Loved it.
Nearly everything I could ask for in an adaptation– omitting in all the right places, adding stuff appropriately. It just worked. It was sheer brilliance. And unlike Potter, I didn’t mind the changes they made whatsoever. It stands alone, as its own piece of work, in the true spirit of its source material. Yes, they gave it a happier ending (the book’s ending wasn’t necessarily sad, but bittersweet), but an ending that worked. The big stars didn’t call in performances, but knocked them out of the park, and the lead actors did fantastically as well. I loved this movie. Go see it.
I’m talking about Stardust, by the way. In case you didn’t read the last post.
Let’s start with De Niro. Invoking his Brazil character, Archibald “Harry” Tuttle, De Niro shows not only that he can be a hardass, but that he can be a softie at literally the same time. His character twist was so beautifully executed, and he carried his way through the flick with finesse and comfort and elegance.
Speaking of elegance, Michelle Pfeiffer lacked it perfectly. Cold and cunning, with a desperate wish and a sad motivation, she was an understandable villainess, relishing every moment on screen.
The princes worked well, being much more comedic than their novelized counterparts, which was a change I found very appropriate. I mean, you can’t do a movie like this without the humorous elements, and I’m glad that they weren’t as dark an aspect of they flick as they very easily could have been.
And I praise the performance of relative newcomer Charlie Cox as the lead. He captured Tristan Thorn perfectly. I was glad they went with an unknown. He was perfectly bright-eyed, and full of dreams, and optimistic. Being young and in love, and ensuingly stupid. He was just dopey, with bravado. He was just a young man, no more or less enlightened, but living in an interesting place at an interesting time.
And I even liked Claire Danes as Yvaine. I definitely think it helped that it was a fantasy/period piece and that she was far enough removed from Angela Chase that I wasn’t looking for that. She was doing something different, not playing a young quirky woman in love, but a crabby star who wishes she was in the sky, who learns to be human. She performed beautifully, learning how to hurt and how to love.
Plus, Ricky Gervais did a great turn as a period-appropriate Ricky Gervais.
Go see it. Please.
