Director: Madonna
Actors: Abbie Cornish, James D'Arcy, Andrea Riseborough, Richard Coyle and James Fox
A film set between two stories and ages can be a rewarding trick if pulled off. This can make it easier to show off a complex story or show how experience of past influences. It has been shot in characters reminissing about their past or a character/s taking inspirations or ideas of the past or indeed the future. Some examples that springs to mind is Julie/Julia, Fried green tomatoes or more lighthearted but fun Return to the future.
The story revolves in two eras of time. A wealthy but bored woman, Wally, in modern day New York is infatuated by the upcoming auction of the estate of the late Edward, former King, and Wallis Simpson. The story about how this famous couple is probably the most evocative of the 20th centuary. How did the Prince of Wales who was briefly King of the United Kingdom sacrifice everything for love and the woman he desired. They both must have known what his decision would lead to in terms of them both becoming banned from Royal Society and status. Why did he not just keep his love as his mistress? Was it so romantic so many wants to believe?
The films shows both the love story between Edward and Wallis and the unhappy married couple of Wally and William Winthrop. The latter is a well to do couple in New York. Wally's husband is brilliantly portrayed as a tyrannical and obsessive psychiatrist who is himself unstable and even beat his wife.
Wally starts to attend the exhibition of at the auction house with the estate of Edward and Wallis. She gets the attention of one of the security guards who romantically pursue her. One romantic scene is when he invites her to stay on after the exhibition have closed. He serenades Wally playing on the Royal couples grand piano and serves champagne. Still throughout the film she looks so miserable and very lonely. Her marriage is totally lifeless and empty.
Across the film it spans back to the romance between Wallis Simpson and Prince Edward all from the beginning to the abdication crisis. It shows the affair starting in London and then ever evolving until Edward gives up the throne.
Madonna shows her strength in the elegance of the 1930's era, jewellery, props and a great sense of style. It portrayes Edward as a very spoilt person with total lack of sense of duty and only to enjoy himself in his position.
The film lacks depth and the slow pace makes it pretty difficult to watch. I felt strongly that it so lacked any real purpose to show what led up to the abdication and what motives really played at hand. What was it in the love affair between Edward and Wallis that led to such a drastic decision to give up power, wealth, status and to be King of the most powerful Empire at the time. This is so poorly done.
The film also lack a structure hwo the two stories link together. Wally is clearly in a very unhappy marriage. Her flirtatious security guard never stand a chance. What is the purpose with this parallell story line. Sadly I suspect it is all style over substance.
Madonna is a great artist who so wants to be a great movie director. Sadly yet again she shows that she is not. Madonna should stick to the music industry.
The film lacks substance and depth and with its unnecessary slow pace drags the viewer down so in the end it is hard take in the drama of the present day Wally. The film should have deserved more and if Madonna had perhaps only concentrated on a in depth analysis and story telling of either story it would have been worth the viewing.
Rating: 2,0 out of 5,0
