Patchy

Classybird

I am pretty familiar with Plath's story, and am also a keen fan of her work, which i think contributed to my hesitancy in seeing the film.  I did not have high hopes for this film at all, and honestly, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

My main criticisms:

I found it hard to get past the whole 'Oooh look it's Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath'.  Someone who isn't famous on a global scale would have been more credible.

The whole premise of the film hinges on the deep passionate relationship of Plath and Hughes, yet I never really felt convinced by it.  The relationship came across as quite two dimensional, and even pretty one sided on the part of Paltrow/Plath.  Instead of being portrayed as an emotionally fragile woman driven to the edge by Hughes' constant philandering and ultimate betrayal, Plath actually seemed to come across as being deeply insecure and neurotic, constantly suffering from extreme PMT, and overreacting every time she saw Hughes even talking to another woman, rather than having genuine reason to suspect his infidelity.  

There were a couple of key dramatic moments (such as after they have made love for the first time, and when they are out in the boat together) that felt very hammy, so disrupted the momentum of the piece.

The score is just awful. Totally totally overwrought, over the top, too loud and too much of it.  Plus, as Paltrow/Plath really starts to lose her mind there is an almost constant sound of howling wind in the backgroud.  Again, OTT.  Less definitely would have been more.

HOWEVER

Ok, I complained about Paltrow above, but she really did a great job.  She really is a very talented actress, and it is a shame the whole celebrity thing gets in the way.  She was particularly fine in the latter stages of the film, and the sad descent into loneliness and irreversible depression was very well judged.

Likewise, Daniel Craig was very enigmatic, although I wonder whether the one sidedness of the relationship as mentioned above may have come from him.


As a whole the film was very sympathetic, and showed how hard it must have been for Hughes to live with Plath.  It doesn't justify his behaviour but rather tries to show an understanding.  It also evokes a sense of a time when poets were considered important.

This film stayed with me for some days after watching it, and I would recommend it.  It is somewhat uneven in pace and direction, but I think Christine Jeffs is a director with talent, although her inexperience showed. But above all, it renewed my interest in both Plath and Hughes.

7/10

score /10

Classybird 17 November 2003

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0881335/