A Midwinter's Tale [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of A Midwinter's Tale [VHS]
Movie Review: The Perfect Holiday Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Call me Scrooge. But I've never been one for the fake sentimentality of seasonal movies. This, however, is the greatest Christmas film of all time -- a fine movie, great acting, real human warmth. Not maybe for children. But if I want to feel Chirstmasy, this story of doing Hamlet in the provinces is where I go. Pity in America it can't go by its real title "In the Bleak Midwinter," since too many of us don't know this beautiful (tho sadly titled) carol. Get this film back in print. Sell it framed in holly. But sell it.Movie Review: A funny, heartwarming comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was recommended to me in discussion forum that I belong to. As soon as I rented and saw it, I knew I had to buy a copy for myself. Anyone who has ever been involved with amateur theatrics--and even those who don't--will identify with this warm and human story about a group of flawed actors trying to put on a cut rate production of Hamlet--as a Christmas fundraiser, no less. The story is by turns humorous and poignant and the ensemble cast is fantastic. I really can't say enough good things about it. My recommendation: buy yourself a copy at once!Movie Review: A pure delight!
Summary: 5 Stars
The first 30 seconds of this movie convinced me that I would love it. And I did. So much so that I've worn out about 6 copies, not to mention the 10 or so copies that I've bought for others.
If you were a drama brat, knew any, or just love the theatre then you will love this movie. It's a wonderful Christmas movie too.
Why isn't this on DVD? For that matter, why isn't Branagh's Hamlet on DVD? Here's hoping they both make soon!
Movie Review: Please release this on DVD. I keep wearing out my VCR tapes
Summary: 5 Stars
A great movie. Full of laughter and tears. I laughed and I cried. The only thing that could have made this movie better (10 stars!) would be if they had actually shown the entire Hamlet. That would be the coolest DVD extra ever!! What a great bunch of misfits.PLEASE release this movie on DVD! I wore out my VCR copy.
Movie Review: Hilarious And Heartfelt
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's a story for you: Joe, a depressive, out-of-work actor, puts on a no-budget production of Hamlet, as a benefit for a church that's about to be bulldozed by developers; he's plagued by money problems, disinterest from the locals, and a cast of actors that spend their time arguing and sniping at one another. They cannot seem to focus on the play very often-and when they do, they can't get things right. Despair begins to overtake Joe.Now: picture this as a comedy.
Can't do it? That's okay, because Kenneth Branagh already did it for you.
A Midwinter's Tale (originally titled In the Bleak Midwinter for its British release) takes that concept and weaves comic gold out of it, presenting the viewer with a film that is by turns clever, slapstick, hilarious, and heart-wrenching. After Henry V it's probably Branagh's best film, and funnier by far than his other two comedies, the uber-schmaltzy Big Chill ripoff Peter's Friends, or the intelligently done (though occasionally miscast) Much Ado About Nothing. A Midwinter's Tale surpasses them both with a tightly written script, able and artful direction that owes a debt to both Woody Allen and Frank Capra, and a truly great ensemble cast.
Casting is an integral part of any film, of course, but when one is adapting Shakespeare (or, in this case, doing a film about adapting Shakespeare), good casting is essential. Branagh has been hit-or-miss with this over the years-most notably in the case of Keanu Reeves, hopelessly out of his depth in Much Ado-but in this particular film it's spot-on. From Branagh regulars like Michael Maloney and Richard Briers, to semiregulars like Gerard Horan, Celia Imrie, and John Sessions, to newcomers Julia Sawalha and Joan Collins (yeah, that Joan Collins), everyone does a tremendous job, and each actor approaches his or her role with a verve and a dedication that is extremely fun to watch. Sawalha in particular is a delight as the incredibly nearsighted Nina, Joe's love interest; she brings a vulnerable humanity to her role that not only heightens the humor in her more slapstick scenes, but deepens the drama of the more solemn moments as well. Likewise Sessions (probably most familiar to Americans from his appearances on the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?) is given the seemingly one-dimensional/stereotypical role of the female-impersonating homosexual, Terry . . . which would seem unrewarding. But he turns in a three-dimensional characterization that is screamingly funny throughout the film-until his role takes a gutwrenching turn for the dramatic in one of the film's best scenes. And so it goes for each of the characters; they all have something to do in this film, and they all do it superbly, hilariously, and when it is called for, tenderly.
Branagh's script is another key element to this movie's excellence. It's impeccably written, using both Shakespeare and its unique bunch of characters to tremendous advantage. One of the keys to this is that Branagh never makes fun of these people, even when they are at their worst, their silliest, their most pompous, or venal. Branagh has an obvious fondness for these people (presumably based on actors he knew during his own struggles to make it in the business), and he treats them like people, rather than as fall guys or as the means to get to a lame punchline. Every line the characters speak, every scene they're in, shows their humanity, and shows it lovingly. A lot of the humor in the script grows out of character, and that really makes this film shine. It builds the laughter naturally, rather than forcing it through meanness and being shocking or crude, as in the case of many so-called "comedy" writer/directors today.
As I said above, Branagh's direction borrows a page or two from other comedy directors before him, mainly Woody Allen and Frank Capra. The Allen influence shows through the strongest, especially through the dialogue and the first half of the film, which bears a lot of similarities to both Manhattan and Stardust Memories. The opening credits are strongly reminiscent of Allen's classic "middle period pictures; Joe directly addresses the camera, as a lot of Woody's characters do, and this is juxtaposed with music-Noel Coward's delightful "Why Must the Show Go On?", a sardonic look at the gung-ho attitude actors have. The song becomes a leitmotiv throughout the film, with the action echoing Coward's cynical lyrics . . . until the turning point in the film, when the troupe unwittingly comes up with the answer to Coward's question, and demonstrates precisely why the show must go on. From here on in the Capra influence takes over-and I can't say too much about that without giving the ending away, unfortunately. What I will say is that like Capra at his best, A Midwinter's Tale favors sentimentalism over cynicism-something a lot of modern critics find distasteful for some reason. I can't imagine why, especially when the sentiments expressed here-in particular, the value of loyalty and family-are so genuine and loving, especially when contrasted with the phoniness and cruelty that passes for humor these days in far too many films. Branagh is more intelligent than that-and willing to take the risk that the audience is, too. A Midwinter's Tale is like a breath of fresh air compared to the stale stench of most modern comedies; take a chance on it. I guarantee you'll be happy you did.