REVIEW: “Far from the Madding Crowd” excels as historical romance
By Krystal Lau,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–
In the new adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel “Far from the Madding Crowd,” actress Carey Mulligan stars as Bathsheba Everdene, a fiercely independent woman ahead of her time. Mulligan brings a modern air to this historical romance, and delivers a feasible yet brilliant performance.
Set in 1874 Victorian England, Bathsheba must find her way and lead a farm in a principally male-dominated industry. Although she encounters gender discrimination and skepticism, her headstrong attitude allows her to forge through her obstacles.
Along with the stunning backdrop of traditional English farm fields and London town centers, the creative cinematography also proves itself in its unexpected perspectives, such as utilizing first person angles at climatic times. To accompany all of this, at the heart of the film is the love triangle between Bathsheba, farmer Gabriel Oak, soldier Frank Troy and rich bachelor William Boldwood.
Gabriel Oak, played by Matthias Schoenaerts, is a resilient and skilled farmer who deals with unfortunate situations and finds himself penniless. The film follows him as he loses everything then begins again, until he finally finds his path. Schoenaerts excels in this role, illuminating his character as a quiet yet strong-willed individual.
Michael Sheen, playing William Boldwood, delivers another reliable and talented performance. Although his lines leave him little room for creativity, he still manages to incorporate honest feeling and well-thought-out delivery in each of his words. Indeed, his presence seems to lead the movie onward, as the plot is sometimes slow and stilted.
Lastly, Tom Sturridge plays the soldier Frank Troy, creating a worthy villain that the audience grows to love and then to hate. His dynamic performance is understandable, and by the end of the film viewers can understand his transformation.
The actors cause the wheels in this film to continue turning. The plot in itself is dull, predictable and wildly illogical at certain key moments. The absurdity of the plot itself, however, is hidden by the characters realistic portrayals, in that the way they respond to unrealistic situations allows the audience to relate to a circumstance they themselves have never experienced.
In this manner, “Far from the Madding Crowd” excels as a historical romance, with implausible, yet understandable ideas. The audience may not empathize with the circumstances, but they can comprehend the universal emotions the film depicts.
