The Golden Bowl (2000)

Simply Perfect

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Strictly for the romance-novel set, and only for those who prefer the costumes to the plot. Everyone is pretty awful except for Angelica Huston and James Fox, whose mature passion for each other seems more believable than that of the principal characters. Jeremy Northam neither looks, gestures, carries himself, nor speaks like an Italian. Kate Beckinsale is girlishly dreadful, an Edwardian Pollyanna whose lines seem to get clogged in her mouth. Uma Thurman is fine until she speaks. Nick Nolte acts like he's thinking of collecting his check and leaving the studio as soon as possible. There is absolutely zero tension, Merchant & Ivory are obviously embarrassed by the act of coitus, you know what's going to happen from the first, and the only entertainment I derived was fast-forwarding through the second half so that everyone moved with a little more energy.

Having loved the splendid 'Howard's End' and the delightful 'A Room With A View', I always look forward to a Merchant Ivory film no matter what the outcome. 'The Golden Bowl' does not reach the level of the aforementioned two films but it still was a good watch. Ivory does successfully manage to create a feel of that time period. The sets and costumes look quite authentic. Through subtle references one can see how James Ivory has been influenced by classic movies. The story is about complex relationships, between a father and his daughter, between two former lovers and between husbands and wives. The characters are very well etched and layered and it is the mystery of these characters that has intrigued me the most. How long has Verver known about Amerigo and Charlotte's relationship? Since when has Maggie known? Did Charlotte have any feelings at all for Verver? The film does move at a slightly tedious pace but it picks up when Maggie starts suspecting the relationship between Charlotte and Amerigo. Northam's Amerigo takes some getting used to. I found him funny initially but once one is passed that he's quite good and terrific in the scenes where he's restrained. Uma Thurman sizzles. Charlotte may come across as a temptress at times but Thurman portrays her vulnerability and despair with gusto. Kate Beckinsale is equally fantastic. Hats off to Nick Nolte for a studied and subtle performance of a father who has to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save his daughter's marriage. Angelica Huston makes herself noticeable. 'The Golden Bowl' may not be the best of Ivory Merchant but it's still an interesting period drama a fascinating study of characters.

This film is about the complicated love life between four people bound by blood, marriage and lust.The plot is rather simple and plainly told, but it is made up for by the lush costumes and visuals. It is delightful to see so many extravagant period dresses in each scene, I felt I was watching a fashion show! Uma Thurman's dresses are the most remarkable, her peacock costume and the white curly hat stand out from the crowd. Her heart wrenching performance proves she has great acting skills to parallel her extraordinary beauty.Scenes in "The Golden Bowl" are thoughtfully constructed and thoughtfully decorated. The palace rooms are maximally decorated with flowers, paintings and sculptures; providing a visual feast of luxury and grandeur."The Golden Bowl" is well worth watching just for the grand sets and lavish costumes.

Henry James has been given the Merchant Ivory treatment before, and he and the film makers go well together. His lush prose matches the lushness of Merchant Ivory production values, and their casting is always interesting. Uma Thurman does not spring to mind as a likely Jamesian character, but she acquits herself well as the bold and beautiful Charlotte Verver. Nick Nolte is not bad as her mega-rich husband Adam, who she marries for his money despite being in love with the handsome but penniless Prince Amerigo (Jeremy Northham). Kate Beckinsale plays Adam's callow young daughter Maggie who marries Amerigo, unaware of his relationship with her friend Uma. Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala doesn't try to imitate the Jamesian style but keeps the dialogue reasonably simple, though Jeremy Northam's Italian accent reminded me of the Count from Sesame Street ('ave I a number for you!) Several English stately homes including the Elizabethan Burghley House put in special guest appearances, as does Angelica Huston as an unlikely English aristocrat.As a substantial and very wordy novel has been shoehorned into 120 minutes on screen, much has been omitted and the plot line simplified. There was a 6 part TV miniseries made in 1972 which was rather less lively than this production. Even the Golden Bowl itself (gilded crystal rather than gold) meets its end at the hands of a different character in the film. Yet despite the lush setting, it is James's plot which carries the picture – contrived, perhaps, but interesting nonetheless – helped along by fine performances from most of the principals. Kate and Uma are able to exploit the fact that James's female characters tend to be better realised than his men. I think I'd have to say that the film is easier to watch than the novel is to read.