Rating of
3/4
Finally a genuine fairy-tale movie! Jesus...
Indyfreak - wrote on 11/06/15
Kenneth Branaugh's live action remake of the Disney classic is a tasteful and sometimes even touching romantic fantasy that thankfully pays loving respect to the original animated film. Often we have seen such remakes try to cynically rehash the basic premise of a given fairy-tale and transform the princesses in the stories into a superhero or whatever and it doesn't work. Although I'll admit that I liked Snow White&the Huntsman, sometimes it's better to tell stories the old fashioned way. That's why we love them.
Lily James is perfectly cast as Cinderella. She's kindhearted and compassionate to a fault-as I'm sure some feminist critics might level at this movie. She suffers hardship after hardship but does not reduce herself to accept the harshness of life and renounce the virtues that her friends and parents taught her as a child in this interpretation. If they got the wrong girl for the role, this movie would not work as well made as it is. That's how good Lily James is.
The supporting cast play their parts well, particularly Richard Madden as the friendly Prince (nicknamed Kit here) and Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine. The prince was a blank slate in the original film. Nice but boring. Here, at least he is presented as someone anxious about his responsibilities, devoted to his loved ones, and an active participant in the affairs of his realm if need be. So yes, the Prince is actually made an interesting character this time around. The underlying philosophical battle between sincerity and cynicism as embodied by Cinderella and Lady Tremaine is interesting. There is even some humorous commentary on how monarchies handled marriage.
Now onto the surprise downside in this version of Cinderella. It's of all bloody things, the Fairy Godmother's role. Now don't get me wrong. I liked Helena Bonham Carter playing her. She provided much needed humor after the film's darkest moment and helpful to Cinderella. But those moments where she helps Cinderella just felt tonally out of place with the rest of the movie. The direction of these scenes felt cartoony and as though they were to remind the audience how bad this movie could have been. Perhaps that's what bothered me.
As it is, Cinderella is the definite best of the recent trend of making movies based off fairy tales but refitted or in some cases defaced because modern audiences are so jaded these days. Its earnestness and sincerity above all else is what makes this so good.
