Bright Star

Jane Campion’s Bright Star tells the story of the romance between John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). If you already know the background to Keats you know this won’t end well, and even if you don’t, Campion puts enough markers in the film to suggest hankies will be needed at some point. The film itself is beautiful to look at and acted solidly across the board. However, it doesn’t hook you as it should and you feel like you are an outsider looking in, as opposed to being absorbed in the relationship between Keats and Brawne. On this note, Keats doesn’t come across as a poetic genius (which, to be fair, he wasn’t seen at the time) or particularly interesting. Why Brawne should fall so hard for him is a bit of a mystery. Especially as Keats’ puts his literature before their relationship on more than one occasion. There is also a third party indirectly involved, that in the shape of Charles Brown (an excellent Paul Schneider). Keats and Brown are two peas from a very different pod, but with literature as their common goal. Would this be enough though for Keats to sit back and watch Brown abuse Brawne verbally? This isn’t a bad film at all, but it goes on far too long and fails to maintain the interest in the main players.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Nice to look at, but not engaging enough for us to ride the full emotional roller coaster that the protagonists endure. Rating: 5/10.