Jane Campion's brutal revisioning of the classic Henry James novel. Nicole Kidman is a young American in England to stay with her wealthy aunt and uncle circa 1872. Wealthy suitors take notice but Kidman, determined to be a free spirit, rejects any thoughts of marriage. Left wealthy by her uncle, she finds herself and her newfound fortune caught up in the duplicitious web of the mysteriously friendly Madame Merle (brilliant Barbara Hershey). Duped into a loveless marraige to layabout fop artist John Malkovich, Kidman's life becomes a horror show. Revelation after revelation leads her to take drastic steps. Campion directs a real masterpiece of horror here. The horror of course is in how people are capable of being absolutely miserable to one another. Kidman is excellent and the large supporting cast includes Christian Bale, Martin Donovan, Shelley Winters, and Mary Louise Parker as Henrietta Stackpole, Kidman's free thinking friend. Shelley Duvall is great as Malkovich's deceptively insightful sister. Also with John Gielgud (with one of the best death scenes) and Richard E. Grant.
Review of The Portrait of a Lady
