STARDUST: AN INSTANT CLASSIC
Written: Aug 10 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Tremendous writing, acting, directing and special effects
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: This is one of the best films of the year, period.
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: Stardust |
I realize that the title to my review is more than a bit cliche but I truly believe that "Stardust" fits the category of classic. Everything in the film, from the excellent acting, to the beautiful cinematography and imaginative special effects captures the best of film making. But, as great as all of those elements are, it is the writing that puts this film in the classic mode.
THE PLOT
First of all, if you've read anything about the film or seen the trailer, you know that this is a fairy tale. A very modern fairy tale in a way, but still a fairy tale. We has a rather forlorn, hapless main character, young Tristan (Charlie Cox) whose main goal in life is to win the heart of a beautiful but materialistic maiden, Victoria (Sienna Miller-"Alfie", "Casanova") of his hometown, Wall, England.
To win the heart of his beloved, Tristan must obtain the falling star that he and Victoria spy one night while he is trying to woo her away from the town cad, Humphrey (Henry Cavill). To accomplish this goal, Tristan must go through the breach in the wall which surrounds his hometown.
When he arrives at the site of the "falling star", he finds a huge crater, and a rather fragile appearing young lady by the name of Yvaine (Claire Danes-"The Rainmaker", Romeo & Juliet", "My So-Called Life") at the bottom of the crater. The two do not hit it off but young Tristan is determined to take Yvaine home with him because she is indeed the "falling star."
Meanwhile, several other very interested parties are pursuing the star among them a very evil witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer-"Dangerous Liaisons", "The Fabulous Baker Boys") who must capture the star in order to re-capture her youthful appearance; and, the remaining princes who must find the star in order to become king.
The trip "home" for Tristan and Yvaine is fraught with dangers and adventure including the their capture by the rogue flying pirate, Captain Shakespeare (Robert DeNiro-"Raging Bull", "Taxi Driver"). The journey home eventually turns into a race by all the interesting parties.
That's all I'm going to reveal about the plot so as not to spoil anything.
WHY I LOVED THIS MOVIE
As I wrote earlier, the acting in the film is fabulous. All of the acting. The main characters do a wonderful job from start to finish.
Claire Danes has always been a favorite of mine since she appeared as a teenager in the critically acclaimed "My So-Called Life" in the mid-nineties. She has a quality about her that is hard to pinpoint. She projects both fragility and strength in this film and also is humorous is several spots.
Charlie Cox is a newcomer to me but he portrays Tristan with the comic timing of an oaf but turns into an accomplished "hero."
Michelle Pfeiffer does one of her finest acting jobs ever in her role as the evil witch. Her role is enhanced by one of the most realistic jobs of makeup that I've witnessed. She floats from hideous to gorgeous throughout the film and often does more with a delicious facial expression than many actors can do with dialogue.
Peter O'Toole, certainly one of the greatest actors of all time, portrays a rather nasty king is a short, but memorable few minutes in the film.
However, even in the presence of all these fine performances, it is the other veteran actor Robert DeNiro who practically steals the film. I don't want to reveal how he accomplishes this except to say that he "plays against character" with his performance here.
Director Matthew Vaughn ("Layer Cake", "Guy Ritchie" keeps the action moving throughout the film and brings the best out of the entire cast. Along with the cinematography of Ben Davis and the special effects by Stuart Brisdon ("Finding Neverland", "The Hours"), Vaughn has created a visual feast for the audience.
Even with all these super-positive elements, it is the writing for the film that gives this film its "classic" rating. Alternating between terrifying, sometime gruesome scenarios, touching love scenes and absolutely hilarious behaviour and dialogue, the movie exceeded my already high expectations. The writers for the film include Neil Gaiman (graphic comics "The Sandman" and "The Books of Magic" and the novels "American Gods" and "Stardust") and Jane Goldman and director Vaughn. What those writers and the entire cast and production crew have accomplished is one of the more imaginative creations I've ever seen on the big screen.
While this film is a little too violent for children, it is an adult fairy tale that has seldom been equalled.
FIVE STARS
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1251
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