Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Tristan + Isolde (2006)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Movie review
From Time Out London
The old story of English and Irish: a people unprepared for brutal invasion, a fragmented society victimised by a strong united alien power… Except that it’s the civilised post-Roman Britons who are ravaged by the Irish. Another turn-up for the books is the absence of the love potion that plays a fatal role in Wagner’s opera. Here the young couple fall in love because she (Sophia Myles) is a lovely princess and he (James Franco) is a chunky knitwear model.There’s no Wagner in Kevin Reynolds’ retelling of the tragedy. There may be some Ridley Scott (as co-producer, who originally wanted to make the film himself). The story of the political marriage between the Irish king’s daughter and Lord Marke of Cornwall coming unstuck when she falls for his adopted son unfolds more gently and with less violence than expected. There’s an attempt to create an ancient civilisation with allusions to others (is that an Orthodox priest in the marriage scene?), and the characters are humans, not comic-book symbols. Melot (Henry Cavill), Wagner’s deep-dyed villain, is here a weak-willed young man, hurt when supplanted by golden boy Tristan even in his own family – and Cavill might have made a more interesting hero than Franco, who looks good and that’s all. But then the ambivalent characters are all more interesting than the lovers. Rufus Sewell gives his usual hints of knowing more than he lets on as Marke and Bronagh Gallagher is a rounded human being as Isolde’s loyal maid. But, not bloody enough for adventure, not deep enough to move, this ‘Tristan’ ends up pretty and rather dull.
Author: Martin Hoyle
Time Out London Issue 1861: April 19-26 2006
Cast & crew
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Producer: Lisa Ellzey, Giannina Facio, Moshe Diamant, Elie Samaha
Cast: James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara, Henry Cavill full cast
Rated: 12A
Duration: 125 mins
UK Release: Apr 21 2006
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing






What do you think?
Post your review now