I've never read Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres," nor have I read Shakespeare's "King Lear," which is what the new movie "A Thousand Acres" is supposed to be based off of. After reading the press kit and browsing the internet for awhile, I knew what the main plot for both of them were supposed to be: A wealthy, respected man divides his kingdom among his daughters and they squabble over the land. In the middle of that, there is incest, division among the family (especially the sisters), and a whole lot of dying.
A story like that sounds like it should be entertaining, but the film version of "A Thousand Acres" is pretty far from entertainment. It's a lot like sitting around your house on a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do. You turn on the TV and watch without caring if it's good or bad - it's just on. That's what "A Thousand Acres" is - it's just on. It's not at all good, but then, it's not that bad. You just sit, drifting off into space asking, "Well, what else am I going to do?"
I liked a few things about the movie: Jessica Lange turns in a good performance (as always), and the cinematography is beautiful (I wish they would have shown more of it). But all of the characters are written and portrayed as one-dimensional, stereotyped people. The director, Jocelyn Moorhouse, doesn't give the audience any sense of who we should like. The movie is confused, and there is no sense of consistency in the story or with the characters.
For example, at the beginning of the movie, I got a real sense that the daughters truly loved their father, ten minutes later, they profess no loyalty to him, proclaiming him as the biggest jerk that has ever walked the land. Why? We're not given a reason.
Then there's Michelle Pfeiffer, who was out of place in this movie. She plays an emotionless character in a role that demands emotion. Jason Robards, who has won two academy awards in the past, is reduced to grunting out a stereotyped performance. "I'm an old man! And things just aren't as good as they used to be!"
Of course, all the men in the film have to be villains. There's a scene in a Thousand Acres where Jessica Lange starts an affair with Jess (played by Colin Firth). During the scene, the director wants us to be happy that Lange is having this affair; as they kiss, sweet, romantic music starts up and the photography gives us a sense of joy and passion. But, there was no reason for our sympathies to be with her. Her husband (played by Keith Carradine) didn't seem to be a bad guy - certainly not bad enough so that she had to go out and have an affair on him.
What's most disappointing about the movie is that you're left with nothing afterwards. A friend remarked, "For a movie that's supposed to make you feel something, bring out emotions in you and make you feel sad, it just didn't." I think that sums it up - it's not that it was an awful movie, it's just that it didn't make you feel anything. Watching something like that is always a let down.
If you're in the mood to watch a good movie about the trials and successes of Midwestern farmers, I highly recommend "Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern", which is out on video right now. "A Thousand Acres" (* and a half out of four). Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse. Starring Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfieffer, Jennifer Jason Lee, and Jason Robards.
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