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EDITOR'S PICK
'Cinderella'
- a fairytale full of life's lessons (IANS Movie Review)
Rating:
***
Disney's live-action film 'Cinderella', crafted with pomp and
splendour as a typically traditional fairytale by director Kenneth Branagh,
reiterates the oft heard story of how an orphan girl, harassed by her cruel
step-mother and equally harsh step-sisters, marries a Prince. Laced with
life-lessons for everybody, this film is more than just a sweet fantasy romance
drama.
The tone of the narration is laid at the very beginning, when little Ella
(Eloise Webb) tells her mother, 'I believe in everything'. And, as the
story unravels, you are aware of what to expect and yet, wonder how the film got
its name Cinderella, when the protagonist is called Ella.
The telling has all the elements like a caring father, a nasty step-mother Lady
Tremaine and her daughters Drisella and Anastasia, Prince Charming, Fairy
Godmother, the Pumpkin turning into a carriage, the mice into horses, lizards as
footmen, the goose as the carriage rider and the glass shoes. They make you
nostalgic.
As the story moves at a brisk pace with a few distinctively funny and emotional
moments, you are glued to the screen. You simply become aware of the freshness
of the approach and the simple, yet minute, logical stances that the director
takes. And where it deviates and expands upon, it does so in ways that add
nuance and depth. These help not only to make the tale credible, but likeable
also.
The film belongs to television actress Lily James who plays the grown-up
Cinderella. Her sweet demeanour is reflected by her 'kindness and
courage'. And physically, her transformation from a housemaid to 'the
beautiful princess to be' is mesmerising. Aptly paired opposite her is
Richard Madden, the charming Prince who she fondly refers to as 'Mr.
Kits'. The onscreen chemistry between them is palpable and that makes their
romance believable.
Ben Chaplin and Hayley Atwell as Cinderella's loving and caring biological
parents are functional. Their scenes with Cinderella are synthetically sweet.
Their equation seems tailored to heighten the contrast delivered by the
antagonists.
Cate Blanchett as Mrs. Tremaine, Sophie McShera as Drisella, Holliday Grainger
as Anastasia and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother make their presence
felt with dramatic overtures. Their scenes are theatrical and engaging.
The dialogues are characteristically a Disney product -- very crisp, chirpy and
intermittently spiked with tasteful and elegant humour.
Visually, the elaborate earthy and picturesque sets by production designer Dante
Ferrett, period costumes by Sandy Powell and fine performances by the actors are
brilliantly captured by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos. With smooth camera
movements, his wide angle shots, especially the colourful ballroom scene and the
last mastershot, are compelling.
The computer generated images are of fine quality and captivating. The dancing
butterflies, the digitally rendered animals and their magical transformation
along with Cinderella's makeover, mesh smoothly into the live-action drama.
Cinderella's race against time when she has to return home before the last
stroke of midnight is thrilling, as well as fascinating.
In modern times and with a questioning audience, the only issue this timeless
classic faces is its oversight to justify how could Cinderella have a laidback
attitude and wait for destiny to play its part? And the uncalled for, deliberate
low-neck gowns that the ladies wore at the ball gave the scene a vulgar tinge.
Nevertheless, this 'Cinderella' with 'her courage, kindness and a
little bit of magic' is worth a watch.