After seeing the last Henry James big-screen adaptation ("The Portrait of a Lady" - I haven't seen "Washington Square" yet) hit Hollywood, it took dozens of positive reviews to get me into "The Wings of the Dove."
But I'm glad they were so convincing. Perhaps I am too often lent to superlatives the day after seeing a powerful movie, but this film could very well be this years "English Patient." (Not faint praise from someone who saw that movie six times.)
"The Wings of the Dove" will probably not be as popular, but the quality of the film is comparable. The plot is very similar, yet set in such different time and place that it seems completely different.
"Wings" is set among the aristocracy of turn of the century England. Helena Bonham Carter plays Kate, a wealthy near-orphan, under the care of her aunt. While family actively sets her up with Lord Mark, she falls in love with Martin (Linus Roache), a dashing, seductive, newspaper reporter, without enough money to merit the coupling.
Then, Millie (Allison Elliot), a very wealthy Englishwoman, enters the picture. Lord Mark learns that she is dying, and tries to woo her so that her money will become hers. But after that fails, Kate deduces that Martin could do the same, become extrordinarily wealthy, and the two could marry without fear of ostracism.
Henry James's most prominent quality as an author, I've read, is his skill in creating plots. "Wings" is no different. And the adaptation, perhaps, is even better. I'm sure that the novel was considerably longer, and much more intricate, but did not lose an ounce of the passion and heartache undoubtedly present in the original.
Additionally, much like "The English Patient," "Wings" is very creative, in every possible way. Some of the camera angles are truly one-of-a-kind, and often the contrast between light and dark (obviously intended) is almost painful.
Come oscar-time, this film ought to be well rewarded. It wouldn't be surprising to see a best film, best actor (Roache), best actress (Bonham Carter), best supporting actress (Elliot) and best cinematography nomination, and equally unsurprising (thus far) to see some of them win.
Grade: A