COURTESY: MOVIEPOSTERSDB.COM
Rating: A
Disney’s live action update of its beloved 1950 animated classic is a lavish makeover to the “Cinderella” tale and a new classic in its own right. From director Kenneth Branagh, “Cinderella” is sweet, whimsical and – most importantly – surprisingly layered and affecting, making audiences fall head over heels for Ella “Cinderella” (Lily James) and company.
As the latest entry in Disney’s live-action re-imaginings of films from its animated roster – with disappointments like 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” and last year’s “Maleficent” coming to mind – “Cinderella” gracefully dances circles around similar fare, effectively becoming the belle of the ball and setting a new bar for Disney.
In this outing Disney succeeds by assembling a team for “Cinderella” that manages to both capture the heart of the original film while also sprinkling dashes of new magic for a fresh experience.
At the head of said team is director Kenneth Branagh, who has inspired his cast to avoid campiness in favor of something deeper and more realistic. This should come as no surprise given Branagh’s experience with directing motion pictures based on much denser material, like William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” and “Hamlet.” Despite “Cinderella” being based on a light-hearted fantasy film, Branagh’s direction works thanks to an unexpectedly thorough, detailed screenplay written by Chris Weitz.
Weitz succeeds in writing a script that, when combined with the performances, mesmerizingly brings to life both nefarious villains (Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine) and kindhearted souls (Lily James as Cinderella) alike. Expertly utilizing foils and other staples of the fantasy genre, Weitz crafts a crop of characters as colorful as the pallets used in their clothing.
With Weitz and Branagh to guide them, the cast of the film all turn out spectacular performances, but Cate Blanchett easily steals every scene she’s featured in.
Her Lady Tremaine is stunningly vicious, instantly joining the ranks of the best Disney villains. She is regal and powerful, behaving more like a queen than Cinderella ever does. With a set of iconic costumes designed by Sandy Powell, Blanchett actually transcends mere Disney villainy, becoming a character reminiscent of the Golden Age of American cinema, channeling Bette Davis’s femme fatale and Katharine Hepburn’s stateliness. She is ruthless, using her cunning and beauty to achieve her goals at any cost.
She is unsettlingly wicked in the major confrontation with the meek and innocent Ella, a pivotal moment in revealing the true nature of their conflict. This moment is important as it reveals Lady Tremaine’s backstory and motivations, an element absent from the original that fully allows her to become more than a one-dimensional villain.
In spite of Lady Tremaine’s constantly cruel treatment, Cinderella radiates a virtually unwavering happiness throughout the film. In a laudable move by the filmmakers, the audience fully understands where she draws her strength from in alternating heartwarming and heartbreaking moments with her mother (Hayley Atwell) and father (Ben Chaplin) in the early parts of the film.
At times, though, her kindness could almost be mistaken for weakness. Disney should have kept the “girl power” trend seen recently in “Brave” and “Frozen” by giving her a little more agency. Instead, the only female in the film with any real agency at all is portrayed as wicked.
Even so, Lily James believably embodies goodness, allowing Cinderella’s door mat qualities to not be quite as disappointing. Both she and Hayley Atwell are effervescent, exuding an innocence and generosity with every soft smile and kind word. Both were excellent casting choices.
Other memorable performances from the film come from Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother; Richard Madden as Prince “Kit” Charming; and Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera as the two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella.
The notoriously quirky Bonham Carter is entertaining but surprisingly subdued in her role as Cinderella’s magical guardian. Yet, her approach is spot-on, as this aids in maintaining the wizened air of the character in the original. She expertly anchors Cinderella’s transformation, one of the most fun moments in the film.
Madden is confident and dreamy, channeling a milder version of his previous role as King Robb Stark in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Of the stepsisters, McShera shines as the silly, vapid Drizella as she delivers some of the most humorous lines in the film, becoming likable despite being an antagonist. Derek Jacobi as the ailing King, and Stellan Skarsgård as the scheming Grand Duke round out the rest of the supporting cast.
Perhaps one of the biggest strengths of the film comes from where it departs from the original.
Disney’s signature songs are absent, with only one lullaby “Lavender Blue” emerging twice – though, the song does play a key role in the plot. The talking mice are rightfully demoted from human-like sentience to an adorable, silent role. Cinderella’s relationship with Prince Charming is given more attention, allowing a real connection to be made, and the politics of the kingdom are fleshed out, suggesting more is at stake than just Cinderella and Charming meeting again. These changes allow the film to lose childlike qualities, resulting in a film that can appeal to multiple generations.
Also, the film is a visual treat.
Dante Ferretti’s production design and Sandy Powell’s costume design both create a vivid world, popping with color. The royal palace is visually stunning, adding an enchanting element to the showstopping moment Cinderella arrives at the ball. Powell’s costume design – especially for Lady Tremaine and Cinderella – serves to define each character, enriching the film’s world even further. Both Cinderella’s ball gown and wedding dress will be immortalized in Disney history for generations to come, as they deserve to be.
Overall, “Cinderella” is an excellent remake, justifying its existence by being as truly good as the titular character.
