The Beguiled
Blu-Ray
Review by Kam Williams
Sofia Coppola's Remake
of Clint Eastwood Classic Comes to Home Video
The
Beguiled is a Civil War saga based on the best seller of the same
name by the late novelist/playwright Thomas Cullinan (1919-1995). The
sublime tale of seduction was first adapted to the screen in 1971 as
a melodramatic revenge flick starring Clint Eastwood. This
relatively-refined remake was directed by Sofia
Coppola whose effort was richly rewarded at Cannes where she became
only the second woman to win Best Director in the history of the
festival.
The
story is set in 1864 at a Virginia boarding school for girls run by
prim Martha Farnsworth (Nicole Kidman) with the help of
equally-proper Edwina Dabney (Kirsten Dunst). They have five students
entrusted to their care, ranging in age from prepubescent to the late
teens.
At
the point of departure, the sounds of battle are audible off in the
distance. The raging conflict cuts a sharp contrast to the serenity
of the idyllic campus where we find Amy (Oona Laurence) foraging in
the forest for wild mushrooms.
She
stumbles upon a wounded Union soldier hiding in the woods. Corporal
John McBurney (Colin Farrell) had been felled by a bullet to the leg.
The innocent adolescent instinctively brings him home, only to be
criticized by an elder classmate (Angourie Rice) for rescuing a
"dangerous enemy."
After
initially issuing a stern warning that "You are a most unwelcome
visitor," their ordinarily icy headmistress inexplicably melts.
She allows the ailing adversary to remain on the premises without
even informing the Confederate army of his presence.
Personally
assuming the responsibility of nursing their guest back to health,
man-starved Martha soon finds herself swooning for the solicitous
stranger. Trouble is, John proves to be quite the Casanova, knowing
just the right words to surreptitiously charm the pants off each of
the females, one-by-one.
Of
course, the cat's eventually out of the bag, and his collective spell
is broken. And after the heartbroken lasses put their heads together,
he probably wishes he'd simply surrendered to the Rebels rather than
seek refuge.
Hell
hath no fury like some Southern belles scorned!
Excellent
(4 stars)
Rated R
for sexuality
Running time: 93
minutes
Production Studio:
American Zoetrope
Distributor: Universal
Pictures Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD
Combo Pack Extras: A Shift in Perspective;
and A Southern Style.
To
see a trailer for The Beguiled, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBoLK5z_FHo
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