Two disclaimers: I've never read the book (but intend to soon), and I saw this on a tiny screen on an airplane.
Nonetheless, the strengths of this film are self-evident, even in the worst of viewing conditions. The cinematography truly brings out the lush verdure (in summer) and harshness (in winter) of southern England, and it's all lovely to behold.
The story is intriguing, involving a headstrong and independent woman who is courted by three different men. How she holds out against them, and eventually makes a decision for one (with its inevitable consequences) is fascinating to watch unfold.
The acting is stellar in all four main roles, but top honours must go to Michael Sheen for the respectable suitor. His portrayal of the man's hesitations, regrets, impulses, all done with small gestures and non-verbal actions, were wonderful. I wish he had more screen time, he was soooo good!
On the down side, the film does suffer from being too short. Clearly the adaptation tried to jam a much longer novel into a 2-hr screenplay, and the viewer is left wanting more development in the characters, more background, particularly as there are so many (4) principals. And there are a number of stock scenes that might have been done a little more subtly; the adumbrations of romance between our protagonist and each of her suitors, for instance, take about 1.2 seconds to become evident.
Craig Armstrong's soundtrack is marvelous, worth listening to for its own sake. The main theme (and its derivations) just sweeps me away, while the rustic dances have me tapping my toes. A wonderful movie all around.
=================== POSTSCRIPT: Having read the book, I can say that clearly the heroine is presented in a much more positive light by the film than Hardy had ever intended. In the book, she is foolish, headstrong, impulsive, flighty, while in the movie she is more of the modern prototype of an independent woman: strong, decisive, assertive, etc. It's a matter of nuance, but an important one.
Nonetheless, the strengths of this film are self-evident, even in the worst of viewing conditions. The cinematography truly brings out the lush verdure (in summer) and harshness (in winter) of southern England, and it's all lovely to behold.
The story is intriguing, involving a headstrong and independent woman who is courted by three different men. How she holds out against them, and eventually makes a decision for one (with its inevitable consequences) is fascinating to watch unfold.
The acting is stellar in all four main roles, but top honours must go to Michael Sheen for the respectable suitor. His portrayal of the man's hesitations, regrets, impulses, all done with small gestures and non-verbal actions, were wonderful. I wish he had more screen time, he was soooo good!
On the down side, the film does suffer from being too short. Clearly the adaptation tried to jam a much longer novel into a 2-hr screenplay, and the viewer is left wanting more development in the characters, more background, particularly as there are so many (4) principals. And there are a number of stock scenes that might have been done a little more subtly; the adumbrations of romance between our protagonist and each of her suitors, for instance, take about 1.2 seconds to become evident.
Craig Armstrong's soundtrack is marvelous, worth listening to for its own sake. The main theme (and its derivations) just sweeps me away, while the rustic dances have me tapping my toes. A wonderful movie all around.
=================== POSTSCRIPT: Having read the book, I can say that clearly the heroine is presented in a much more positive light by the film than Hardy had ever intended. In the book, she is foolish, headstrong, impulsive, flighty, while in the movie she is more of the modern prototype of an independent woman: strong, decisive, assertive, etc. It's a matter of nuance, but an important one.