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Far From the Madding Crowd (TV 1998) This is a film version worthy of Thomas Hardy. It's magnificent and faithful to his book, my favorite Hardy novel. Bathsheba Everdene, a feminist 100 years ahead of her time, inherits a farm and shocks nearby villagers when she stays on to manage it alone. The story revolves around her relationships with the three men who love her. While her headstrong nature leads her astray, her resilience and eventual maturity save her in the end (along with a good dependable man, of course). The actors are beautifully tailored to their parts, especially Nathaniel Parker. Raves here for his Gabriel Oak, in many ways the central character, a force of steadiness and solidity throughout. Paloma Baeza plays Bathsheba with sensitivity and passion-a great performance. The rest of the cast is just as good. For additional fun-watch the 1967 screen version with its star-studded cast, including then-adorable Alan Bates (who died in 2006 but left behind the sadly bloated image of himself as the butler in Gosford Park). This cast also includes Julie Christie, Terrance Stamp, and Peter Finch. Viewers still argue over the film: Is it good? Is it bad? Can Julie Christie even act? Still, this is a sumptuous film, shot in dark, murky tones that convey the bleakness of Hardy's vision. |
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