Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Cinderella, done post-modern (despite being set in Enlightenment France) and with a little less magic.
Biased, pithy comments: Though at times sensual and lushly set, this movie has just a few too many notes. Despite being only 2 hours, it seems to run longer (even though some of the subplots, especially that of Le Pieu, seem to be victims of editing). This simple tale would probably only appeal greatly to date-movie afficianados (of which I am, assuming I'm seeing it with the right audience (i.e. my wife)) and teenage girls, though I could see some real cleverness peeking through (most especially the gypsies and the characterization of the younger stepsister). Barrymore is cute, Huston could do this part in her sleep, Dougray Scott knows his stuff, and France really looks its best. Very nearly a great movie, this misses by a few strokes of editing and writing. The director, who in a past I'm sure he's trying to forget made one of the Amy Fisher TV movies, has zero superego when it comes to choosing shots---how many times have we seen the ``angel-cam'' when someone dies? Oh, for some subtlety.
Other Notes: Must we always suffer through a new ``hit single'' over the credits now? Except for that the music is quite a good complement to the action.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey.
Directed by: Andy Tennant