Basil

Rating:
Summary: I Beg to Differ
Review: I thought BASIL was an intriguing film - a classical tale of revenge gone wrong. I couldn't figure out why it was rated R though, since there are no sex scenes, and less violence than what is found in most contemporary films.

I didn't find it dull at all, so I guess I will be one of the few people who thoroughly enjoyed this film. Christian Slater did a fine job - as usual, and I found the ending to be sweet.

Had the lead character found someone to love, I would have given the movie 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Basil
Review: I was not sure what to expect from this one. Never released theatrically...a film most people don't seem to know even exists, but featuring some big names, especially in the Hunk Division. But I think it generally succeeds, and I was not bored. In fact, I became quite interested in what was going to happen in this sinister love story. Yes, here we have a sinister love story.

First of all, it's a pleasure to finally see Claire Forlani gracing a period-piece, and letting loose her English accent. I've waited quite a while for this experience, and it's nice that I also enjoyed the movie for other reasons. This is a movie steeped in Victorian mores, and features three young--either impetuous, or conversely, calculating--Britons, shirking such mores in search of either love or revenge. The result is our titular character, as played by Leto, fracturing his already precarious relationship with his stuffy, austere pater (Jacobi), which means he also risks ostracizing himself from all his father stands for: polite society, grandiose inheritance, and a proper place in Victorian London. Be the son that father and England demand, or risk it in the pursuit of the gypsy-eyed ice-maiden, Julia (Forlani). One problem: the romance starts on this note "She is rude, she is aloof, she was completely terrible to me--John, I must see her again! When can it be arranged?".

I think the chemistry between the three leads--Forlani, Leto, and Slater as the mysterious John--works when you consider that the above bit of paraphrased dialogue forms the crux of the romance that unfolds. It is a romance with some scourge, or disease, hiding behind it. I do not expect the usual chemistry that goes with youth falling in love, or even playing hard to get, since all the evidence suggests some horrible agenda at work behind the scenes--hence Julia's incessant coldness, Basil's frustrations, and John's too-perfect-seeming relaxed gentlemanliness. The question is: who is hiding what?

Blood does run red, as red as some of the gorgeous decor in this beautiful-looking film, with its fiery red drapery and cushions. The sets are wonderfully colourful and ornate--or they feature sudden contrast, when Basil's intended birthright, Windermere Manor (Castle? Place?...okay, I forget exactly), turns to grey and decay, or as Basil's noble place in society slips and he tracks through the offal-ridden browns of lower-class lanes, wondering what went wrong.

The movie becomes quite dark as ruinous secrets get revealed, causing blood and scars. Ultimately, the infected love story works itself out, and Basil faces a final humiliating confrontation with his estranged, probably unforgiving father, but with one psychological trump-card...a certain memory of his father that reveals him to be little more than a blustering hypocrite. The denouement alone hints at slight hope on one front.

People had pace problems with this? Just how fast is this type of story supposed to be moving? I think it moves no slower than some of its high-profile period-drama counterparts. It has mystery and intrigue that prompt layered and enigmatic performances from young actors who are not just playing young lovers thrashing around, but rather young people playing a dangerous game where love is just part of the strategy. Forlani is as gorgeous as ever, and again, nice to get a look at her in this type of film.

Much better than I was expecting.

Rating:
Summary: I thought it was rather dull.
Review: I watched Basil with a friend. We found it easy to follow but with a very dull plot. The reason we chose this film was because of the wonderful actors and actress, and we LOVE English films. We were led to believe that Basil would sleep with someone before the end, but he never did! This is not the reason for the film's dullness but if Basil and Julia or Clara had sex, the movie would have been better. We did love the houses and clothes and accents but this movie does not rate high on our list.

Rating:
Summary: Not very exciting
Review: The plot was very bland. Slater did a pretty good job, however he had little to work with.