The Portrait of a Lady (1996) - 2nd time

Nominated for 2 Academy Awards:

Best Supporting Actress: Barbara Hershey

Best Costume Design

This adaptation of one of my favourite novels of all time is both a disappointment and a success. It’s at its best when it sticks to the story and the era, creating the fascinating universe of the late 19^th century, in England and Italy, diving into a world of beautiful costumes, amazing locations and rich set decoration.

Where it does fail is when the director, Jane Campion, obviously tries to make a statement and leave a mark. The opening of the film, with the random women of the 1990s just standing (or sitting) around, is a pretentious and embarrassing directorial choice and it’s best to be forgotten. It does a disservice to the film as you start it on the wrong foot.

The film redeems itself with wonderful performances by Barbara Hershey, Martin Donovan (should’ve been nominated), and Nicole Kidman, who gives one of her best (and most underrated and underappreciated) performances. She is superb, but since the film was kind of hated back in 1996, the awards love was very limited. The film is not an ideal adaptation, but it looks and sounds pretty great.

I give it: 7.5/10

IMDB LINK