Monday 9 November 2009

KEATS BIOPIC: BRIGHT STAR

 

The best thing about this was the pared-down ordinariness of the portrait.

Keats has suffered more than most because of some hysterical, not to say excessive, admirers. So it was good to see him here as a pretty average guy able to evoke a world of magic in his writing.

There was a great line that went something like 'the poet is the least interesting thing about a work'. I think starting from this sceptical premise and then trying to create your own core of interest stands as a good methodology for any biopic.

With some pretty spot-on cinematography ('poetic-visual'?), and some brilliantly nuanced acting from the three leads, the poetry could be sprinkled on top in a nicely subtle ancillary way, obviating any capital K Keats bullshit.

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