There were a fair few reasons for wanting to see 'Stealing Beauty'. That it had Italy, or Tuscany to be more specific, as its location, which has as beautiful scenery as one can get. Bernardo Bertolucci was an interesting director and made some great films in his career. The soundtrack also sounded appetising, with some great pieces/songs featured (i.e. the 2nd movement of Mozart's clarinet concerto) as well as an immensely talented cast that one could not go wrong with.
'Stealing Beauty' to me was not a bad film. There are many good points, the best assets brilliant even and luckily they were the components that were what made me want to see it. 'Stealing Beauty' also though could have quite a lot better, with some important components not executed to full potential or properly. There are directors that make great films but also are responsible for the odd big misfire that make one wonder "this comes from the same director that made that". 'Stealing Beauty' doesn't reach that level, or so that's to me (not an agreeable opinion with critics), though it's not one of Bertolucci's best and not on the same level as masterpieces of his such as 'Last Tango in Paris' and 'The Last Emperor'.
Will start with what worked very well. The best thing about 'Stealing Beauty' is the scenery, which really takes the breath away. If you have not been to Tuscany or Italy, it cannot be recommended highly enough as they are even more beautiful in real life than depicted in the film. Adding further to the visual magic is the wondrous photography, a lot of the shots left me in awe and is as entranced by the scenery as the viewer is (the camera also clearly loves Liv Tyler, perhaps a little too much at times, and she does look wonderful in the film as a result). Bertolucci's visual style and overall directing style are all over the film. The soundtrack is also a major strength, a wide variety of styles used well and not feeling too much of a mishmash, the Mozart especially is used well (haven't seen Mozart used this well on film in a while) and brings a real poignant air.
Liv Tyler did go on to much better things and inexperience shows at times here, but mostly she does a more than credible job in a role not easy to pull off. The standout of the rest of the game cast is Jeremy Irons in a very touching performance as the most sympathetic character in the film. His and Tyler's chemistry is both charming and poignant and by far the most believable of all the character interactions. Alex's dialogue is beautifully poetic, and his last scene did bring tears to my eyes. Although the script and character writing is flawed, the cast give more than game performances and nobody really is bad (had reservations with one). 'Stealing Beauty' does have a gentle charm that does endear.
For all those great things, there are elements that 'Stealing Beauty' falls short upon. The script only really rings true with Alex's dialogue, too much of the rest felt artificial and insipid. The only well developed characters are Lucy and Alex, found the rest one-dimensional and lacking in warmth. Focusing on less characters and developing the rest more that already would have made things better. Rachel Weisz's character is especially shallow. Do agree that Weisz didn't seem to fit and does little to bring much to her role.
Although the gentle charm is there, there are poignant moments in the chemistry between Lucy and Alex and the character of Alex and the atmosphere is there, the story does slip on more than one occasion into bathos. It also tends to meander and feel unfocused and it can drag, too little feels explored enough. The ending felt almost too pat and abrupt.
Overall, lots of great things but some big flaws too. 6/10
'Stealing Beauty' to me was not a bad film. There are many good points, the best assets brilliant even and luckily they were the components that were what made me want to see it. 'Stealing Beauty' also though could have quite a lot better, with some important components not executed to full potential or properly. There are directors that make great films but also are responsible for the odd big misfire that make one wonder "this comes from the same director that made that". 'Stealing Beauty' doesn't reach that level, or so that's to me (not an agreeable opinion with critics), though it's not one of Bertolucci's best and not on the same level as masterpieces of his such as 'Last Tango in Paris' and 'The Last Emperor'.
Will start with what worked very well. The best thing about 'Stealing Beauty' is the scenery, which really takes the breath away. If you have not been to Tuscany or Italy, it cannot be recommended highly enough as they are even more beautiful in real life than depicted in the film. Adding further to the visual magic is the wondrous photography, a lot of the shots left me in awe and is as entranced by the scenery as the viewer is (the camera also clearly loves Liv Tyler, perhaps a little too much at times, and she does look wonderful in the film as a result). Bertolucci's visual style and overall directing style are all over the film. The soundtrack is also a major strength, a wide variety of styles used well and not feeling too much of a mishmash, the Mozart especially is used well (haven't seen Mozart used this well on film in a while) and brings a real poignant air.
Liv Tyler did go on to much better things and inexperience shows at times here, but mostly she does a more than credible job in a role not easy to pull off. The standout of the rest of the game cast is Jeremy Irons in a very touching performance as the most sympathetic character in the film. His and Tyler's chemistry is both charming and poignant and by far the most believable of all the character interactions. Alex's dialogue is beautifully poetic, and his last scene did bring tears to my eyes. Although the script and character writing is flawed, the cast give more than game performances and nobody really is bad (had reservations with one). 'Stealing Beauty' does have a gentle charm that does endear.
For all those great things, there are elements that 'Stealing Beauty' falls short upon. The script only really rings true with Alex's dialogue, too much of the rest felt artificial and insipid. The only well developed characters are Lucy and Alex, found the rest one-dimensional and lacking in warmth. Focusing on less characters and developing the rest more that already would have made things better. Rachel Weisz's character is especially shallow. Do agree that Weisz didn't seem to fit and does little to bring much to her role.
Although the gentle charm is there, there are poignant moments in the chemistry between Lucy and Alex and the character of Alex and the atmosphere is there, the story does slip on more than one occasion into bathos. It also tends to meander and feel unfocused and it can drag, too little feels explored enough. The ending felt almost too pat and abrupt.
Overall, lots of great things but some big flaws too. 6/10