X
- 2017
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 2017
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
Summary A young Englishman plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Directed By: Roger Michell
Written By: Daphne Du Maurier, Roger Michell
- 2017
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 2017
- PG-13
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
My Cousin Rachel
63
5.9
Where to Watch
Summary A young Englishman plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Directed By: Roger Michell
Written By: Daphne Du Maurier, Roger Michell
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
63
65% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
29% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
6% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
63
65% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
29% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
6% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Roger Michell's revival of My Cousin Rachel is a graceful note amid summer's movie din, adapting Daphne du Maurier's black widow mystery with class bordering on defiance.
The magnificence of Weisz’s performance — yes, it’s another magnificent performance from Rachel Weisz — is that she is never hiding anything, beyond what a 19th century woman might conceal out of polite reserve. In her every moment on screen, she is an open book. We’re just not seeing all her pages.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 51 User Ratings
5.9
43% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
43% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
14% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 51 User Ratings
5.9
43% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
43% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
14% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
A damn good costume drama based on novel by Daphne du Maurier published in 1951. It’s the third big screen adaptation so far – this time from the creative mind of Roger Mitchell, the director still best known for 1999’s romantic comedy „Notting Hill“.
Mitchell felt so sure of his classic adapating abilities that he also wrote the screenplay which he hasn’t tried before (at least it’s the man’s first writing credit in IMDb). And the double job is well done, too, the movie feels exemplary and enjoyable in every aspect.
So, about the mysterious Rachel, played by Rachel Weisz following in Olivia de Havilland’s and Geraldine Chaplin’s footsteps. A fine woman can drive men wild, and all the more so in the world of 19th century rich Englishmen who are used to getting all the fine things they desire.
Philip (Sam Claflin) dislikes her at first, believing she is responsible for his guardian’s and best friend’s death whom she was married to. But the radiant widow wins him over in no time, the boy falls hard for her, and then we can only hope to figure out what Rachel is really after. Also playing: Iain Glen, Holliday Grainger, Pierfrancesco Favino et al.
If you ask me, a quality costume drama needs to look beautiful and offer good acting above all else, and „My Cousin Rachel“ delivers both in abundance.
The visual side is noticeably good-looking without trying to steal the attention from actors or story – all the English countryside almost feels like an important character in its own right. And the cast plays superbly, the central place belonging to Sam Claflin whose competent and nuanceful performance is a joy to witness and carries the story well.
Until Rachel enters, of course – Weisz has so much elegance, flame and sheer physical presence that it’s easy to buy her as a mystery woman winning people over instantly wherever she goes.
Her character is supposed to intrigue and make us question her true motives till the end, which could easily turn the result into a mediocre B-thriller with lesser actress involved. But Weisz stays classy, natural, and charming however the story twists and turns and depicts the character.
In conclusion, I have nothing bad to say about the movie. It’s not always perfect, some developments could have been played out to offer emotional impact, and the final chapter of the story feels perhaps rushed.
But I really liked everything the makers did with the material, and I especially applaud the choice to stay subtle and not turn the dramatics up to 11 just because they could have.
For example, there’s no „epic“ finale or steamy sensual scenes just to win over some more of that mainstream public. Not that the result isn't sensual.
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It might not be a visual buffet on the order of Guillermo Del Toro’s "Crimson Peak," but sometimes a more modest meal will do.
Weisz shows her Oscar-winning talents by hitting precisely the right notes throughout My Cousin Rachel: from warmth to guile to chilly practicality.
What’s missing from this production is the darkness — the perversity, even — that informs du Maurier’s work, and that would elevate an attractively illustrated story into aesthetically and psychologically vivid cinema.
One of the problems with this My Cousin Rachel is that it’s hard to come up with any issue or reason relative to its creation, I’m afraid.
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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A mystery woman from Italy!
It is a spectacular film by its wonderful costume displays and fantastic performances. Along with they have shot the entire film in the great locations. I think that's it, that's the film. The story wise, nothing impressive. Might have been one of the best tales in the old days, though at present, we've lots of similar ones and I had seen many films with the same story structure too.
Based on the book of the same name and the second film adaptation. The story of an orphan boy who was adopted by his cousin and passed all his wealth to him. Then one day on the edge of his 25th birthday, he meets his cousin's cousin from Italy, Rachel. Her visit changes his life, but it was something more than he has thought of. What is it and how the story ends comes in the later parts.
It was a thorough show by none other than Sam Claflin and Rachel Weisz. The story, the scenes were predictable. I had never heard this tale before, so that was a relief, particularly about the end. Even though it was not the best conclusion. In my opinion, it is an okay film. Maybe one time watchable film for decently made. Overall, an average adaptation/remake.
6/10
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Sam Clafin plays a young Englishman whose guardian marries a woman in Italy (yes, Rachel Weisz plays Rachel). Since the guardian dies soon after. he sets out to find seek revenge, only to fall under her spell. Since the story is mostly obvious, what matters is watching the dynamics of their relationship unfold. This happens, but with less energy than needed. The performers are respectable and the period trappings help create attractive images. Despite the story's ambiguity and the impassioned performances, the overall effect is rather distant and not at all emotionally involving.
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Like sequels, very seldom is a remake of a movie ever as good or, less seldom, ever better and "My Cousin Rachel" certainly isn't as good as the original which was made in 1954 and featured Richard Burton in his first American movie earning an Oscar nomination for his role as Philip Ashley. Philip is an orphan and adopted by his cousin, Ambrose, who becomes the father he never knew.
Ambrose goes to Italy because of his health where he meets, falls in love and marries Rachel. He writes Philip praising Rachel until suddenly his letters get darker fearing that she is scheming to kill him. Philip races off to Italy but by the time he gets there Ambrose has died and Rachel is gone. He swears vengeance and her and returns to the estate in England that he will soon inherit on his 25th birthday.
When Rachel eventually shows up at his door his vengeance turns first into puppy love and then a love so deep, so blind, he decides to turn his inheritance, the estate and jewels, over to her at the stroke of midnight on his birthday. It is then that Philip starts to get sick and as Rachel makes him a special brew of tea he gets even sicker.
The question asked at the beginning of the film is "Did she? Didn't she? Who's to blame?". During the film the questions become whether she is just a strong woman at the wrong time and place--the 1830s in England--or a dangerous, bewitching woman who goes after what she wants no matter what sinister behavior it involves?
Sam Claflin, as Philip, is no Richard Burton and gives the weakest performance in the movie. Rachel Weisz, as Rachel, is a good enough actress that you don't know who she really is and what she wants.
The supporting cast, as in many English movies, is strong but the director-writer Roger Michell who based the film on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, brings it into today's world of film by having a sex scene, referring to one of the male characters as 'being more interested in boys than girls", having the male lead showing a bare backside and doesn't make the love story more interesting or the suspense, mystery scenes more suspenseful and mysterious.
The bottom line is I really didn't care if she did it or didn't do it!
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Production Company
Fox Searchlight Pictures,
Free Range Films
Release Date Jun 9, 2017
Duration 1 h 46 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Did she or didn't she?
Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
World Soundtrack Awards
• 1 Nomination
British Independent Film Awards
• 1 Nomination
