THE GOLDEN BOWL is Merchant-Ivory's adaptation of the Henry James novel of romantic torment--the novel James named as his favorite. The title refers to a beautiful crystal bowl... more
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The Golden Bowl [2000]
Henry James' novel The Golden Bowl is here adapted into one of the most beautiful films
... more
yet from the Merchant Ivory stable (and that's saying something given their penchant for fin de siècle subject matter). But it was an unwieldy novel and as a film ...
The Golden Bowl [2000]
Henry James' novel The Golden Bowl is here adapted into one of the most beautiful films
... more
yet from the Merchant Ivory stable (and that's saying something given their penchant for fin de siècle subject matter). But it was an unwieldy novel and as a film ...
The Golden Bowl [2000]
Henry James' novel The Golden Bowl is here adapted into one of the most beautiful films
... more
yet from the Merchant Ivory stable (and that's saying something given their penchant for fin de siècle subject matter). But it was an unwieldy novel and as a film it's flawed just like the titular bowl. The action centres on Maggie, daughter of American millionaire Adam Verver, who is married to the impoverished Italian nobleman Amerigo, who had previously had a secret affair with the poor but scheming Charlotte. The square is completed when Charlotte marries the widowed Adam. Although Maggie (artlessly played by Kate Beckinsdale) begins the film as a complete innocent, it is ultimately she who takes tacit control of the tangled relationships. Nick Nolte brings a patrician quality to the part of Adam, whose main obsession in life is collecting objects of beauty and value for a museum he's planning in the States. Jeremy Northam's Amerigo is convincing without being likeable. It is Charlotte, however, who is the centre around which everything else revolves and Uma Thurman relies too heavily on her own charms and not enough on strong characterisation. In the end, she is not sufficiently magnetic for her role to ring true. On the DVD: The Golden Bowl's sumptuous settings are a glory to behold, and beautifully captured here. The inclusion of original film footage from early last century adds tremendously to the period flavour and the behind-the-scenes interviews and brief film of Merchant Ivory's past endeavours add to the appeal of the package, though there are effectively no subtitles or language options. --Harriet Smith
The Golden Bowl [2000]
Henry James' novel The Golden Bowl is here adapted into one of the most beautiful films
... more
yet from the Merchant Ivory stable (and that's saying something given their penchant for fin de siècle subject matter). But it was an unwieldy novel and as a film it's flawed just like the titular bowl. The action centres on Maggie, daughter of American millionaire Adam Verver, who is married to the impoverished Italian nobleman Amerigo, who had previously had a secret affair with the poor but scheming Charlotte. The square is completed when Charlotte marries the widowed Adam. Although Maggie (artlessly played by Kate Beckinsdale) begins the film as a complete innocent, it is ultimately she who takes tacit control of the tangled relationships. Nick Nolte brings a patrician quality to the part of Adam, whose main obsession in life is collecting objects of beauty and value for a museum he's planning in the States. Jeremy Northam's Amerigo is convincing without being likeable. It is Charlotte, however, who is the centre around which everything else revolves and Uma Thurman relies too heavily on her own charms and not enough on strong characterisation. In the end, she is not sufficiently magnetic for her role to ring true. On the DVD: The Golden Bowl's sumptuous settings are a glory to behold, and beautifully captured here. The inclusion of original film footage from early last century adds tremendously to the period flavour and the behind-the-scenes interviews and brief film of Merchant Ivory's past endeavours add to the appeal of the package, though there are effectively no subtitles or language options. --Harriet Smith
Actor(s): Uma Thurman, Jeremy Northam, Kate Beckinsale, Nick Nolte, Anjelica Huston, James Fox, Madeleine Potter, Peter Eyre
Director(s): James Ivory
Genre: Drama - Romantic
Classification: 12 years and over
Production Year: 2000
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: THE GOLDEN BOWL is Merchant-Ivory's adaptation of the Henry James novel of romantic torment--the novel James named as his favorite. The title refers to a beautiful crystal bowl encrusted with gold, which conceals a single imperceptible flaw--a small crack. The bowl is a simple, effective metaphor for the seeming perfection of the relationships in the film. Some characters in THE GOLDEN BOWL see the hidden flaw, and keep their knowledge of its worthlessness to themselves. Others do not see the flaw, and live their lives feeling that they should be happy, not understanding the root of their unease. THE GOLDEN BOWL features excellent performances, particularly from Nick Nolte as the American billionaire Adam Verver, and Kate Beckinsale as Maggie, his devoted daughter. Maggie marries an Italian prince (Jeremy Northam) who has a secret past with her best friend (Uma Thurman). The film includes the lavishly precise production design expected of Merchant-Ivory works. But the dark emotional complexity of the source novel, combined with the filmmakers's aesthetically bold inclusion of archival footage from early 20th Century urban America, give the film an edge--a palpable sense of the underlying dread of industrialization in the New World.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date: 15/06/2006
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: BED 888630
Barcode: 5017188886307
Screenwriter: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Composer: Richard Robbins
Executive Producer: Paul Bradley, Richard Hawley
Director of Photography: Tony Pierce-Roberts
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Costume Designer: John Bright
Languages
Main Language: English
DVD Description
THE GOLDEN BOWL is Merchant-Ivory's adaptation of the Henry James novel of romantic torment--the novel James named as his favorite. The title refers to a beautiful crystal bowl encrusted with gold, which conceals a single imperceptible flaw--a small crack. The bowl is a simple, effective metaphor for the seeming perfection of the relationships in the film. Some characters in THE GOLDEN BOWL see the hidden flaw, and keep their knowledge of its worthlessness to themselves. Others do not see the flaw, and live their lives feeling that they should be happy, not understanding the root of their unease. THE GOLDEN BOWL features excellent performances, particularly from Nick Nolte as the American billionaire Adam Verver, and Kate Beckinsale as Maggie, his devoted daughter. Maggie marries an Italian prince (Jeremy Northam) who has a secret past with her best friend (Uma Thurman). The film includes the lavishly precise production design expected of Merchant-Ivory works. But the dark emotional complexity of the source novel, combined with the filmmakers's aesthetically bold inclusion of archival footage from early 20th Century urban America, give the film an edge--a palpable sense of the underlying dread of industrialization in the New World.
Technical information
Special Features: Merchant Ivory Anniversary Reel, Production Featurette
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review: "...The genius of Henry James' greatest novel is that these four people have placed themselves in a moral situation that alters as you rotate them in your view..." (Chicago Sun-Times, p.28, 18/05/2001)
"...Thurman, in a fine performance, pierces the heart of Charlotte's fear and rage..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.43, 04/05/2001)
"...Impeccable performances and equally flawless, grand period settings....THE GOLDEN BOWL abounds in fully dimensional people..." (Los Angeles Times, p.2, 27/04/2001)
"...Ruth Prawer Jhabvala has done a solid job of boiling the tale down to its compelling theme....Angelica Huston and James Fox find the perfect Jamesian nuances..." (Movieline, p.31, 01/05/2001)
"...Mr. Northam exudes an unassuming command....[A] handsome, faithful, intelligent screen adaptation..." (New York Times, p.E10, 27/04/2001)
"...Thurman turns in a compellingly eccentric performance..." (Premiere, p.88-9, 01/05/2001)
"...It casts a potent spell....THE GOLDEN BOWL is elegant and passionate in ways that stick with you..." (Rolling Stone, p.93-4, 10/05/2001)
"...THE GOLDEN BOWL comes to the table with eye-popping opulence, a cast of attractive name players and a brooding scandal at its story's center..." (USA Today, p.7E, 27/04/2001)
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 09.03.2004
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...american pie the wedding really makes me laugh and i actually felt the thrill when jim is having a gathering with michelles parent and all his friends are hiding with the porn star.but i really like it in video now coz i can watch it again and again and laugh till my lungs burst out. and thats the good thing about having the video now.and also you can watch it with your friends while having a bowl of popcorn and laughing with the same scenes again and again but still you'll still love to watch it all over again because of the humor that it gives.and thats the brand of american pie,a movie with a great passion to make people laugh like n one can do....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful
not helpful 24.08.2007
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