#cinderellareview

CINDERELLA, Kenneth Branagh (2015) [French Version]

What is it about ?

Is it really necessary to tell the story ? You all know Cinderella’s story, or Ella’s, who, after losing first her mother, then her father, becomes the mistreated maid of her stepmother and her two horrible daughters. Cinderella remains nevertheless brave and kind, as she promised her mother she would be. Even though the movies follows (beside the original tale) the 1950 Disney cartoon version, you won’t hear her sing along with mice. However, Ella likes to dream and speak to animals, who seem to understand her. She then meets the prince (that she believes at first to be a simple apprentice, in this version), and manages by means of her fairy godmother to go to the royal ball, and you know what follows !

Who directed it?

- Kenneth Branagh, best known nowadays as a director (he recently directed action movies like “The Ryan Initiative” or “Thor”)

Who’s in it ?

- Lily James (Downton Abbey), who sure does look the part with her lovely smile; but I didn’t find her exceptionnally memorable, even if she’s clearly not a bad actress. - Cate Blanchett as the mean stepmother, and it suits her well ! She definitely  adds some depth and an interesting aspect to the character’s personality. - Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), as Prince Charming, very charming. Since I know him as Robb Stark in GOT, I had trouble adjusting to his act of the innocent and slightly silly young lover.

How was it ? 

We know quite well that for the past few years in Hollywood, people don’t create original stories but they adapt, they “remake”, or they reinvent. Lately the fairytales are the main interest ! We had two free adaptations of “Snow White”. Disney then made a “Maleficent” (focusing on the villain of the tale of “The Sleeping Beauty”), then the adaptation into a movie of the musical “Into The Woods” where we find several entangled famous tales (including Cinderella). The series “Once Upon A Time” is also a hit, with fairytales adaptations (actually based more on the Disney versions) which are either imaginative or rather debatable. Finally, we already know that a “Beauty and the Beast” will be released in 2017 (starring Emma Watson) ! Let’s get back on topic and to Cinderella, that Disney decided to make once again. The films quoted above give us a small or a big touch of originality, something that changes and/or hijacks it and then sometimes surprise us (for the better or for the worse). Here, Branagh and Disney did not really go farther than the tale or the 1950 Cinderella. And it’s ok. Some people will be disappointed to not have a “revisited Cinderella”, but actually, why reinvent this story ? I surprisingly enjoyed that we can have a cheesy movie with a happy ever after ending and a nice moral, without becoming too caricatural or exaggerated. The story and its moral work and pleases the kids and the grown-ups ! We smile, we laugh and sometimes get a bit teary (me at least *hum*) and it feels good, rather than having the tragic ending or the depressing story that “reflects or current society” yadi yadi yada. It’s also a good thing, but that’s not going to stop me from loving a good old family entertainment. Furthermore, all the colors are mesmerizing and the costumes are also amazing! The only snag concerning this would be Cinderella’s ball gown, which is a bit too kitsch unfortunately... She could pass for a naive sap-head, and maybe she is (let us not forget that it is also another time) but she explains that she takes responsibility for her choices, even if it’s hard and that she sometimes loses courage, but she tries to keep her promise she made to her mother (be brave and be kind). The only little things that differs from the tale and the animated cartoon is firstly the first time Cinderella and the Prince meet. Indeed, they meet anonymously since she doesn’t recognizes him and he asserts he is a simple apprentice. He is amazed by the goodness and vision of the world of this lovely damsel, and she also falls for that “Kit” who might save her from her misery. I think it is a good idea to have added that scene to avoid the cliché of the love at first sight simply based on appearance. The second small originality is the way the fairy godmother presents herself and her offbeat and extrovert personality, that obviously fits perfectly Helena Bonham Carter. 

To conclude, it is indeed a conventional version of Cinderella, without many risks taken, though a little more adult and deeper than the animated cartoon (mainly thanks to Cate Blanchett, as the stepmother jealous of the youth and talents of Ella). The film would have doubtlessly deserved to dig a little deeper into the personality development of the two heroes, but it didn’t stop me from “believing” in their story and finding them sweet and moving.

Final Verdict: ★★★ Cinderella didn’t revolutionize my life, but it didn’t have the pretension to do so, and I really had a good time watching this entertaining film, that makes you smile and is visually beautiful ! If you want to de-stress and have butterflies in your eyes, go see it !