Cinderella Review

We live in an age were people are so hypersensitive about spoilers. People are concerned about hearing the slightest bit of information about a film based on a book that’s been out for ages. It’s this sort of thinking that damages the way we think about narratives, suddenly they become judged on how surprising and  shocking they are we no longer care about other factors. It doesn’t matter how well the story is told it just has to be surprising. This is precisely why Cinderella is a breath of fresh air. The film simply tells the age old story of Cinderella and delights in being as traditional and straight as it can and for that it is simply wonderful. Kenneth Branagh weaves a tale that is sure to entertain for generations. He doesn’t try to adapt Cinderella for the 21^st century because he knows how badly that would date instead he just takes the fairytale of old and makes it in a modern way. It’s not as easy a transition between animation and live action as you might think whereas with hand drawn animation you can have more basic  cleaner less detailed images with live action you have to feel the frame and give a sense of place this is why Branagh’s Cinderella actual feels like a very big theatrical film but in the center of the film he finds the heart and voice of the characters. 

Lily James takes the eponymous role and really makes it her own. Cinderella feels like a real character rather than a stereotype of goodness.  Jame’s Cinderella always tries to stay positive even when the worst is happening to her she isn’t just a standard goody goody too shoes she gives us a sense of Cinderella’s inner conflict as she tries to help others but till wants to do things for herself. She makes the character so likeable that it is rewarding to see the good things that eventually happen to her. The other performer who makes the film work is Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother she is only on screen for a few memorable scenes but she narrates the whole thing with an English accent as polished as a glass slipper which contributes to the whole classical sense of the story. Cate Blanchett is a joy to watch as she embraces the role of the wicked stepmother she’s having so much fun in the role playing all the wickedness with an underlying sense of jealousy and sadness which creates for a compelling character.

One key element to the film is the costume design. Cinderella’s ball dress is one of the most gorgeous dresses ever put to film; it’s puffy and frilly  but made of this light fabric and in this gorgeous shade of blue and its decorated by small fragile fabric butterflies it is simply beautiful. The stepfamily are dressed in these garish silk colours that both repel and entice the eye and they seem like clothes that would only be worn by people with more money than sense.

Cinderella is an example of storytelling at it’s best we know what’s going to happen but at every moment  we are completely sold on the story. There were genuinely moments that whilst I was comfortable in my knowledge of the story I questioned who Cinderella was going to win.  The film rests of James performance as Cinderella and she proves herself together her and Branagh make this a fairytale for the ages. 4/5 Stars 

My review of Frozen Fever the film before Cinderella is here  http://ablogaboutfilms.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/frozen-fever.html