Cate
Blanchett carries the film...
Charlotte Gray (Blanchett) is an elegant and
educated woman, from St. Andrews, Scotland, who
falls in love with a pilot during WWII. He is
whisked away on a mission and is shot down
somewhere over France. Charlotte, who has always
felt a calling to duty and bravery, takes it
upon herself to become an undercover courier for
the allies and the resistance, all the while
having ulterior motives to find and rescue her
boyfriend. Perhaps this seems a little much, but
for Charlotte, who, when asked by a
psychological examiner in her training school,
"which is more important, faith, hope or love,"
chooses hope, the quest to find her man is the
most logical and appropriate step. Her journey
leads to a small southern French village where
she meets a group of resistance fighters led by
the dashing Julien (Crudup). She is undercover,
under the name Dominique Gilbert, as a
housekeeper for Julien's father, and she also
has the responsibility of caring for two young
boys whose parents were taken by the nazis. Torn
between two handsome men, two innocent boys and
the war between good and evil, Charlotte Gray
fights to do what is right, what is loyal, and
what will ultimately make her happy.
I am not sure that I have seen a more
cinematically beautiful film since The Thin Red
Line (1998). Gillian Armstrong (Oscar & Lucinda)
and her cinematographers have a masterful eye.
The film is so beautiful to watch that it almost
completely masks a slightly hard to believe
plot. The French countryside is so sublimely
shot that it makes one want to pack up and move
there forever. Cate Blanchett, who isn't a
classic beauty, is transformed into a classic
1940's movie star and is more lovely than ever.
I can't remember a film that is this unafraid to
show how beautiful a human face can be when it
takes up the entire screen. There are so many
close ups of Charlotte, and they are some of the
most amazing shots I have seen in a long time.
Armstrong is unafraid to use her star's beauty.
The sets and the costumes are exquisite. I don't
think I have ever seen a better dressed woman
than Charlotte Gray. Overall, this is an
unfathomably beautiful film that would be a
pleasure to watch even with the sound turned
off.
The acting is solid from top to bottom, the only
weak links coming from the two young boys who
have very small roles. It is obvious they are
not experienced child actors. However, Blanchett
is absolutely stunning, AGAIN, in this tricky
and nuanced role. She has a way of imbuing
sympathy while still remaining strong. She has
been doing the best and most varied work of any
actress of the past three years. Her break out
role came in 1998's Elizabeth, a role that
should have earned her the Oscar rather than
just a nomination. Being the versatile actress
she is, directors have been offering her all the
best roles, and she is taking them all... I
don't know if any mainstream actor has done more
films since 1998. On top of that she recently
had a baby. Cate Blanchett is a very busy girl.
The plot is rather thin. I found myself thinking
that none of this could actually happen, but, if
you can give yourself to the romanticism of the
plot and let it carry you through to the end,
the journey is more rewarding than you might
suspect.
If Cate Blanchett doesn't watch out she is going
become one of the great actresses of our
generation. The plot is a little clichéd, but
Blanchett is riveting and powerful.
If you liked 'Lucie Aubrac', 'Elizabeth' & 'The
Thin Red Line'... you will probably love this
film.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
I absolutely
agree with TC. Blanchett offers a stellar
performance in a film that is let down only by a
rather weak script from Jeremy Brock. It's a
marvelous testimony to Blanchett's acting that
she can overcome such a weak script.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
