STARDUST
Chasing Unreachable Stars, All Over (Fantasy) Creation
The Popcorn Reel Movie Review: "Stardust"
By Omar P.L. Moore/August 10, 2007
Clare Danes as Yvaine and Charlie Cox as Tristran in Matthew Vaughn's
"Stardust", which features excellent production design by Gavin Bocquet.
The film opened across the U.S. and Canada today. (All photos courtesy of
Paramount Pictures)
All the special effects in the universe, the galaxy, and all of
time and space couldn't put "Stardust" in the good graces of a certain critic.
Yet something magical and miraculous occurs at the midway point of Matthew
Vaughn's fantasy adventure film: it gets much, much better.
Like the stardust in the film, the infectious energy of "Stardust", which opened
across North America today, pulls you in. In the film's first half special
effects bog down the story, covering up some weak dialogue and threatening to
turn Mr. Vaughn's good intentions into tatters. Tristran (Charlie Cox) is
on a one-week mission to capture a priceless shooting star that glides
effortlessly through dimensions of space so he can prove his love to the picky
and self-centered Victoria (Sienna Miller, currently on the big screen in
"Interview".) This star is no ordinary star however, for it comes in the
shape and beauty of one Clare Danes, who does well here as the mermaid-like
Yvaine. This critic did not know until almost two weeks after viewing this
film that it was Danes (who can currently be seen in "Evening") and not Gywneth
Paltrow in the title role -- for they look so alike in "Stardust".
Tristran has some competition however, namely in the form of dueling would-be
kings for the throne of ailing King (Peter O'Toole), including the intrepid
Secundus (Jason Flemyng) hell bent on becoming king and doing anything he can to
get the star. And Michelle Pfeiffer, in something of a "Witches Of
Eastwick" redux here, leads a trio of wicked witches in their quest for the
star, so they can keep age -- arguably one of a woman's worst fears -- from
creeping into their lives.
The Wicked Witchdom: Michelle Pfeiffer (center, and next photo below)
leads a trio of witches in their quest for eternal beauty in "Stardust".
And this bunch of merry players would seem like too many characters for a film
-- but thankfully the second half of "Stardust" slows down and takes a deep
breath, using a few less visual effects, employing some suspense, and becoming a
story, focusing more closely on characters like the hilarious Captain
Shakespeare (Robert De Niro, who steals "Stardust" from all of the film's
rightful lead players) and on the dynamic between Yvaine and Tristran.
Predictably, love is set to blossom in this film, but this more than two
hour-epic adventure takes its time getting there. The acting by Mr. Cox
and Ms. Danes rights what could have been a sinking ship, while Ms. Pfeiffer
excels deliciously in her role -- her second noteworthy performance in the space
of three weeks on the big screen in North America. She is covered in
make-up, which is applied by a large make-up team, who are equal to the task of
making her character Lamia look alternately so fearsome and so fragile.
My kingdom for a horse! Robert De Niro in a wickedly funny turn as
Captain Shakespeare, who has a reputation to uphold.
Ricky Gervais, Cieran Hinds and numerous other recognizable faces appear in
"Stardust", and while they are all just fine in their roles, their absence
wouldn't have diminished the stronger second half of the film (because they are
largely absent from it anyway, and their characters may have been trimmed out of
the script a little more for running time considerations.) Ian McKellen, a
card-carrying member of the "Lord of The Rings" franchise, narrates the film
seamlessly. With all the special effects, cinematography (remarkable
lensing by Ben Davis) and lavish production design (sublimely rendered by Gavin
Bocquet), "Stardust" is a worthy trip to the multiplex, even if the screenplay
written by Mr. Vaughn and Jane Goldman and based on Neil Gaiman's novel, is not
the greatest since the invention of sliced bread.
"Stardust" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for
some fantasy violence and risque humor. The film's duration is two hours
and eight minutes.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2007. All Rights
Reserved.