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EDITOR'S PICK
'The
Age of Adaline' - A promising watchÂ
Rating:
***1/2
'If I had your looks and energy, I'd fall in love tomorrow and if you don't do
it for yourself, at least, do it for me' -- this is how 80-year-old Flemming
(Ellen Burstyn) coaxes her 107-year old, mother Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) to
accept the proposal of Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman), a young man fit to be her
grandson. This forms the inciting moment of this engaging romance.
With an interesting premise, the film focuses on 'the last chapter in the life
of Adaline', a seemingly immortal woman who shies away from admirers and
relationships due to her unfortunate condition of never aging.
Narrated through voiceover, flashbacks and archived footage, we zoom through
chapters of her life. With the help of some scientific explanation in a
documentary style, we are briefed of her 'immune to the ravages of time'
condition.
Now, wary of being treated like a freak, she keeps her condition a secret by
avoiding intimacy and changing her identity and residence every decade.
We meet her as a strikingly beautiful 107-year-old lady with a cat for
companion, working in the city library under the pseudonym Susan Logan, who is
only in constant touch with her now elderly daughter and a blind friend.
It is when she meets the charming wealthy philanthropist Ellis Jones at a New
Year's Eve celebrations that the story gets stimulating. He pursues her and she
vacillates.
The twists in the plotline, impressive performances by the cast along with
Adaline's anxiety and the outcome of her decision, are what keep you hooked to
the screen.
Blake Lively as Adaline is remarkable. She looks sophisticated and genuine with
her clipped diction and gait. With a melancholic demeanour, she portrays the
character aptly. She does not overplay the tragic elements, which is melodrama.
In fact, she is measured and tame and that's what makes her natural.
Michiel Huisman as Ellis is charismatic. When he initially puts his hand to stop
the elevator and later when he clings on the window of the cab, those moments
seemed forced, with Adaline reiterating, 'There you go again, putting your hand
in places it does not belong.' But by the end, it is fascinating to see him
passionately, unwittingly and impulsively woo an older woman.
Ellen Burstyn as Adaline's daughter is splendid too. Her on screen moments with
Blake are so appealing that you can subtly experience the mother-daughter
bonding.
But the surprise element in the film is Harrison Ford's poignant and touching
performance as Elli's father, whose loving relationship with his wife is thrown
into turmoil when Adaline arrives at their house.
The film is impressively crafted by director Lee Toland Krieger. The script is
entertaining and the screenplay, written by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador
Paskowitz, beautifully weaves Adaline's life span from 1907 till 2015 and her
complicated relationships.
The dialogues too are shrewdly crafted. They add to the mysterious elements of
the narration.
Visually, cinematographer David Lanzenberg's work is wonderful. With simple
production design and costumes, he has used different colour palettes for
different eras, a touch which, has prevented the film from being monotonous and
lifeless.
'The Age of Adaline' is a promising weekend watch.