Onegin

Rating:
Summary: 'Tis a Classic as far as I'm Concerned........
Review: From the moment the film begins-----with the horses and sledge thundering across the snow, and the wonderful musical score----I knew it was going to be my kind of movie. Each frame is a masterpiece-----the costumes, the sets, the attention to detail, the composition of each scene. Everyone connected with this movie should feel pride in the finished product. The last scene, with that gorgeous, haunting music in the background, and Onegin walking alone along the snow-covered St. Petersburg street is a scene I shall never forget. It's a superb film without the usual overt sex scenes, violence, and vulgar language-----what a relief!

Rating:
Summary: 'Love heightens our senses but lowers our perceptions.'
Review: Having never read the novel in verse on which this is based, I regard the story by its own merit. 'Onegin' is a haunting, passionate, beautiful, and unforgettable tale of unrequited love. The film follows the tragic story of Evgene Onegin (Ralph Fiennes), a Russian playboy who catches the eye of innocent Tatyana (Liv Tyler). Rejecting her confession of love, Onegin is lead to commit a spontanious action which leads to eventual tragedy, his seperation from Tatyana, and their reunion years later after her marriage to his cousin, a czar. The film ends with a powerful climax very different from most productions of this nature.

With lush costuming, beautiful cinematography, and rock-solid performances from a fantastic cast, 'Onegin' is an unusual kind of film. Moving along at a measured pace, it demands patience but also evokes obsession. We cringe at the inevitable, shed a few tears, and cheer at the final conflict. It's a story of love, tragedy, circumstance, and choices. I came into it with sincere doubt, certain my hopes would be dashed. For once I was pleasantly surprised at the restraint and dignity shown in the production and its conclusion. When all other aspects are stripped away, it becomes a tale of a woman's honor. It's not a subject often breached, and for this element alone hold my admiration and praise.

It also has one of the most stunningly picturesque and yet chillingly horrific dueling scenes I've ever witnessed on film. The emotion and intensity of the tragic cold winter morning on the docks builds to an inevitable climax and shows the profound sorrow that follows in the wake of a terrible mistake. I much appreciated witnessing the victor's anger, frustration, and sorrow over what he was forced to do in order to defend his good name. Was the outcome by chance or intention? Perhaps we'll never know.

Fiennes' sister directed the film and his claims that she has a "sensual power" over the camera are true. Every frame is full of romantic intensity. I do question her reasoning for moments of complete silence and the soundtrack at times is grating on the nerves, but overall I was very impressed.

Rating:
Summary: Casting Error
Review: Having read Pushkin's novel, this movie does an admirable job in keeping with the tone of the book. However, the plain unrefined country girl in the novel is portrayed by the beautiful & graceful Liv Tyler. Onegin's treatment of Tatyana is conceivable in the book but rather hard to believe in the movie when it involves Ms. Tyler.

Rating:
Summary: Watch it
Review: I just finished watching the movie and am very delighted. If you have any appreciation for art, you will appreciate this movie. The cinematography itself is a poem. It tells the complex love story without redundance, and elegantly. Casting and acting are all well done. This movie certainly worth your time. The only reason why I am not giving this movie 5 star is because it is based on a book and no movie beats your imagination.

Rating:
Summary: Inspired choice
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent adaptation of Alexandder Pushkin's Onegin. firts of all, I commend Fiennes for his taste and decision to produce the film. He must have known and loved this classic of literature. He also filmed it entorely on location in Russia. The acting is just right and this is remarkable for this sort of subject, when actorsa tend to overact to show their dramatic talents as in some 'Period" pieces, notably Henry James adaptations, Merchant & Ivory films and Shakespearan films. i.e. Golden Bowl, Room with a view and Hamlet. Liv Tyler is well cast as Tatiana and she even looks like Ntalia Gencherova Pushkin's actual wife over whom he fought in a duel - and died very young - just like his created hero Evgeni Onegin. Fienbnes is excellent as the noble Onegin. For some reason Fiennes is always very beliavble playing eastern European members of the high class. Unfortunately many missed this film as it received very little publicity. For the few it's very worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Something extraordinary
Review: I would like to provide an additional perspective from someone who knows Russian and read Pushkin's novel several times in the original language. I believe if one is to enjoy this novel in English, prose is the only way to achieve it, and this movie certainly does the job. It's not the most faithful adaption, nor could it possibly be. The original is timeless and beautiful... and let's keep it on its pedestal. The movie, however, is something completely different - and it's all the better for it.

This is a wildly romantic fable about disillusionment, cynicism, and their clash with moral strength and commitment. The title character is so sated with life and its excesses that he looks and wants for nothing anymore, believing all that this world can offer him is meaningless. To his great misfortune (or is it fortune?), he is proven wrong.

There are several things that Martha Fiennes, director, does right here: she extracts every ounce of talent from Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler (her best work to date - she needs more of such roles), she creates an atmosphere of longing that doesn't release the viewer until the credits roll on the screen, and she sticks true to the characters' dimensions. The movie is never boring or slow. Music is so well matched to action that one marvels at it - Tchaikovsky's opera has a contender in Onegin's score.

Also, the DVD itself is very well-made - quality is excellent, there are plenty of extra features, the interviews with the cast are especially insightful, and the director's commentary is like icing on the cake.

From someone very skeptical about "period pieces" and any adaptations of Russian literature by English directors, I must say... we need more of such movies. I will be the first in line for the next work from Martha, whatever it may be about.

Rating:
Summary: An incredible film from the vonFiennes Family Artists
Review: I've heard somewhere that Ralph Fiennes conceived this film solely to give his sister a project to direct and his brother a film to score. If so, then please by all means, do it again, Ralph! Onegin does not fail to stay true to the text, Eugene Onegin, it's based on, and evokes the melancholy splendor and chilling depth of Russian literature.

This has to be Liv Tyler's finest performance, hands down. She carries herself with the elegance, passion, romance, naivte and heartbreak that Tatanya possesses on the page. Ralph Fiennes does indeed do a fine job of Eugene Onegin, presenting a phenomenal turn from telling Tatyana to forget him to being consumed by passion for her.

In the many silent periods of the film there is such an intensity far greater than any action film, and the dialogue cuts you like a cold Russian winter breeze. This is one of those now-rare films where the true emphasis is on the story.

Magnus Fiennes' score fits the film perfectly, drawing on Russian themes as well as classical music for inspiration, and Martha Fiennes could not have been a more perfect director.
It has my highest recommendation I can give to a film, and should not be missed.

Rating:
Summary: Ralph Fiennes.... be still my heart!
Review: If I know that Ralph (pronounced Rafe) Fiennes is the lead in a film, that film becomes an auto-buy without knowing anything more. As an actor, he has it all. In every role he plays, I swear he's a different human being. This was true of this role as well. His mannerisms, the way he looks at someone, the way he even smoulders silently are entirely different from those same feelings as he portrayed them as Lenny in "Strange Days;" the English Patient of that same name film; Charles Van Doren in "Quiz Show;" and perhaps, most astoundingly, the brutal, fat, evil Nazi in "Schindler's List." Usually actors this good aren't also tremendously sexy but Fiennes breaks the rule there too. I've never read the work of the Russian author who wrote this nor have I studied Russian. I have seen many Russian movies that were subtitled in English though yet never saw an actor in any of them who approached Fiennes in ability. So I think Pushkin and Russian literature in general should be glad that it was THIS English actor who got the role. When Fiennes was interviewed on the DVD, he confessed that playing this role has obsessed him since his own school days. The role is of a wealthy man initially too dissipated to appreciate the innocent, beautiful woman played by Liv Tyler. That changes at a later point in time when he becomes obsessed with her. Tyler seems to be getting better and better with each role. This is perhaps her best to date and lack of ability would really show up in a quiet role, which this was. The film itself is a very quiet movie except for the duel and activity out in the snow and ice. Thus, any wrong steps by director Martha Fiennes would have really stood out. I didn't see any mistakes. It is a character driven piece and she remains true to that throughout. Probably the scene that I'll remember best is when Onegin is staring at Tatiana as she skates on the lake. He reminds one physically of his surroundings, especially his shards of ice eyes, yet he is so hot that he seems as if he's going to cause the ice to spontaneously combust. The costumes and settings are also absolutely gorgeous throughout. It would have been a shame to cheapen up on the details since the rich Russians really flaunted their wealth in that period.

Rating:
Summary: Wuthering Heights Meets Dr. Zhivago
Review: If you are a fan of "Wuthering Heights" and "Dr. Zhivago," you will fall in love with this film. The filmwork is mesmerizing and beautiful without being overly artsy; the score is hypnotic and well-suited to the drama; and the costumes are authentic and gorgeous.

I was concerned about the quality of this film after reading that it was a "Feinnes Family Project," but my fears were unnecessary; Ralf's brother and sister are as incredibly talented as he.

This film is a welcome addition to my collection of Merchant Ivory and Ang Lee films. If you enjoy the works of the Brontes, Jane Austen, or the Russian Masters (whether in book or film form) this is one DVD you will not wish to pass up. The extra footage on the production was interesting as well.

Love it.

Rating:
Summary: The film for you if you enjoy tragic love stories
Review: Jaded playboy meets country beauty and doesn't know how to appreciate her. She declares her love for him, and he rejects her. However years later after he has gone through several crises he comes to realize she is the love of his life. It's too late by then. She is the wife of another. And steadfast heroine that she is, she will not break her marriage vows.

Ah, the sweet torture. The close-ups of Ralph Fiennes's ever expressive eyes. It was a love junkie's smorgasbord.

What do I know about cinematography? The film's a feast for the eyes. That's good enough for me. Direction? Martha Fiennes did a fine job in my humble opinion. And the score was hauntingly lovely.

The previous reviews have been technical enough. I'm a writer. From a writer's point of view, this was excellent storytelling.