Some might think romantic yarns, inviting landscapes and lavish costumes guarantee a good period film. Wrong. Jane Campion's The Portrait of a Lady is an ambitious adaptation of Henry James' 19th-century novel about Isabel Archer (decently portrayed by Nicole Kidman), an independent-minded young American who finds fortune and a noisome fate abroad. There are moments when the film succeeds in drawing parallels between the book and screen, but more often than not, it flounders for lack of literary spine. The story aside, Campion's lush filmic palette never ceases to amaze. Each scene is more hypnotic than the next. Even the lingering, self-indulgent shots of fingers (a Campion fetish) are poetic. Barbara Hershey is passable as the loathsome and pitiful Madame Merle, and John Malkovich overacts as Osmond, a devilishly fey aesthete. Martin Donovan, however, is captivating as Ralph Touchett, Isabel's cousin dying of consumption and unrequited love. Although the cinematography is exquisite, Campion's adaptation of The Portrait of a Lady does not remain true to its Jamesian roots. An optional purchase. (A. Glover)[Blu-ray Review—Dec. 4, 2012—Shout! Factory, 144 min., PG-13, $19.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1996's The Portrait of a Lady boasts a fine transfer and a DTS-HD stereo soundtrack. Extras include a “Portrait: Jane Campion” making-of documentary with the director (55 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: this uneven adaptation of James's novel looks nice on Blu-ray.]
The Portrait of a Lady
(Polygram, 144 min., PG-13, avail. May 6) Vol. 12, Issue 3
The Portrait of a Lady
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