It's
a classic tale of boy meets girl; boy is treated like shit by girl's family; girl
marries another boy but still carries torch for original boy; then they all
meet some tragic end. I find these stories somewhat boring, which is why this
film didn't do much for me. It lacked dialogue, structure, and decent acting.
Heathcliff (played
by James Howson) comes to live with the Earnshaw family and befriends Catherine
(played by Kaya Scodelario). She
is the only one in the family to show him any affection, and the two grow up
inseparable. The boy was lower in station than Catherine's family was willing
to settle for, so Catherine was pushed into the arms of a wealthier suitor.
Then there is the inevitable long-winded absence that seems to be a nagging
presence in classic, female-penned stories and the tragic end to the tale where
the selfish lovers get what's coming to them.
The film was
pretty; I will give Andrea Arnold that. Lady knows how to set up a shot, but
what she saw in James Howson, I don't know. His performance was flat and
redundant, and his boring physical mannerisms made the scenes drag. See it if
you are a die-hard Bronte fan, but if you're looking for a well acted love
story, wait for Anna Karenina due out
later this year.
