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Dominican Rep. The Portrait of a Lady
- Original title
- The Portrait of a Lady
- Year
- 1996
- Running time
- 142 min.
- Country
United Kingdom- Director
- Screenwriter
- Laura Jones. Novel: Henry James
- Cast
-
Nicole Kidman
John Malkovich
Barbara Hershey
Martin Donovan
Christian Bale
Mary-Louise Parker
Shelley Winters
Richard E. Grant
Viggo Mortensen
John Gielgud
Valentina Cervi
Shelley Duvall- See all credits
- Music
- Cinematography
- Producer
- Co-production United Kingdom-United States;
- Genre
- Drama | Costume Drama. 19th Century
- Movie Groups
- Henry James Adaptations
- Synopsis
- Isabel Archer, an American heiress and free thinker travels to Europe to find herself. She tactfully rebuffs the advances of Caspar Goodwood, another American who has followed her to England. Her cousin, Ralph Touchett, wise but sickly becomes a soulmate of sorts for her. She makes an unfortunate alliance with the creepy Madame Merle who leads her to make an even more unfortunate alliance with Gilbert Osmond, a smooth but cold collector of Objets' de art who seduces her with an intense but unattainable sexuality. Isabel marries Osmond only to realize she's just another piece of art for his collection and that Madame Merle and Osmond are lovers who had hatched a diabolical scheme to take Isabel's fortune. Isabel's only comfort is the innocent daughter of Osmond, Pansy, but even that friendship is spoiled when Countess Gemini, Osmond's sister, reveals the child's true parentage. Isabel finally breaks free of Osmond and returns to Ralph's bedside, where, while breathing his last, they both realize how truly connected they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Awards
-
1996: 2 Nominations for Oscar: Best Supp. Actress (Hershey), Costume Design1996: Nominated for Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress (Barbara Hershey)1996: Satellite Awards: 3 Nominations including Best Adapted Screenplay1996: New York Film Critics Circle: 3 Nominations including Best Actress (Kidman)1996: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Supp. Actress (Hershey) & Production Design1996: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Hershey)
- Critics' reviews
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-
"I think if you care for James, you must see it. It is not an adaptation but an interpretation"
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"A literary adaptation of exceeding intelligence, beauty and concentrated artistry, but one that remains emotionally remote and perhaps unavoidably problematic dramatically."
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"A fascinating portrait not only of a lady, but of the society and marriage that entrap, then attempt to destroy, her."
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"Intelligent but exasperating, its monotonous tone will wear down even viewers who started out in its corner."
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"Brilliantly eccentric even when it yields mixed results"
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"Remote, murky and interminable"
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