Far From Interesting
In this film adaptation of a 1874 Thomas Hardy novel, the independent Bathsheba is torn between three love interests: a kind sheep farmer, a prosperous old man and a reckless soldier. The story spans years, as luck and love come and go for Bathsheba and those around her. Fair warning: None of us really found the plot all that intriguing, so this really just turned into an elongated debate on how we feel about Carey Mulligan.
Far From The Madding Crowd opens at Kahala Theatre May 22.
PAIGE: I have not read a lot of Thomas Hardy novels, but I think I can safely say that the humble farmhand is supposed to be the romantic endgame here. It makes sense because he is also the most handsome of the three love interests.
CHRISTINA: I’m glad that you also feel the farmhand is the endgame here. Because the two other guys just seem like douchebags and I’m not sure why she’s wasting her time on either of them, other than to build up romantic tension. Plus, the sheep farmer is pretty handsome. Plus, sheep are super cute.
JAIMIE: Honestly, everything about this made me feel bored. The plot itself seems boring. The males in the film were boring — though I do have an affinity for Michael Sheen, just not as a love interest! And sorry, but Carey Mulligan also was a bore. And another thing: I like period films for the costumes and hair, and both in this film were boring, boring, boring.
CHRISTINA: Agreed. I don’t find Carey Mulligan all that watchable. There’s something about her that sort of slightly irritates me. But mainly I think that it’s just every time I see her, I feel like she should just be Michelle Williams — they have similar mannerisms and choose somewhat similar roles — but Williams is by far more appealing.
PAIGE: Carey Mulligan, like Keira Knightley, is one of those actresses who was born to play period roles. She wasn’t well-suited to the tone of The Great Gatsby, but seeing her all dolled up in 1920’s flapper styles with a cigarette in one gloved hand was perfection. I adore her, and the insult you have just paid her, Christina, is unforgivable.
CHRISTINA: What do you adore about her, though? I just don’t really get it.
JAMES: Carey Mulligan has this vulnerability act down. You can see the mechanics of it. Here’s the move: She draws back in a protective stillness, her eyes are wide open and locked on her other romantic lead, and her elevated breathing betrays her calm. A “still waters run deep” kind of thing. She reminds me of a more elegant, more restrained Jennifer Lawrence type.
NICOLE: I think her droopy face makes her unappealing. She’s just so plain in character and physical appearance. I don’t really think anything of her. And also, James, she’s more restrained because her emotions are lackluster.
JAMES: Nic, I don’t think her face is that droopy. Just a little sad is all. Maybe sad and tired. Burdened. Weary. And, wary. A little guarded. But also a little hopeful … OK, I think my comments on this trailer are getting a little creepy. I’m not seeing this movie. And I think I should stop following her with my fake Facebook account.
PAIGE: Oh, come on, James gets it (and explains it better than I could). She does do the fragile thing really well, which is not that easy to do. It is appealing. She’s, like, a subtle performer, like Natalie Dormer, who doesn’t need to scream and have these dramatic fits to convey that she can act really well.
NICOLE: I feel like she’s really pretentious in this film. I didn’t get that feeling when I initially read the story in high school. But I already don’t like Bath-sheba because she’s fickle and stupid, so it’s fitting that Carey Mulligan plays the character.
