Bright Star shines fresh light on a poet’s life and love
Posted by The Skyliner on March 31st, 2010Rachel Ham
Staff Writer
A truly bright spot amongst the shallow romantic comedies of the year, Bright Star depicts the love between famed English poet John Keats and his neighbor Fanny Brawne during the last years of his life. The movie, starring Abbie Cornish (A Good Year, Stop-Loss) and Ben Whishaw (Brideshead Revisted), is set in London in the early 1800s. Also starring is Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl, Parks and Recreation) who portrays Charles Armitage Brown, Keats’ best friend who guides him in his career.
Brawne is a student of fashion and prides herself in designing and making her own clothing. Keats is taken with her immediately, but Brown is intent on keeping them apart. He believes beginning a relationship with Brawne will distract Keats from his writing. But Brawne and Keats are drawn to each other from their first meeting. Each admires the other’s wit.
In order to spend more time with him, Brawne agrees to let Keats try to teach her about poetry. But she has no patience for it. Brown delights in tormenting her, telling her she only knows how to sew and flirt. Nonetheless, he cannot stop Keats from falling for her.
“I’m attracted to you and I don’t know why . . . all women confuse me,” Keats confesses.
Brawne seems to bring out the best in Keats and becomes an inspiration for his poetry. Not long after their romance begins, Keats becomes ill with tuberculosis. Doctors advise him to go to Rome, and he travels there for a short time, leaving a heartbroken Brawne behind. While Keats is away, his illness worsens and he dies, leaving Brown to return weeks later and break the news to Brawne.
Cornish is fantastic in her portrayal of Brawne. She effortlessly portrays the emotions felt by her character as she first falls for Keats and when he ultimately leaves her behind and later dies. The scenes where Brawne is pining for Keats are somewhat overdone, but that should be blamed on the script and not Cornish.
Whishaw’s performance as the sensitive poet is also great, as he portrays a man torn between pleasing those that support his career and desiring to be with the woman he loves.
Equally impressive is the performance of Schneider as the gruff Scotsman who harasses Brawne at every turn. Underneath the rough exterior, you can see how much he cares for his friend, especially by his brokenness as he announces Keats’s death to Brawne.
Bright Star has good and bad qualities. The costuming is a high point in the film and was recently nominated for an Oscar. Although it is not without its funny moments in the beginning, the movie does drag a bit in the middle. It is a slower-paced film, but those who liked movies such as Pride and Prejudice will enjoy this film as well. Overall, Bright Star is a great love story that will make viewers both laugh and cry.
The DVD includes a deleted scene and several short “making of” clips featuring interviews with director Jane Campion.
Bright Star is rated PG for thematic elements, some sensuality, brief language and incidental smoking.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 9