So, another version of War and Peace, something we all needed about as much as a new recording of Beethoven's Fifth. War and Peace seems to be to literature what the Mona Lisa is to art – they are seen as the pinnacles of their form but no-one can tell you why. It is all a bit of a mystery. In the case of movie versions of W+P the book seems to have become largely irrelevant and each new version is principally an opportunity to outdo its predecessor for the most stunning camera-work, the most sumptuous ballroom scene, the most extravagant palaces, the war scene with the most extras, the most breathtaking scene. This is not necessarily a criticism but rather the nature of the beast, for while some may deem W+P a "great piece of literature" it is not without its flaws, some of them bigger than Texas. There are really two "stories" in W+P. The main story, and in my opinion the only reason W+P could possibly be regarded as great literature, is the story of Russia, its history and culture, in particularly turbulent times. The chief character in W+P is Russia, and the only film that could do this story justice would be a documentary. The "other" story, the one that deals with the petty tribulations of Natasha, Pierre, Andrei et al, are largely a backdrop that allows Tolstoy to tell this story. Regrettably it is only this secondary story that can be translated into a movie for general entertainment. Therein lies the problem, for this secondary story is neither especially interesting nor populated by great "characters". Natasha must surely be the most thinly sketched character in the history of literature, and what is sketched is uninteresting and annoying. Pierre's is a totally unbelievable character and Andrei is just boring. The "story" is largely a bunch of random fragments strung together, the great majority of which add nothing to progressing the story and could easily have been left out. Pierre drinking on the window sill. The wolfhunt. The party at Natasha's uncle's house. Any scene involving Boris. Any scene involving Boris's mother. The business about old Count Bezuhov's will. Count Bezuhov's entire death scene, indeed Count Bezuhkov's entire existence. Napoleon's famous "that is a great death" scene. I could go on, and on...
This version does not get off to a good start. In its first 15 minutes a camera cruises breathlessly around a party "introducing" us to various people, whose names, identities and relevance are a mystery to the viewer. It could have been an opportunity to ease the average viewer into what is probably the world's most complex novel, but within 15 minutes we have reduced our viewing audience to those that already know the story by heart. Eventually we meet Natasha. This version elects not to portray her as a bubble headed, flighty adolescent, and this at least is a blessed relief. Lily James was a delight in Downton Abbey but here she does not seem to be bringing her "A game". Her character is just not well acted – she has so many facial movements it seems she has been afflicted with St Vitus Dance, and to make matters worse she is dressed in what appears to be a floral nightie recently bought on special at Walmarts. There is not a lot you can do with the "story" of W+P, all you can really do is make a list of all the set pieces and then select which ones you want to include – the choice does not matter much for as I have commented most of them are irrelevant. This time, mercifully, the producers omitted the dreaded drinking on the windowsill scene, for which we may all be eternally grateful. With any W+P we can take as a given that the camera-work will be spectacular, the war scenes will be magnificent, the palaces and estates bigger than Ben Hur. All that really distinguishes one W+P from another is the casting, so how does this version fair? Lily James is always easy on the eye but as already commented, her acting is simplistic and inconsistent. Her accent is at times cockney and her lines often rushed. The impression she gives is not of a Princess but the girl behind the counter at the dairy. She often comes across as surly and pouty, not attractive traits for a Princess. But the most heinous casting mistake is that of Sonja – her cockney accent is excruciating and she would have been better cast as Eliza Dolittle. Even their maid has a cockney accent! Pierre is very well acted, although no actor can make the ridiculousness of his written character entirely credible. It is unfortunate that he is made up as the dead spit of John Denver - it is difficult to take him seriously when any moment you expect him to take out his guitar and burst into "Rocky Mountain High". Andrei and Anatole are as OK as Tolstoy's story could allow them to be, although they did not look like the chick magnets they are supposed to be to me. By far the best cast were Dolokov who had genuine "hunk power" and dare I say it, an actual personality, and Boris. Marya was also very good, although far too pretty to make the nasty comments made of her credible. She has to be the far and away the best actress on the set. There is very little feeling of Russia and given this is the whole point of the book this is a major flaw. Were we not shown the titles of "Moscow" and "St Petersburg", given the predominant accents, we could be forgiven for thinking it was set in the East end of London.
In summary, a mixed bag limited by the source material, like all the others. Can't wait until the next version.
This version does not get off to a good start. In its first 15 minutes a camera cruises breathlessly around a party "introducing" us to various people, whose names, identities and relevance are a mystery to the viewer. It could have been an opportunity to ease the average viewer into what is probably the world's most complex novel, but within 15 minutes we have reduced our viewing audience to those that already know the story by heart. Eventually we meet Natasha. This version elects not to portray her as a bubble headed, flighty adolescent, and this at least is a blessed relief. Lily James was a delight in Downton Abbey but here she does not seem to be bringing her "A game". Her character is just not well acted – she has so many facial movements it seems she has been afflicted with St Vitus Dance, and to make matters worse she is dressed in what appears to be a floral nightie recently bought on special at Walmarts. There is not a lot you can do with the "story" of W+P, all you can really do is make a list of all the set pieces and then select which ones you want to include – the choice does not matter much for as I have commented most of them are irrelevant. This time, mercifully, the producers omitted the dreaded drinking on the windowsill scene, for which we may all be eternally grateful. With any W+P we can take as a given that the camera-work will be spectacular, the war scenes will be magnificent, the palaces and estates bigger than Ben Hur. All that really distinguishes one W+P from another is the casting, so how does this version fair? Lily James is always easy on the eye but as already commented, her acting is simplistic and inconsistent. Her accent is at times cockney and her lines often rushed. The impression she gives is not of a Princess but the girl behind the counter at the dairy. She often comes across as surly and pouty, not attractive traits for a Princess. But the most heinous casting mistake is that of Sonja – her cockney accent is excruciating and she would have been better cast as Eliza Dolittle. Even their maid has a cockney accent! Pierre is very well acted, although no actor can make the ridiculousness of his written character entirely credible. It is unfortunate that he is made up as the dead spit of John Denver - it is difficult to take him seriously when any moment you expect him to take out his guitar and burst into "Rocky Mountain High". Andrei and Anatole are as OK as Tolstoy's story could allow them to be, although they did not look like the chick magnets they are supposed to be to me. By far the best cast were Dolokov who had genuine "hunk power" and dare I say it, an actual personality, and Boris. Marya was also very good, although far too pretty to make the nasty comments made of her credible. She has to be the far and away the best actress on the set. There is very little feeling of Russia and given this is the whole point of the book this is a major flaw. Were we not shown the titles of "Moscow" and "St Petersburg", given the predominant accents, we could be forgiven for thinking it was set in the East end of London.
In summary, a mixed bag limited by the source material, like all the others. Can't wait until the next version.