White Countess, The
Rating = B-
The first half or
two-thirds of this was pretty soporific. The movie definitely had
trouble maintaining engagement with the viewer. Also, I was puzzled
by Ralph Fiennes portrayal of the American, Mr. Jackson, with speech
and to some extent gestures that seemed modeled on James Stewart. On
the other hand, I did enjoy the scenes of Shanghei on the verge of
the Japanese invasion; it brought back memories of “Empire of the
Sun,” which also was a flawed movie but with intriguing scenes of
Shanghai at the time.
Strangely, I had overall enjoyable feelings about the film after it was
over. Once I wasn't having the sit through it, I appreciated the
characters in the Russian family, the Mr. Jackson character and his
desire to own and operate the perfect bar to preoccupy his being, the
role Jackson's driver in his life and dream, and the character of the
Japanese man who shares in Jackson's odd, get-away-from-real-life
dream.
My overall good feeling about the film went up even further as I read
the reviews of various real critics and what they had to say about the
40 year collaboration of Merchant and Ivory. I agree that this movie
is a final, laudable example of Merchant and Ivory's willingness to
ignore conventional business wisdom that continually debases movies and
instead to make stylish films for thinking people.
[2006-02-02]