by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
A Rated PG-13 130 min.
Aside from one TV spot and a brief conversation with my sister-in-law, I hadn’t heard anything about Stardust, a new fantasy film released this week. With virtually no promotion to speak of, I had to wonder how good this film could possibly be. Thankfully, Stardust is actually pretty terrific, from the story to the casting to the visual effects.
In the countryside town of Wall, which borders on a magical land, young Tristan (Charlie Cox) is in love with Victoria (Sienna Miller), the most beautiful girl in his village. She’s also selfish, snobby and completely materialistic, but love has blinded her suitor to these flaws. The only way Victoria will agree to marrying the kindhearted shop boy is if he retrieves a fallen star from the magical realm. Of course, he agrees, and sets off on his quest to track down the star. With a little bit of magic, Tristan ends up discovering what he seeks right away but is surprised by what he finds. Instead of a glittering chunk of rock, the star is a striking young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). With a great deal of persuasion, and some mild kidnapping, Yvaine agrees to help Tristan win his true love. As they head back to Wall, it’s clear that Tristan isn’t the only one looking to bring home a star.
Lord Stormhold’s (Peter O’Toole) three living sons all need the star to assume the throne since their father’s death, and each of them are willing to kill anyone who stands in their way. A much greater threat, however, is Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), an evil witch who seeks the star so she and her sisters can be young and beautiful again. With these forces in hot pursuit, and his deadline for retrieving the star for Victoria coming fast, Tristan and Yvaine must quickly battle their way to safety, meeting fearsome pirates and their slightly off captain (Robert De Niro), a shady trader (Ricky Gervais) and other strange beings along the way.
Stardust is an adaptation of author Neil Gaiman’s fairy tale novella of the same name. Published in 1998 as a story book with painted illustrations, Stardust appealed to both romance and fantasy readers of all ages. It went on to win three literary awards before writer/director Matthew Vaughn acquired the option to develop it into a film.
Having never read the novel nor seen a full trailer, I went into Stardust almost completely blind. Free of expectations, I was able to be completely enveloped in the story and walk away pleased with all that I saw. The acting was superb all around.
Danes and Cox certainly had the most screen time, and gave great performances, but the veteran actors really stole the show. Standouts were Pfeiffer, who was downright scary as Lamia the star-seeking witch, and, of course, De Niro, who has shown me a side of himself I will never, ever forget as the double-life leading Captain Shakespeare. Whenever either of these actors were on screen, it was like a spell had been cast. They completely dominate every frame.
The story is interesting and complex without ever becoming confusing. Sure, like most fairy tales, certain aspects of Stardust are predictable and cliché, but it’s hard to fault the film for that. Even if you know that, as in all fairy tales, good will triumph over evil, there are still plenty of surprises. The witch sisters, for example, aren’t the kind of coven you’ll find in children’s stories. Instead of gazing into cauldrons of bubbling goop, these witches slice open animals and examine their insides to point them in the direction of what they seek. Most of the carnage is implied, but sensitive moviegoers and small children may have a problem with it anyway.
Additionally, much of the humor is rather adult, not in the sense that it’s dirty, just that it’s more likely to go over kids’ heads. Anyone over the age of 12 or so should be able to sit through the film, enjoy the jokes and never get bored. It’s a lot like The Princess Bride, which is still a huge favorite among those of my generation. No doubt Stardust will be that film for the generation to come. It’s definitely got that same feel and humor and certain plot elements are very similar.
It’s a real shame that Stardust hasn’t been promoted more because this film truly deserves to be seen by the largest audience possible. Unlike the most recent fantasy films to hit theaters, Stardust is an adult fairy tale, a genre that’s seldom explored and even less appreciated by the masses, which is criminal. Why should we leave fantasy behind once we exit elementary school? Grown-ups deserve to escape into their imaginations as much as kids do.
So, this weekend get a babysitter, go to the theater, leave your adult problems, issues and stresses at the door and allow yourself to get lost in this amazing new fantasy world made just for you.
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
