Rating: 
Summary: A Film Of Rare Beauty
Review: Martin Scorsese's talents shine very clearly in this movie, as it remains, to me anyway, as one of his best films! It's a movied filled with beauty from every aspect: the acting, the directing,the music, the screenplay,and the cinematography. Everything is stunningly perfect in this film. Martin Scorsese is a director of rare talent, and was unrightly over looked for an Oscar nomination for this movie. Luckily the Academy didn't over look Winona Ryder in this movie, as her performance is one of the many reasons to watch this movie, which is based on Edit Wharton's novel of the same title. Michelle Pfeiffer, in my opinion delievers her best performance to date! This is a movie where one doesn't have to be a Scorsese fan to enjoy it. All you have to do is sit down and relax and watch this modern masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: one of my favorites
Review: Not only is "The Age of Innocence" a visually stunning film, it is a faithful adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel about life in High Victorian New York City of the 1870s. Newland Archer is a man caught between societal convention and the love of his life -- and he lives in a society where convention rules and "free will," as he believes it -- does not exist. The message of the story is sad, but true to the historical context of the film. it raises questions about how much a society bows to convention, tradition, and conformity. Every aspect of this film is wonderful...the costumes, interiors, and musical score linger in your mind long after the movie has ended. If you found this boring on the first watch, watch it again. This is truly a modern classic and proves once again the genius of Scorsese.
Rating:
Summary: An age of beauty...
Review: It's hard to know where to begin this review -- the stunning cinematography? The gripping storyline? The mesmerizing acting? I can't begin to put into language the amazine job Scorsese did on this film and I am NOT a Scorsese fan! Winona Ryder deserved an Oscar for her underplayed manipulation of her husband, played equally brilliantly by Day-Lewis. Pfieffer pulls off the tragic heroine superbly and the icing on the cake is the supporting actors. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece, yes, that is the word
Review: Like many other reviewers, the first time I saw this film, I thought it was boring beyond words. I think that I was expecting a "chick flick" and that's not what I got. Upon second viewing, I realized that I had missed the boat and that the film was absolutely brilliant in every detail. It simply does not take one false step in any way. Performances, script, cinematography, score, sets, just everything. Personally, I believe that Ryder gives the performance of her career as May. Her performance is so subtle, so under the surface, that many may dismiss it as one-noted. Not so, not so at all. I can only hope that Scorsese puts a special edition on DVD so that I can enjoy it in all of its sumptuousness over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: surprised and enlitened
Review: The acting was superb, an surprised me, the set decoration was wonderful. The detail of NYC and the mansions, table settings and even the food of that era were terrific. The love story though predictable was very good. I'm ready, take me back the 1870's. Just kiding!
Rating:
Summary: A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE
Review: Martin Scorsese has made a reputation of conveying the essence of the human spirit through images of toughness and violence. On the surface, The Age of Innocence seems about as far removed from films like Raging Bull and Goodfellas as east is from west. But look a little closer and you'll see that this is most definitely a Scorsese film. For it's the characters, and rightly so, that have always been Scorsese's "means to the end." In this movie, it is the characters and the potent tension building among them that takes center stage. The Age of Innocence could be compared to a sumptuous and lavish banquet. Elmer Bernstein's score is powerful and moves along in perfect counterpoint to cinematographer Michael Ballhaus's visuals and their vivid colors--the crimsons and yellows of voluptuous roses, the flashes of red and white that mark transition scenes, the full-course gourmet meals. The costumes and set design are so perfect that it's not hard to believe one has travelled back in time to nineteenth-century New York City. The Age of Innocence is an adaptation of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Edith Wharton. Set in New York City in the 1870s, America is, at that time, every bit as Victorian as England ever was and even a hint of immorality can bring ruin to a family. Enter Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has lived most of her life in Europe and is now attempting to escape from a disatrous marriage. Her first meeting with Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is quiet and proper, yet smoulders with yet-to-be-spoken desires, for Archer is engaged to Ellen's cousin, May (Winona Ryder). Archer's dilemma forms the core of the film: Should he "do what's right" and marry May, condeming himself to a life of boredom, or should he follow his passion and pursue the enigmatic Ellen, risking social and familial ruin? Day-Lewis and Pfeiffer are perfect in their roles and evoke understated, restrained passion to such a degree the audience accepts them immediately. Ryder's May is also surprisingly good. As an actress known for her "over-the-top" portrayals, as May, Ryder is quiet and demure and flawless in every way. The Age of Innocence a beautiful cinematic experience. Those who missed seeing it in a theatre have missed something special, for a movie as lush as this one fails to translate well to the small screen. Still, The Age of Innocence offers us something that doesn't happen very often and definitely should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Film.
Review: I have watched this film many times and have recommended it quite often. I believe it to be one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen, although a bit sad. The dedication to detail in the flowers, table settings, rooms, costume design is magnificent. It could not have ended any other way. Mr. Scorsese surprised me!
Rating:
Summary: Stiffled Characters
Review: Overall quite an impressive film. There were a few problems which persisted throughout this film that really, well, bluntly, bugged me. The characters were very cold, the dialogue was spoken with indifference. Don't know if that's what they were going for but just didn't work for me. Another thing: the dialogue itself. Just about every 15 minutes, person #1 would ask person #2 a question, person #2 would repeat the question's last word as a question. FOR EXAMPLE: Person #1-"What about the patent?" Person #2-"Patent?" That grilled me to no end; this type of speech would occur much too frequently throughout the film, and just about every character did this. In contrast, however, the music was perfectly fitting with the scenes and the settings were gorgeous, really brought out the time period. Great film and all, but I wouldn't buy a copy for myself.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful journey to a past age...
Review: Beautifully directed, "Age of Innoncence" transports me every time I see it. The opening - from the daisies in Faust to the beautiful photography of the drawing rooms and ballroom - moves me every time: the very first time I saw this movie I knew it was a masterpiece. The music, the editing, the interesting audio choices (as when the backround noise in the theatres fade or disappear completely during the private conversations) are effective. And the sexual tension you can cut with a knife...Joanne Woodward's naration, just like Wharton herself, provides the perfect guide to the underlying workings of her society. It is also impressive how closely the movie follows the novel - even some of the smallest details are included. A beautiful work with outstanding performances by the three leads - they're also very pleasing to look at! Also, catch Martin Scorsese himself in a "cameo" as the photographer of May's wedding portrait.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: The Age of Innocence is an incredible film. It's gorgeously made and has a wonderful score. Daniel Day-Lewis is, as always, great, and the rest of the cast does quite well, too. But I think what I like most about the film (maybe because the other reviews got me thinking about it) is the narrator. When I saw it a second time, 5 years after its release, I found it more deeply stirring than I remembered, mainly because the narrator gives the audience such a profound insight into Newland's psychology, which many books-turned-movies can lose. If you don't feel like you're being led by the hand, the narration will make the film a very personal and moving experience for you.
|
