Director: Sophie Barthes
Genre: Drama
Writers: Felipe Marino , Gustave Flaubert, Sophie Barthes
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Ezra Miller, Mia Wasikowska
Synopsis: The beautiful wife of a small-town doctor engages in extramarital love affairs in an attempt to advance her social status.
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Madame Bovary has been redone more than the face of Michael Jackson. There currently exists a string of versions of this tall tale, starting from 1932 ranging from television to film and even, opera. I was stoked initially to experience the phenomenon of what has become, Madame Bovary. A literature that survived this long and has had an abundance of adaptations must be good … or, so I thought. I am not familiar with the books per say. So, I can be speaking from a point of ignorance when I say, this film was whack! It did not live up to the hype I had envisioned mentally nor of its enriched history that withstood the test of time until the day I watched this film.
This film was not all bad, and that is not the impression I wish to leave with you. There were definitely some things that made the film watchable. The wardrobe. Oh my goodness! Hypothetically, if I was a female who loved dresses, Madame Bovary would have had my style. The colors of each article of clothing she owned complimented extremely well. Everything!! The scarves complimented the hats which brought out the detailing of her corsets. All of course which blended nicely with her fair skin and rosy colored cheeks. After watching the film, I had to inform my girl to step up her dress game up. She was honestly being out staged by an 18-1900s’ housewife. The acting was decent. Paul Giamatti, obviously did the best. But, he did not outshine anyone until the point of embarrassing his counterparts. Ms. Bovary invoked emotions throughout this film from beginning to end. This could be because of how her character was written or her acting skills. Regardless of either reason, you unquestionably develop a love and hate relationship with her.
Where do I begin? Let’s keep this short, brief and to the point. I rather not turn this into a rant. SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT: this heifer marries a doctor in the 18-1900s and still is not satisfied with her life. Do you know how difficult it was for women in the old days? She had it all. An estate, maid, and a man who never told her no. But, yet she yearned for more. SPOILER IS OVER. And, this is where the film lost me. This was unbelievable to me. I can only stretch my suspension of disbelief, but so far. This woman should have been grateful to be in an arranged marriage with a good man versus residing in a brothel being used more than a subway turnstile at rush hour.
Look at me, I am a house wife with no children and a maid. My life is so hard :-(.
The story plot could have been done a whole lot better. After so many adaptations, my assumption would be that the story would be told with more finesse. Concerning her affairs, they could have been souped up more with sophistication. I am not saying it is bad, but I need more than two scenes to become convinced Madame Bovary and her many lovers were madly in love. Make a believer! But, it did not do a very good job. Another thing, they could have fixed was the god awful pacing. The first act of the film was unbearably slow. I was checking the time, saying to myself, “it has only been fifteen minutes!” Lastly, they could have changed the actress. She was wonderful in her role, but when they portray a woman to have stunning beauty, I would like to see it. I should be willing to burn down a handicapped orphanage to be with her; rather, then staring at the screen like, ehh.
Overall, the movie was mediocre. It could have went straight to Lifetime or BBC and have done perfectly well there. If anything, they could have modernized the film while keeping true to the premise. This film does not benefit from the passing of time nor will it ever. The concept is just not good enough.
Score 5.9
Disappointing, tears streaming down my face :'(
