Rating: PG
Genre:
Romance
Release Date: 11/06/2001
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por/KO/TH
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD5.1/DDS
Run Time: 138 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
In
Martin Scorsese's adaptation of
Edith Wharton's 1920 novel, romance between an upper-class gentleman and an ostracized lady is doomed by 19th century New York society. Shortly after his engagement to blandly genteel May Welland (
Winona Ryder), Newland Archer (
Daniel Day-Lewis) is reacquainted with May's scandalous cousin Ellen Olenska (
Michelle Pfeiffer). As the head of an esteemed family, Archer initially uses his standing to try to rehabilitate Ellen's reputation, but he finds himself increasingly drawn to her disregard for the codes of New York manners. Bound by ingrained society mores and his peers' insinuations, Newland tries to dodge his growing passion by rushing his marriage to May, but he cannot keep himself from confessing his love to Ellen. Recognizing that Newland could never abandon his sense of honor and be happy, Ellen pushes Newland to May and leaves town. The marriage proceeds as dictated, but when Newland unexpectedly sees Ellen again, he yearns for the affair to come to fruition. However, he underestimates not only what May knows but also her ability to uphold the rules of propriety. Sumptuously shot by
Michael Ballhaus, the film offers meticulously designed costumes and settings that evoke a culture as seductively beautiful in its surfaces as it is stifling in its rituals. Unspoken emotions are expressed through such details as yellow roses or a clipped cigar, a fade to red or a single camera move. Using
Wharton's original prose to comment on the setting's hypocrisies,
Joanne Woodward's voiceover narration suggests how much decisive power is buried beneath dainty femininity.
The Age of Innocence received five Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Ryder and Best Screenplay for Scorsese and
Jay Cocks, and a win for Best Costumes. Although
The Age of Innocence seemed like a departure from Scorsese's prior work, Newland is as much at the mercy of his circle's Byzantine structure (and his own conscience) as are Scorsese's more familiar mobsters; Newland's persecutors just wear white tie and tails.
~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 1
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A reviewer
from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A Ravishing Romantic Drama.
Academy Award-winning director, Martin Scorsese brings a beautifully made story of romance narrated by Joanne Woodward based on Edith Wharton's 1920 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set in post-Civil War era New York City. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as an upstanding attorney, who is engaged to a beautiful socialite (Winona Ryder), and is secretly longing for a more passionate life, and when he meets an equally beautiful Countess (Michelle Pfeiffer), he risks everything for a chance at true love. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Also starring Norman Lloyd, Alexis Smith, Michael Gough, Geraldine Chaplin, Sian Phillips, Richard E. Grant, Mary Beth Hurt, Alec McCowen, Miriam Margolyes, Robert Sean Leonard, Jonathan Pryce and Carolyn Farina.
;)
