We eagerly went to see IRIS as soon as it opened here in Chicago expecting to like it a great deal, but alas, we did not. In spite of the uniformly terrific performances by the four principals, we felt the filmmakers didn't provide enough substance for the actors to truly excel. Kate Winslet, in particular, was surely capable of presenting the dynamic inner life of this great author, but she's never given the chance. Imagine how poignant it would have been to see Judi Dench slip into darkness if we'd really felt her life force in "the young Iris."
It's impossible not to compare IRIS to A BEAUTIFUL MIND. Although we know others disagree, we both feel strongly that Goldsman & Howard found impressive ways to dramatize John Nash's inner reality. They focused on this because the most crucial aspects of this man's life happened in his mind, for better & for worse. IRIS should have been the same. What was important about this woman happened in her mind. Swimming in the muddy river is fine, just like Nash looking at the stars, but it is not sufficient.
Why was this film only 90 minutes long? We felt robbed of all the (missing) scenes that could have helped us appreciate Iris Murdock's profound inner life.
It's impossible not to compare IRIS to A BEAUTIFUL MIND. Although we know others disagree, we both feel strongly that Goldsman & Howard found impressive ways to dramatize John Nash's inner reality. They focused on this because the most crucial aspects of this man's life happened in his mind, for better & for worse. IRIS should have been the same. What was important about this woman happened in her mind. Swimming in the muddy river is fine, just like Nash looking at the stars, but it is not sufficient.
Why was this film only 90 minutes long? We felt robbed of all the (missing) scenes that could have helped us appreciate Iris Murdock's profound inner life.