VickiHopkins
Joined Jul 2010
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Unfortunately, A Little Chaos has limited distribution. It was only showing in one theater where I live in downtown. I could have taken public transit and walked five blocks to get to the venue but kept putting it off. Good that I did, because A Little Chaos is currently streaming on Amazon with a run time of 1:53 minutes.
It's an interesting and unique story about a woman named Sabine, who has a gift for gardening. Yes, she has a quaint little backyard of flowers and trees, but her real talent is that of a landscape artist. She applies for the opportunity to work in the gardens of Versailles.
After obtaining the position, she is charged by the head architect, Andre (played by Matthias Schoenaerts who was just in Far From the Madding Crowd), to work on a special project that the two eventually design together. The fact that Sabine was a woman of great talent did not mean that her task was an easy one, but it was eventually successful.
However, underneath Sabine is a woman of great sadness. She is a widow and has also lost her daughter of six years of age. Ther reason for her family's passing isn't revealed until the end of the movie. How it occurs is heartbreaking, so I won't spoil that part in case you decide to watch the movie.
Of course, Andre, who is unhappily married to another woman, who possesses less than a stellar character, falls in love with Sabine. At first she resists because of her sorrow from the past, but eventually discovers solace and comfort in his arms.
Kate Winslet does the movie great charm. Her portrayal of Sabine is nothing but brilliant as all her movies. There is one particular scene that literally brought me to tears where she is among a group of women from the King's court. The ladies sit together and talk about what ladies talk about, but the conversation turns toward whether she is married and has children. Sabine, of course, can barely choke out the truth, and it is then that the majority of the woman in the room relay to her their sorrow of lost children of their own due to smallpox or other tragedies. It is so touching, I could barely keep from crying. Sabine is deeply moved when she realizes that she is not the only woman carrying such a deep burden of grief.
As the movie continues, you are made aware of her gracious character, wisdom, and kindness to others that eventually lead her to a road of healing. Yes, the movie is about the gorgeous gardens of Versailles, but it also much more. The story is rich with sidelines about others who are close to the King as well.
Alan Rickman plays Louis, but he also directs the movie. As beautifully touching as the story is at times, you may find it a bit slow in movement. There is construction of her portion of the garden, her interaction with the King and his court, her blossoming love for Andre, that all move toward the end at a leisurely pace. Some may like it -- some may not. I wanted to push it a bit myself but later scenes redeemed whatever discomfort I felt while waiting for the story to unfold.
You will see many characters played by British actors that you will recognize - Rupert Penry-Jones (Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen's Persuasion); Steven Waddington (who played the Duke of Buckingham in The Tudors); Adrian Scarborough (who has done his share of British television roles including Midsomer Murders); Stanely Tucci (who has been in plenty of movie roles that you can remember); and many other well-known faces. What you may find a bit unsettling is the majority of the cast lacking French accents from British and American actors, however, there are a few women who do have one.
Nevertheless, the costumes are quite stunning as well as the scenery and sets. The production was filmed in England at nine locations (click here to see where), including Hampton Court, which I immediately recognized the exterior and interior.
If you're looking for a touching, but not spectacular period movie, you may want to check this one out.
It's an interesting and unique story about a woman named Sabine, who has a gift for gardening. Yes, she has a quaint little backyard of flowers and trees, but her real talent is that of a landscape artist. She applies for the opportunity to work in the gardens of Versailles.
After obtaining the position, she is charged by the head architect, Andre (played by Matthias Schoenaerts who was just in Far From the Madding Crowd), to work on a special project that the two eventually design together. The fact that Sabine was a woman of great talent did not mean that her task was an easy one, but it was eventually successful.
However, underneath Sabine is a woman of great sadness. She is a widow and has also lost her daughter of six years of age. Ther reason for her family's passing isn't revealed until the end of the movie. How it occurs is heartbreaking, so I won't spoil that part in case you decide to watch the movie.
Of course, Andre, who is unhappily married to another woman, who possesses less than a stellar character, falls in love with Sabine. At first she resists because of her sorrow from the past, but eventually discovers solace and comfort in his arms.
Kate Winslet does the movie great charm. Her portrayal of Sabine is nothing but brilliant as all her movies. There is one particular scene that literally brought me to tears where she is among a group of women from the King's court. The ladies sit together and talk about what ladies talk about, but the conversation turns toward whether she is married and has children. Sabine, of course, can barely choke out the truth, and it is then that the majority of the woman in the room relay to her their sorrow of lost children of their own due to smallpox or other tragedies. It is so touching, I could barely keep from crying. Sabine is deeply moved when she realizes that she is not the only woman carrying such a deep burden of grief.
As the movie continues, you are made aware of her gracious character, wisdom, and kindness to others that eventually lead her to a road of healing. Yes, the movie is about the gorgeous gardens of Versailles, but it also much more. The story is rich with sidelines about others who are close to the King as well.
Alan Rickman plays Louis, but he also directs the movie. As beautifully touching as the story is at times, you may find it a bit slow in movement. There is construction of her portion of the garden, her interaction with the King and his court, her blossoming love for Andre, that all move toward the end at a leisurely pace. Some may like it -- some may not. I wanted to push it a bit myself but later scenes redeemed whatever discomfort I felt while waiting for the story to unfold.
You will see many characters played by British actors that you will recognize - Rupert Penry-Jones (Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen's Persuasion); Steven Waddington (who played the Duke of Buckingham in The Tudors); Adrian Scarborough (who has done his share of British television roles including Midsomer Murders); Stanely Tucci (who has been in plenty of movie roles that you can remember); and many other well-known faces. What you may find a bit unsettling is the majority of the cast lacking French accents from British and American actors, however, there are a few women who do have one.
Nevertheless, the costumes are quite stunning as well as the scenery and sets. The production was filmed in England at nine locations (click here to see where), including Hampton Court, which I immediately recognized the exterior and interior.
If you're looking for a touching, but not spectacular period movie, you may want to check this one out.
If you are looking for a sumptuous and gorgeously filmed period drama, I don't think you will be disappointed. The musical score is wonderful, too, and I've been listening to it for a few weeks. Hearing the music attached to the story only made me appreciate the score even more.
If you know nothing about Tom Hardy's novel written in 1874, you will undoubtedly enjoy the story as it unfolds on the screen. I had never read the book or seen earlier movie versions.
However, if you have read the novel, you should be fairly pleased at how closely it mirrors the original book, taking into consideration an entire novel has been scrunched into a two-hour film.
The four main characters portrayed by Carey Mulligan (Bathsheba Everdene), Matthias Schoenaerts (Gabriel Oak), Michael Sheen (William Boldwood), and Tom Sturridge (Frank Troy), were all well casted in their roles. Carey is a brilliant actress who settled perfectly into the strong-willed young woman. Her three suitors were equally wonderful in their roles, showing depth and emotion to their characters.
The story centers around Bathsheba Everdene, an independent and pretty young lady who inherits her uncle's farm. She has no need of a husband, so she says, and doesn't think any man could ever tame her. Of course, in those days if she married her wealth and farm would no longer belong to her but to her husband.
As the story first unfolds, she meets Gabriel Oak, a shepherd who falls for Miss Everdene. After an early proposal in their relationship, she refuses even though he owns his own farm. An unfortunate twist in fate overtakes his life, and Gabriel loses everything he owns. Eventually, he becomes one of her employees at her newly inherited farm and their roles have switched. Gabriel Oak continues to yearn for her heart.
Bathsheba intends to astound everyone as she takes control of her new life and catches the eye of another man who is her neighbor. He too swiftly falls for her and proposes marriage, but once again she refuses saying she does not need a husband. The brokenhearted Mr. Boldwood continues to hope, but his hopes are swiftly dashed when the woman he loves meets the dashing Sergeant Frank Troy.
The independent woman is swept off her feet by a pretty-boy in a red uniform. Handsome yes, but his character leaves much to be desired. Gabriel warns her of his ways and to stay clear, but she will hear nothing of it.
Love is blind, and Bathsheba falls hard for the handsome soldier. Played by Tom Sturridge, he is the epitome of male perfection compared to the middle-aged Mr. Boldwood. One kiss and one seductive touch of her womanhood while making out in the woods, and the heroine is putty in his hands.
Eventually, through her mistakes and a tragic outcome, she learns a difficult lesson that she does indeed need a man who has been at her side all along. So who does she pick -- the strong quiet type, the rich nobleman of a neighbor, or the handsome pretty boy in red? You'll have to find out for yourself.
If you have the chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at this beautifully filmed movie set in the English countryside and coastline.
The romance sweetly ends leaving a satisfied outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed being tucked away in the theater for two hours and far from the madding crowd outdoors to watch this splendid period drama.
If you know nothing about Tom Hardy's novel written in 1874, you will undoubtedly enjoy the story as it unfolds on the screen. I had never read the book or seen earlier movie versions.
However, if you have read the novel, you should be fairly pleased at how closely it mirrors the original book, taking into consideration an entire novel has been scrunched into a two-hour film.
The four main characters portrayed by Carey Mulligan (Bathsheba Everdene), Matthias Schoenaerts (Gabriel Oak), Michael Sheen (William Boldwood), and Tom Sturridge (Frank Troy), were all well casted in their roles. Carey is a brilliant actress who settled perfectly into the strong-willed young woman. Her three suitors were equally wonderful in their roles, showing depth and emotion to their characters.
The story centers around Bathsheba Everdene, an independent and pretty young lady who inherits her uncle's farm. She has no need of a husband, so she says, and doesn't think any man could ever tame her. Of course, in those days if she married her wealth and farm would no longer belong to her but to her husband.
As the story first unfolds, she meets Gabriel Oak, a shepherd who falls for Miss Everdene. After an early proposal in their relationship, she refuses even though he owns his own farm. An unfortunate twist in fate overtakes his life, and Gabriel loses everything he owns. Eventually, he becomes one of her employees at her newly inherited farm and their roles have switched. Gabriel Oak continues to yearn for her heart.
Bathsheba intends to astound everyone as she takes control of her new life and catches the eye of another man who is her neighbor. He too swiftly falls for her and proposes marriage, but once again she refuses saying she does not need a husband. The brokenhearted Mr. Boldwood continues to hope, but his hopes are swiftly dashed when the woman he loves meets the dashing Sergeant Frank Troy.
The independent woman is swept off her feet by a pretty-boy in a red uniform. Handsome yes, but his character leaves much to be desired. Gabriel warns her of his ways and to stay clear, but she will hear nothing of it.
Love is blind, and Bathsheba falls hard for the handsome soldier. Played by Tom Sturridge, he is the epitome of male perfection compared to the middle-aged Mr. Boldwood. One kiss and one seductive touch of her womanhood while making out in the woods, and the heroine is putty in his hands.
Eventually, through her mistakes and a tragic outcome, she learns a difficult lesson that she does indeed need a man who has been at her side all along. So who does she pick -- the strong quiet type, the rich nobleman of a neighbor, or the handsome pretty boy in red? You'll have to find out for yourself.
If you have the chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at this beautifully filmed movie set in the English countryside and coastline.
The romance sweetly ends leaving a satisfied outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed being tucked away in the theater for two hours and far from the madding crowd outdoors to watch this splendid period drama.