Winter's Tale

Writer/Director Akiva Goldsman’s Winter’s Tale is a wonderful Irish tale…a fantasy with a Pegasus, time-jumping, demons and magic.  It has been superbly shot by Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel.  Naomi Shohan has created fabulous production designs.  Michael Kaplan has fashioned top-notch costuming.  Rupert Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer have supplied a wonderful score.  And, of course, Goldsman, himself, has written the popular The DaVinci Code, Angels & Demons, Constantine, A Beautiful Mind and many other great works with this one joining the best of them.

Then, there’s the cast.  Though I’ve never been a big Colin Farrell fan, he is perfect in the starring role.  Russell Crowe is at his best in evil-rendering, Jessica Brown Findlay is enchanting as the ingénue and a young Mckayla Twiggs is beyond adorable as Findlay’s sister.  What’s more, Will Smith, William Hurt, Graham Greene, Jennifer Connelly, Ripley Sobo and Eva Marie Saint add to the feast of great performances.

 

So, I ask myself, why is this film not getting good reviews?  What’s wrong about it? It's simply beyond me.

I remember a mentor of mine once saying, “When you get right down to it, there are only two kinds of people in this world…those who love life and beauty and those who don’t.”  If you’re among the former, you’ll really enjoy this film.  If not, well, I guess you'll join the reviewers who haven’t.

I give Winter’s Tale a 4+ out of 5. See it.

PS: Although it is a fantasy, there are elements of it that are absolutely real. If you're interested, contact me.