Tess (1979)
Director - Roman Polanski
Writers - Roman Polanski, Gerard Brach, John Brownjohn
Starring - Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson, John Collin, Rosemary Martin, Carolyn Pickles, Richard Pearson, David Markham, Pascale de Boysson, Suzanna Hamilton, Caroline Embling, Tony Church, Lesley Dunlop, Sylvia Coleridge, Fred Bryant, Dicken Ashworth, Patsy Rowlands, John Barrett
Review by The_Void
Bottom drawer Polanski, 21 March 2005
When it comes to the dark, the brooding and the macabre; Roman Polanski is second to none. When it comes to period drama, however, he's second to quite a few, as this tirade proves. Technically, this is not a bad film. The visuals are stunning, Polanski's direction is always sharp and the acting is mostly first rate - it's just the story side of the film that lets it down. The action, if you can even call it that, moves at snail pace throughout and you constantly find yourself either wishing that something interesting would happen, or giving that itchy fast forward finger a much needed workout. I found myself drifting off at several points during the movie, and I wasn't tired at the time of viewing. Roman Polanski has provided cinema with some of it's greatest highlights, from films like Repulsion and Knife in the Water to Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby; all of which have been very enjoyable for yours truly - but the three hours I spent on Tess certainly wasn't time well spent, and I'd even go as far as to say that watching this film is one of the most tedious cinematic experiences I have ever had.
One thing I admire Roman Polanski for is the way that he puts his casts together. Of course, certain events have ensured that Polanski can't have pick of the Hollywood crop, but you always get the impression that a lot of thought went into casting his actors in spite of this. This film is no different, but I do feel that he could have put a bit more thought into whom he cast as the title character. Nastassja Kinski may look nice, but her performance in this movie is dreary and lifeless and doesn't do the film any favours at all. And make no mistake; this film needs all the favours it can get. The location shots are admirable, as are the costumes and Polanski does a good job of establishing the film within it's setting; but other than that, this is a completely dismal affair and I can honestly say that I didn't take any enjoyment from watching this. Very few, if any, directors have a completely blip-free filmography, and Polanski doesn't either. This film is a major blunder.
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