Bright Star *** (2009, Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish, Paul Schneider, Kerry Fox, Edie Martin, Thomas Brodie-Sangster) – Classic Movie Review 2940

This worthy but dull 2009 fictional romantic biopic is based on the last three years of the life of poet John Keats and his romantic relationship with Fanny Brawne. The acting, though, is inspiring. Ben Whishaw proves a bright star as Keats and Abbie Cornish also impresses as Fanny.

Director Jane Campion (The Piano, Sweetie) writes the earnest screenplay, inspired by the biography of Keats by Andrew Motion, script consultant on the film.

The film competed in the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or, and was premiered to the public on 15 May 2009. Alas, ironically, the film’s main virtue is a double edged sword in that it makes you want to read Keats’s poetry instead of experiencing them second hand by watching the film.

Admittedly, though, bringing poetry to the screen and to a largely indifferent public is one heck of a task. Campion does it conscientiously and sincerely, but Bright Star is not an inspired work of heritage cinema.

Also in the cast are Paul Schneider, Kerry Fox, Edie Martin, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Claudie Blakley, Gerard Monaco, Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Samuel Roukin.

It was nominated for ten Australian Film Institute awards, and won for Best Cinematography (Greig Fraser), Best Production Design (Janet Patterson) and Best Costume Design (Janet Patterson). And Janet Patterson was Oscar and Bafta nominated for Best Costume Design.

The film’s composer Mark Bradshaw met Ben Whishaw on the set of Bright Star and they were married in the UK in 2012.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2940

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