Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Michael Sheen, Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts
‘A Powerful Period Piece’
Not many actors have created movies which demand to be seen like Michael Sheen. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Sheen has made memorable movies. Whether it’s political leaders, French writers or vampires, Sheen has played countless strong characters. Arguably, Sheen’s best strength as an actor is his strong commitment to his craft. He is one of this rare actors which has always poured his heart and soul in each role. Sheen has rarely been afraid to take risks in his career portraying complex characters that aren’t often likeable. Through his abilities to create strong characters which audiences easily relate to, Sheen has become an actor with value. A British icon, Sheen has become a legendary actor whose memorable movies audiences cherish. Throughout storied career, Sheen has made several unforgettable movies which are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Sheen and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “Far From the Madding Crowd” is my favourite. Released in 2015, Thomas Vinterberg’s movie offered a beautiful adaptation of a beloved book about doomed love. Packed with breathtaking sets, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best period dramas ever made. At the centre of if all is an excellent performance by Michael Sheen, who plays a wealthy man seeking marriage. Ultimately, what makes “Far From the Madding Crowd” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most period dramas, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about doomed love, there are many strong reasons why “Far From the Madding Crowd” is a movie which is worth seeing.
Based on the celebrated book, “Far From the Madding Crowd” tells the story of a woman in a doomed affair which causes tension. Carey Mulligan plays Bathsheba Everdene, a young woman with bright dreams of finding romance. Bathsheba has often yearned to find freedom on a society where women are often victims of sexism. However, Bathsheba’s life drastically changes when she falls in love in an affair that causes disasters. Her newfound love interest Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts) is a bold farmer with that barely makes ends meet in a life of poverty. Bathsheba’s life becomes even more complicated when she falls in love with another wealthy bachelor. William Boldwood (Michael Sheen) is a rich suitor that offers a luxurious lifestyle having prosperous wealth. Torn between the affections of two vastly diffrent men, Bathsheba faces the dilemma of having to decide whom she wants to spend the rest of her life with. As the odds are soon stacked completely against her favour, Bathsheba begins to wonder whether she will ever find a lover.
Thomas Vinterberg is fascinated with themes of doomed love. A fantastic Danish filmmaker, Vinterberg has often made engaging movies about doomed lovers that face disaster. With “Far From the Madding Crowd”, however, the director created his first literature adaptation. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a legendary book about doomed lovers but he succeeded immensely. Through spellbinding cinematography, Vinterberg conveys a woman embarking upon a journey to find her identity. Inspired with Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice”, Vinterberg effectively uses low-key lighting to capture the bonds between lovers in a doomed relationship. For instance, the low-key lighting elevates the meeting scene. During this tense scene, Bathsheba meets William Blockwood for the first time during an awkward encounter. Through low-key lighting, Vinterberg creates a romance that’s compelling. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Stephen Frears’ “The Queen” claimed, low-key lighting elevates movies about the royal family. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning cinematography, Vinterberg creates romance that’s engaging.
Another admirable aspect of “Far From The Madding Crowd” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Vinterberg deftly uses costumes to capture the personalities of women facing marriages causing tension. For instance, the costumes elevate the proposal scene. During this heartfelt scene, Bathsheba is surprised when she is given a proposal by William Boldwood. One appreciates costumes capturing tensions that women stuck in broken marriages are facing. Through strong costume design, Vinterberg captures women enduring romantic relationships that decline. Moreover, the music score is superb. Craig Armstrong’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that women in broken marriages bear. Using stunning production, Vinterberg captures commemorated lovers in romantic relationships that face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Far From the Madding Crowd” is a period piece which is compelling. The film is well-written, and uses dramatic monologues to capture tensions which women in doomed affairs are facing. Throughout the movie, Vinterberg uses dramatic monologues to capture the tensions that women are facing. For instance,dramatic monologues enhance the singing scene. During this heartwarming scene, Bathsheba and Boldwood engage in unexpected singing sessions during a family dinner causing tensions. Through ingenious dramatic monologues, Vinterberg captures hardships women in love triangles are facing. Dramatic monologues are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven” demonstrated, dramatic monologues enhance medieval movies about olden eras. Nevertheless, they work tremendously in this movie. Using a strong screenplay, Vinterberg captures the lives of doomed lovers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates phenomenal performances.
Michael Sheen delivers one of his greatest performances as William Blockwood. Sheen earned recognition playing prime ministers in British dramas. With “Far From the Madding Crowd”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a wealthy suitor which falls into a doomed love affair causing tragedy but he succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: intense, charming and emotional in his most meaningful role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, frustration and grief of a wealthy man that becomes the victim of a doomed love affair. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most celebrated actors in Britain today.
Carey Mulligan is captivating as a multidimensional woman that becomes involved in a doomed love affair that causes tension. Mulligan has often excelled at playing emotional woman under distress, and “Far From the Madding Crowd” demonstrated her greatest strengths as an actress. Whether she is turning down the proposal of a wealthy suitor or expressing her love, Mulligan uses her strong body language to create a commemorated woman that is compelling. It’s a commemorated role that gave the actress a chance to showcase her talent playing strong women with larger-than-life personalities in period dramas. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most celebrated actresses that is currently working in Hollywood today.
The final, most notable standout in the cast is Matthias Schoenaerts. As a lovesick farmer, he brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Far From the Madding Crowd” would earn the appreciation of everyone capturing lovers that crowd. Unlike most period pieces, the film tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes such as identity, social class and marriage which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the legendary book to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message concerning social inequality that would definitely resonate among everyone. Therefore, “Far From the Madding Crowd” is one of those rare period dramas everyone will adore.
Fans of Michael Sheen would definitely enjoy “Far From the Madding Crowd” and so would movie-goers seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating period drama, it celebrates the legacy of a British actor with charisma.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking period film about a woman torn between lovers in romantic relationships that are declining, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated British actor that has built a lasting legacy earning a following for his abilities to portray compelling characters in movies that are worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 