Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I approached this remake with an open mind, having already been enchanted by the novels and the original series on PBS. This series is good, but suffers greatly from miscasting of pivotal character of Irene Heron Forsyte. Gina McKee, a talented actress, does not convey the mystery and allure of Irene the way Nyree Dawn Porter had already done in the original series. Gina McKee's coldness and drabness makes it hard to believe that men would be captivated by her. For instance, I found it hard to believe that Philip Bosinney would throw over sweet and pretty June for this coldblooded woman. Nyree Dawn Porter on the other hand was Irene Forsyte, matching the description of Galsworthy as a beautiful woman with brown eyes and blonde hair who was charming. Ms. Porter effectively portrayed the aversion she had for Soames Forsyte, her first husband, and the warmth and devotion she showed to her second husband, Young Jolyon and their son, Jon. She made it easy to understand why Bosinney would leave June for her.
The male characters were better: Rupert Graves, Ioan Gruffaud, Damien Lewis, and Corin Redgrave were wonderful. Damien Lewis captured the tormented Soames quite well and Ioan Gruffaud was an improvement over the actor who played Bosinney in the earlier series. Corin Redgrave was an outstanding Old Jolyon and Rupert Graves was sympathetic as Young Jolyon. The only problem was that Ms. McKee's Irene looked more mature than her love interests, Philip and Young Jolyon. Irene was sixteen years younger than Young Jolyon, but Rupert Graves looked younger than Gina McKee. Ioan Gruffaud looked more suited to the actress playing June than the more mature Irene.
The scriptwriters I felt took liberties with the novel that really clashed with what the characters were all about. For instance, the proud Young Jolyon after his exile from his family, would never have gone back to his Uncle James and Cousin Soames asking for a loan. This scene was totally out of character. Also, Irene was supposed to be gentle and passive; Gina McKee's Irene slapped June. This too was totally out of character. There was never a scene with Soames asking his fiancee Annette to throw Young Jolyon and pregnant Irene out of a restaurant. The scene was absurd and totally unnecessary. It would have been better had the writers stayed with the novel and had Soames seeing Irene and Jolyon in a crowd at Queen Victoria's funeral. I also could have done without the graphic bedroom scenes involving Irene and Soames. The first series and the novels more appropriately left their intimate relationship to the imagination.
Overall, this was a good effort. I hope that care is taken in casting Fleur Forsyte, who was brilliantly played by Susan Hampshire in the earlier series. If she is miscast, like Irene, the second half will fall apart, since Fleur is such a pivotal character in part two.
Click Here to see more reviews about: The Forsyte Saga, Series 1 (2002)
FORSYTE SAGA SERIES 1 - DVD Movie
Click here for more information about The Forsyte Saga, Series 1 (2002)
0 comments:
Post a Comment