I recently watched both "The Portrait of a Lady" and "The Wings of the Dove" in short succession. My quick advice to somebody wishing to see a film version of a Henry James novel is to see the latter. Having seen both, I am struck by the similarities of themes in the films: both have wide-eyed rich American women taken in by the scheming of dastardly European partners. But where the British pair "Wings" are sympathetic, their counterparts in "Portrait" are not, unless one enjoys reveling in the pure evil that John Malkovich can channel.
The directing is uneven: Campion brings in a few cheap tricks like a mini-movie in the movie, and by the end of the movie one feels a compulsion to scream, "All right, I get it, the movie's getting darker - she's not happy, enough already!" But the acting is very good: Malkovich is superb, Kidman is excellent in the title role, and the supporting cast is large and strong. Especially noteworthy is Martin Donovan as the consumptive cousin who secretly is in love with Kidman's Isabel.
I would give this movie a moderate recommendation. Fans of Malkovich and Kidman should not miss it, but, again, fans of James probably should see "The Wings of the Dove" first.
The directing is uneven: Campion brings in a few cheap tricks like a mini-movie in the movie, and by the end of the movie one feels a compulsion to scream, "All right, I get it, the movie's getting darker - she's not happy, enough already!" But the acting is very good: Malkovich is superb, Kidman is excellent in the title role, and the supporting cast is large and strong. Especially noteworthy is Martin Donovan as the consumptive cousin who secretly is in love with Kidman's Isabel.
I would give this movie a moderate recommendation. Fans of Malkovich and Kidman should not miss it, but, again, fans of James probably should see "The Wings of the Dove" first.