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The Invisible Woman

The Invisible Woman (2013)

December. 25,2013
|
6.1
|
R
| Drama History Romance

In 1857, at the height of his fame and fortune, novelist and social critic Charles Dickens meets and falls in love with teenage stage actress Nelly Ternan. As she becomes the focus of his heart and mind, as well as his muse, painful secrecy is the price both must pay.

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Reviews

Platicsco
2013/12/25

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

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GazerRise
2013/12/26

Fantastic!

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Hayden Kane
2013/12/27

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

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Kien Navarro
2013/12/28

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

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TheLittleSongbird
2013/12/29

This reviewer loves a vast majority of Charles Dickens' work, loving his ability to create rich complex characters, an unparallelled attention to detail to the extent it feels like you're there in the story and while long and sometimes sprawling his stories are so multi-layered and compelling. So seeing a film based on his life and this particular aspect of Dickens' life was immediately appealing.While The Invisible Woman won't (and clearly judging from some of the reviews here, and their criticisms are understandable it isn't) be for all tastes, and while it has flaws and it feels like there is something missing it was to me a good film with many merits, which have been acknowledged by those who didn't like it. Getting the criticisms out of the way, I do agree about the film having some abrupt narrative shifts that gives it a jumpy feel, it's never incoherent, just that it was a little difficult sometimes to keep up with what were the early scenes and what were the later ones. And also that the film drags in places, not helped by some instances of excessively slow or jerky editing/shots or scenes that go on for too long. This is particularly true with the scene where Dickens and Nelly get intimate which was overlong and was really not needed, that is of course my opinion. The Invisible Woman is always intriguing, whether you are familiar of the story or not, and deals with the subject with plenty of intelligence and surprising subtlety but another criticism is that parts could have done with more detail and depth, and they are correct because there are some potentially interesting moments that are introduced but not explored enough. Conversely, The Invisible Woman has many merits, one of which was the acting. Dickens himself is marvellously played by the ever compelling Ralph Fiennes, never feeling like a one-dimensional caricature and he never plays him annoyingly or overwroughtly. Instead while Nelly is clearly the more complex character here this is one expertly portrayal where Dickens is hugely popular but his life is not properly fulfilled due to being married to a woman who does not understand his work. Fiennes also does a confident directing job, though he is absolutely much more comfortable as an actor, which brings out every nuance without being too self- indulgent. As aforementioned, Nelly is the more complex character and it is intricately and affectingly played by Felicity Jones, there is nothing robotic or unemotional at all about her very nuanced approach to 'The Invisible Woman' of the title, and the subtlety in Dickens' and Nelly's relationship was much appreciated. Kristin Scott Thomas is also moving in the most empathetic character in the film, Tom Hollander is very good and surprisingly versatile as Wilkie Collins and one does feel sympathy but also frustration towards Joanna Scanlan's Catherine. Another strong asset was the way The Invisible Woman looks. The period detail is exemplary and remarkably evocative of what living conditions, relationships in families and class differences were like in the Victorian era. It is beautifully shot and makes great use of locations (the scenery is gorgeous) and settings in all their glory. There is a little music here but it is used sparingly, that did work well, if there was constant music, that can be intrusive in films and TV series, the intimacy, nuance and subtlety of the storytelling may not have come through as effectively. So that is a criticism I respectfully disagree with. Abi Morgan's screenplay is underdeveloped in its ideas at times, but is on the whole very intelligently written and the idea to frame the story around the illicit consequences and the history of Nelly's later life with keeping the liason that changed her life a secret coming increasingly strained proved effective in a dramatic sense. The lives of women in the Victorian era (which was very restricted) and interdependence between Dickens and Nelly was similarly brought to life in a well-observed fashion. Narratively it is also not perfect, but it was compelling and anybody who doesn't know an awful lot about this area will be fascinated and want to know more about it. Overall, a good film that doesn't always succeed albeit with a lot of things that are done brilliantly. 7/10 Bethany Cox

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David Bogosian
2013/12/30

As an Anglophile, Dickens aficionado, and period movie lover, I had Great Expectations about this movie (wink!). Alas, I was barely able to force myself to sit through to the end.The movie does little to shed light on Dickens' inner motivations or character, and has even less to say about the authorial process or creative impulse. The romance at the heart of the story falls flat because the female lead (the eponymous Invisible Woman) is not just invisible but for the most part inexpressive: she doesn't talk, she doesn't emote, doesn't communicate. The plot contains a number of disjoint, unconnected episodes that add nothing to our understanding of the characters. The character interactions are awkward, forced, and unappealing.On the positive side, the score contains some magnificent cello music; the sets and costumes are lavish; the architecture and landscapes are beautifully presented. Scott-Thomas turns in a solid matronly role as the love interest's mother. But nothing can fill the vacuum left at the heart of this film by Felicity Jones' non- performance. In fact, this is much more of a French film in English clothing, given the minimalist plot, long silences, and generally depressing atmosphere.Avoid at all costs.

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R S
2013/12/31

Here we have yet another costume drama about the hugely talented artist who benefits from the social injustices of his day to sleep with the woman he wants. Haven't we seen that before? However, given Dickens's reputation as the tireless champion of the poor and downtrodden, it is pretty horrifying to watch him for two hours making the most of his social status to have his ways with a poor innocent, fatherless girl half his age. Surprisingly, there is not one ounce of passion in this movie to explain her infatuation with him. Nor is there much social commentary other than the quotes from Dickens himself, whose character the film casts such doubts on. However, there is an endless supply of period gowns and props and sun-drenched garden scenes to lighten the mood. I don't think this is a very good film, but if it is truthful, it is probably an important one in that it certainly puts the character of Charles Dickens in a new light.

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mnewbigging
2014/01/01

We went to see this full of expectation and hope, and came away bored to tears by the slow plot (or lack of) and uninspired or poor acting. Early in the film Ellen (Nellie) is shown as a very poor actress in a play. What I didn't realise was that this is as good as she gets! Full of lengthy close ups of a face that expressed nothing and never changed throughout the film whatever was going on in the thin plot. The audience we shared this experience with had been lively and talkative before it began but all looked numbed into silence when the lights went up at the end. The worst film we have seen for many years. Don't waste your time!!

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