the sights and sounds of these complex characters, when suddenly I was hit by a brick wall. The "brick wall" that I speak about is a very pornographic scene in this film with Carter. I felt that it wasn't needed, nor really brought any real relevance to the story, other than a nude actress. This took away from the overall scope of the film, and for me took this powerful drama down a notch.

Overall, I was impressed. It took me away from my consistent dislike of period piece dramas, but that violent sexual scene just turned me in disgust. Don't get me wrong, I am all for nudity if it progresses the plot, but this was not in any coherent context to the film. I just thought that Softley wanted to see Carter naked. Perhaps I am wrong, but it just didn't seem to fit. Outside of that, it was an outstanding film, which is worthy of all the honors it was bestowed during the year that it was released.

Grade: *** out of *****

Rating:
Summary: Bonham-Carter is Fantastic!
Review: Helena Bonham-Carter should have won the Oscar for her role in this excellent film. She is supported by a wonderful cast, beautiful costumes and excellent set design. The story of this period piece is complex and has a decidedly dark undertone. A must see for any fan of period films, Merchant-Ivory films and Helena Bonham-Carter!

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous tale of desire and desperation
Review: Henry James had the ability to develop intricate characters with extraordinary psychological depth, but his prose style is so dense (his friend Edith Wharton admitted that in places his writing is almost imcomprehensible) that few people are willing to dig down to the stratum of pure gold. What this beautiful film does is to excavate for us. It is a tale about a good person, someone who doesn't want to harm anyone, driven to manipulate the hearts of her lover and her best friend to get what she needs. Helena Bonham Carter brilliantly portrays a woman strong enough to withstand anything but her own feelings of guilt. I think that this story, written late in James's life, of someone on the outside looking in on a world of security and love is his story. James is Kate. The envy of Milly for who and what she is is palpable. Milly's money permits her to be honest and good, but her sweetness, in turn, makes her desirable to Merton. Milly is who Kate/James would like to be. On a less armchair psychological level, this is an incredibly romantic movie. Clothes before 1914 were more beautiful and just plain sexier. Stolen kisses -- and beyond -- really thrilled because they were so dangerous.

Rating:
Summary: Best James yet
Review: Henry James is my favourite writer past or present and this beautiful film is the best adaptation made yet. (The Bostonians and The Europeans aren't really versions even worth comparing, but I liked The Portrait of a Lady despite the fact that it's dryer than this one). Helena Bonham Carter and Allison Elliott are brilliant, and Linus Roache is the best kisser on film. My favourite costume designer Sandy Powell does a perfect job with the clothing, and Ian Softley's direction gives a modern zest to the classic proceedings here. Gorgeous, if tragic, filmmaking.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent adaptation of a Henry James novel
Review: Henry James is very difficult to translate into a film (remember Jane Campion's version of "The Portrait of a Lady" with Nicole Kidman?). This film is excellent in every respect. Iain Softley's direction is impeccable. While all of the actors are perfect in their roles, Helena Bonham Carter is magnificent. In her eyes, you can watch the machinations of her character's brain at her work. The screenplay, photography, costumes, art direction and music are also superior. The film captures the multiple levels of the book: a love story, a study of British class conflicts and a look at British vs. American cultures. The film depicts the unfolding events in an unsentimental fashion allowing the audience to make their own judgement resulting in a different emotional response by the end of the film depending on the opinions of the viewer. Definitely, one of the best pictures of the year. You will be reflecting back on this film and discussing it long after it is over.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent adaptation of a Henry James novel
Review: Henry James is very difficult to translate into a film (remember Jane Campion's version of "The Portrait of a Lady" with Nicole Kidman?). This film is excellent in every respect. Iain Softley's direction is impeccable. While all of the actors are perfect in their roles, Helena Bonham Carter is magnificent. In her eyes, you can watch the machinations of her character's brain at her work. The screenplay, photography, costumes, art direction and music are also superior. The film captures the multiple levels of the book: a love story, a study of British class conflicts and a look at British vs. American cultures. The film depicts the unfolding events in an unsentimental fashion allowing the audience to make their own judgement resulting in a different emotional response by the end of the film depending on the opinions of the viewer. Definitely, one of the best pictures of the year. You will be reflecting back on this film and discussing it long after it is over.

Rating:
Summary: When Doves Cry
Review: I fell in love with the lush tranquility this film possesses. The deep textures of colour and lighting lay subtle to the senses and tickle the eyes with splendid indulgence. The dark blues and purple worked brilliantly. The costumes in "Wings of the Dove" were superb, transforming Helena Bonham Carter into a lavish china doll. Beautiful to look at indeed.

I wish the script could have been a bit more agressive, making Helena's character more ploying and devious. This would have made her more dynamic of a villian. Like maybe help her dying friend along by slipping some cyanide into her glass of wine?

Linus Roach (Was he also in Pulp Fiction?) looked gorgeous in this film. You would have thought the filmakers opted for Hugh Grant, but it was nice to see someone less famous play the role.

The Wings of the Dove casts you into the stylish world of Great Britain and offers intoxicating glimpses of Venice as well. A dreamy, magical place where love lives and dies in the same breathe. A beautiful escape.

Rating:
Summary: A Movie for both Guys and Girls!
Review: I first saw this movie when it was in the theaters. After much resistance, my girlfriend got me to go. And to my surprise this was an excellent film. Helena Bonham Carter is superb! The story takes place in turn of the century London. But don't be fooled by that this movie is something right out of a 90's soap opera (that's why the girls will love it). Helena and her boyfriend try to swindle a dying woman out of her fortune. Not to give too much away, but the boyfriend begins to fall in love with the dying woman which creates the conflict.......but wait a minute guys....this is for us also. You have a gigilo who is playing with two women. Big money is at stake....and to top it all off the beautiful Helena Bonham Carter gets buck naked at the end. Not only that but she crawls around that way for at least five minutes with tons of close up shots. So to conclude, guys pick this one up and watch it with your girlfriend or wife.