and onto more controversial opinions-
I am an hour and some change into
TESS (1979) and I am not sure I want to finish it. i realize it's not fair to pass criticism on something when I have not seen all of it, but sometimes I come to you guys when this happens for feedback on whether I should continue or not.
a few things to lay out:
I've never seen it before, but I am
a HUGE THOMAS HARDY FAN (I have read all but a couple of his novels- even some of the lesser works) and
I would be an idiot to say that this is a bad movie, it most certainly is not. It is gorgeously shot and well-costumed, the end credits roll at the start, which kinda pissed me off, but I got over it; the actor playing TESS'S DAD is SO GOOD- it's like watching JOHN MILLS in RYAN'S DAUGHTER minus the shameless mugging; the locations are great, the shots are framed thoughtfully, the period detail on point...sure things could move a little faster, but I dunno it's fine...
except...
for
NASTASSIA KINSKI- whose casting is something I have always been beguiled by.
and really quickly: I'm not saying that NASTASSIA KINSKI is a bad actress, she most certainly is NOT,
but she is
clearly not British in ANYWAY WHATSOEVER- like even down to THE LOOKand she
CLEARLY is struggling with the accent and a MAJORITY OF HER SCENES have been done with ADR and an unforgivable number of OVER-THE-SHOULDER-SHOTS or SHOTS WHERE HER HAIR IS IN HER FACE while she is speaking are used to try and hide it.
Honestly, she is in a position she should not have been put in-and I feel sorry for her.
It's TESS where TESS is not allowed to give a performance. IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A STAND-IN.
I don't know if I'm gonna finish it or not, because it's just MADDENING.
(spoiler)
I mean, a HUGE SCENE where TESS pleads with THE VICAR for her dead illegitimate baby to be buried in the cemetary is played with KINSKI in AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT.
WE. NEVER. EVEN. SEE. HER. FACE.
JUST THE BACK OF HER HEAD.
I just can't.