There are many reviews singing accolades to the film and I too applaud this otherwise excellent interpretation. Frankly, I was disappointed in one important aspect of the film. I thought Carey Mulligan was miscast. I am afraid Carey's Bathsheba had little impact on me. There was none of the charisma of a Bathsheba. I am not sure if I am biased because of the lovely Julie Christie who played Bathsheba in the 1967 version of the film, which she did virtually perfectly in my view.
In comparison Carey, for me, does not portray the complexity or character of a strong-willed woman like Bathsheba. Generally speaking, to her advantage, Carey looks much younger than her age (29 y/o). But as Bathsheba she comes across as too plain for a character like Bathsheba's. The sense I get from most reviewers and film goers is that Carey faithfully captured the character of Bathsheba. However, for me Carey has none of the gravitas of Bathsheba's character. She also does not portray the romance a woman like Bathsheba possesses, esp. given she has three strong male suitors, each portraying a different kind of strength. Carey Mulligan was perfectly cast in the 2009 film "An Education". In the film Carey portrays a teenager in school even though she was actually (or about) 24 y/o at the time.
To my mind actresses like Evangeline Lilly, Anne Hathaway or Emily Blunt would have portrayed Bathsheba admirably. Lena Headey, even though she is actually 40 y/o would have also done well as Bathsheba. In contrast, Carey Mulligan is too much of a Plain Jane I am afraid. There is none of the strong female pastoral character about Carey. Carey lacks the presence or charisma one attributes to a strong female protagonist. Besides there is nothing country about Carey Mulligan even though her acting per se is nothing short of superlative.
Carey Mulligan's Bathsheba is as much a disappointment to me as Jean- Louis Coulloc'h's portrayal of the male lead in Lady Chatterley (2006), which was an excellent film marred by Jean-Louis Coulloc'h being miscast. The film's narrative is based on Lawrence's first draft of Lady Chatterley's Lover.
In comparison Carey, for me, does not portray the complexity or character of a strong-willed woman like Bathsheba. Generally speaking, to her advantage, Carey looks much younger than her age (29 y/o). But as Bathsheba she comes across as too plain for a character like Bathsheba's. The sense I get from most reviewers and film goers is that Carey faithfully captured the character of Bathsheba. However, for me Carey has none of the gravitas of Bathsheba's character. She also does not portray the romance a woman like Bathsheba possesses, esp. given she has three strong male suitors, each portraying a different kind of strength. Carey Mulligan was perfectly cast in the 2009 film "An Education". In the film Carey portrays a teenager in school even though she was actually (or about) 24 y/o at the time.
To my mind actresses like Evangeline Lilly, Anne Hathaway or Emily Blunt would have portrayed Bathsheba admirably. Lena Headey, even though she is actually 40 y/o would have also done well as Bathsheba. In contrast, Carey Mulligan is too much of a Plain Jane I am afraid. There is none of the strong female pastoral character about Carey. Carey lacks the presence or charisma one attributes to a strong female protagonist. Besides there is nothing country about Carey Mulligan even though her acting per se is nothing short of superlative.
Carey Mulligan's Bathsheba is as much a disappointment to me as Jean- Louis Coulloc'h's portrayal of the male lead in Lady Chatterley (2006), which was an excellent film marred by Jean-Louis Coulloc'h being miscast. The film's narrative is based on Lawrence's first draft of Lady Chatterley's Lover.