2014 Academy Award® Nominee for Best Costume Design THE INVISIBLE WOMAN Directed by Ralph Fiennes Starring Both Fiennes and Felicity Jones Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack & Digital April 15, 2014 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Highly Recommended by Whom You Know Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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Better than telling you a secret, something he's never told anyone, Ralph Fiennes as Charles Dickens will be showing you a secret: The Invisible Woman. There are few actors who top the list of Peachy's favorites, and Ralph Fiennes is one of them. (Pronounce his name Rafe Fines.) When the Irish students were studying for finals, the international students could opt out by writing term papers instead, so guess who did that and spent time watching movies....our Ralph Fiennes interest began in Cork, which is interesting since we understand he used to live in West Cork. We've seen nearly everything he's acted in, and this is our first opportunity to review one of his works which is even more superlative because not only is Ralph the leading role-Charles Dickens-but also he is the director. We are thrilled-thank you Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Writing this review is better than a term paper in Cork!
The Invisible Woman is so phenomenally done, we watched it in its entirety and then watched it a second time listening to Ralph and Felicity Jones, who plays Nelly the main lead, commenting on the entire film which brought the work into more color for the viewer. Taking on a literary master such as Dickens (we loved Bleak House by the BBC) is quite the task, and it's clear that all involved in The Invisible Woman were interested in working to the best of their ability, because we wouldn't change a thing. The sheen captured from yesteryear will charm you straightaway.
The cinematography is immediately striking as Nelly appears as a little black moving speck walking with both urgency and purpose on the beach in Margate, England in 1883. The opening shot captures such beauty that you'll be adding this location to your "must-visit when next in the UK" list. Dickens is seven years gone at the opening, and the contrast throughout the movie of time changes adds to the drama of crosscurrents, tensions, and reality. Daily rituals of people at the time were even included and this adds a greater understanding of their world. It goes without saying that Fiennes and Jones are at the top of their acting game in this film and there is nothing to criticize about either's performance. Both shine bright and have good chemistry.
The Invisible Woman literally is of course Nelly, an actress whom Charles Dickens meets later in his life and has a secret relationship with. Being Charles Dickens is not as easy as you might think as he balances those that are interested in tripping him up with those that think he can me more than he can possibly be. Somewhere in between, he needs to be a real person. It's clear by performing he is kept alive and that's his vocation.
The Invisible Woman is more than just a person or a character though. It is an idea: the examination of how one or if one can have closure from a past close relationship that ends in death, whether it's a love affair, a family relationship, a friendship or otherwise. Ultimately you are alone despite a desire to know the other. How this is all addressed in The Invisible Woman will hypnotize you.
We love how right down to the podium/table where Dickens read from was done just as it was, and there is a real authenticity achieved in The Invisible Woman throughout. It's clear why it was nominated for Best Costume Design, and it should have won. The richness of colors from the Victorian era evoke just the right feeling. The music is just right throughout (no cheesinesss), and it's not surprising to learn that some of the music was exactly composed for this film. It's a touch of class for your ears.
Scenes of greatest beauty other than the opening scene include the morning after the night they stay up counting the charity earnings-Nelly looking out the window is particularly striking with the soft yellow morning light. The shade of light and the tone of the light here and at other key points is laudable and done just right. If you've never lived in Ireland or the UK, you should be aware that the sun is far less sunshiney there and we are impressed with their patience in getting the sunlight just right. (To us, a beautiful day means a blue clear sky. To them, a beautiful day could be a white sky.) It's cool to note that the room where they do count the charity earnings is in the same house as the room where King Bertie (Colin Firth) was coached in the King's Speech by Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The close-up camera shots are so powerful.
Jovial times singing by the piano and dancing post-stage performance, Nelly winning at the horse races (striking opening visual again with the red flags), the little boy lion who will capture your heart and the singing sisters unpacking number among our most favorite upbeat scenes. This movie is not all doom and gloom. When watching this, you'll wonder if those were happier times of greater simplicity. (and then you'll get on Twitter and remember how much you love 2014! We would love to see Dickens alive today and tweeting.)
Bravo to Kristin Scott Thomas, who is brilliant as Nelly's mother. We loved her and Ralph in The English Patient and were glad to see them reunited in a movie. And for only having read Little Dorrit before taking on this film, Ralph does an incredible job of getting into Dickens and you'd think he was reading mostly Dickens all his life.
Complex. Haunting. Captivating. Brilliant. Enchanting. These are just some of the words we'd chose to describe this movie, and you have not seen a film done like this before.
It's not a happy movie. But it's a real movie. And sometimes, that is better.
The Invisible Woman is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know. And want to know a secret? It's Lawless, and to know what we mean, watch this movie. Do watch all Special Features as well.
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.”
-Charles Dickens
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Sony Pictures Classics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment are pleased to announce the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack release of THE INVISIBLE WOMAN on April 15. Directed by two-time Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes (1997, Best Actor in a Leading Role,
The English Patient; 1994, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Schindler’s List),
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN is based on the true story of a young actress’ exciting but fragile relationship with the famous Charles Dickens. Fiennes stars as the legendary author with Felicity Jones (upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Like Crazy) as his mistress, Nelly Ternan, and Academy Award® nominee Kristen Scott Thomas (1997, Best Actress in a Leading Role, The English Patient) as Nelly’s concerned but tolerant mother. Special features on the Combo Pack will include a Commentary and a Q & A with Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones, as well as a Red Carpet featurette from the Toronto International Film Festival.
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN’s Academy Award®-winning Costume Designer, Michael O’Connor (2009, Best Costume Design, The Duchess), has received both Oscar and BAFTA nominations for Costume Design for his authentic Victorian costumes. The film was an official selection at the Telluride, New York and Toronto International Film Festivals.
*Combo Pack Includes Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD UltraViolet
Synopsis
Nelly (Felicity Jones) is haunted by her past. Her memories take us back in time to follow the story of her relationship with Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) with whom she discovered an exciting but fragile complicity. Dickens – famous, controlling and emotionally isolated within his success – falls for Nelly. As Nelly becomes the focus of Dickens’ passion and his muse, for both of them secrecy is the price,
and for Nelly a life of “invisibility.”
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE
Commentary with Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones
On the Red Carpet at the Toronto Film Festival
SAG Q & A with Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones
The Invisible Woman was directed by Ralph Fiennes and written by Abi Morgan, based on the book by Claire Tomalin. The film was produced by Gabrielle Tana and stars Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The Invisible Woman has a running time of 111 minutes and is rated R for some sexual content.
"Academy Award®" and "Oscar®" are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
