Add your review
Avg. Rating: 3
not bad - but pales in comparison with the book
It is difficult to fairly assess a film when you've recently read and immensely enjoyed the book it was based on. Although - ideally - Bright Young Things should be evaluated for its own faults and merits and not be measured against Vile Bodies, I - admittedly - cannot help but compare it to Evelyn Waugh's biting comic satire.
For the most part, Bright Young Things is faithful to the plot of Vile Bodies. It follows the lives of several young London socialites as they hop from one glamorous party to the next, always with an air of wit and boredom, and it focuses on the might-be romance between Adam, a poor young writer, and his lovely fiance, Nina. Although light and comic on its surface, Bright Young Things also preserves the dark undercurrent that runs through the novel.
And yet, this film - in my opinion - misses the mark. To begin with, I believe that it spends too much time trying to develop its plot and not enough time lingering over the characters' verbal musings. Vile Bodies truly excels in its dialogue, not in the development of its story. And, because the makers of Bright Young Things apparently failed to realize this, the film is resultantly much less funny.
I also feel that Bright Young Things takes itself too seriously. The romance between Adam and Nina comes across as much more sincere in the film than it does in the book. Also, the film's ending is very different from the book's; it tidies things up neatly and inserts a sort of hopeful, moral. To me, this came across as forced and incongruent with the story.
I think Vile Bodies has the potential to be made into a great film. After all, with the abundance of dialogue, it reads more like a play than a novel anyway. Unfortunately, this film does not do the story justice. If you have read the book, I think you'll be disappointed. If you haven't read it - you might find this film - with its subtle, dry wit - funnier than your average comedy ... but, then again ... why not just read the book? It's better.
boring
Too much chatter. I wanted to like this movie, and it had the right idea but I simply lost interest after 40 minutes. Peter O'Toole was great as the senile retired colonel.
Bright young things... with an edge
This movie based on Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies (which I admit I have not read) was a finely crafted peek into frivolous high society. The movie starts with a crazy, costumed, drug-infused party and an unfortunate young man (Adam Symes) who loses all his money. He constantly breaks off and reinstates his engagement with Nina depending on how much money he has. The first half of the money is full of the characters' hilarious confusion and lack of interest in anything and absolutely everything. Parties galore and the insult of the day is to be "boring".
Yet things take a sour turn as their pettiness starts to affect other peoples' lives. Then tragedy encroaches, and one sees that life can't be one big party (even if they really, really want it to be). The tragic elements make the characters real and makes the movie more than just a ficticious gossip column. Stephen Campbell Moore does a great job as the "innocent" friend caught up in a whirlwind of craziness. Though he acts the fine line well, since he is just as involved and guilty as everyone else. But you still have to love him! Fenella Woolgar is a wonderful comic relief, but she thankully brings us back to life when she talks of her "dream" of endlessly, pointlessly driving in circles. The upbeat big band music is uplifting yet also melancholy at times and provides great background to the action onscreen.
Great movie, and now I am going to go read the book!
Review this book
|
