Genre: Drama/Romance/Biography
Director: François Ozon
Cast: Romola Garai, Sam Neill, Charlotte Rampling, Lucy Russell, Michael Fassbender
RunTime: 1 hr 54 mins
Released By: Festive Films & GV
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scenes)
Official Website: www.angel-lefilm.com/

Opening Day: 15 May 2008

Synopsis:

Based on the novel by Elizabeth Taylor, set in England, 1905. Angel Deverell is a gifted young writer who dreams of success, fame and love. But what will happen if all her dreams come true? Acclaimed director François Ozon's first English language feature has been selected as closing film at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, and will screen in the festival's official competition. The story of a destitute-but-determined young woman living in turn-of-the-century England who ascends the social ranks after authoring a series of successful romantic novels. A dreary city tenement provides backdrop to this tale of exclusion and the magic it takes to become accepted. This is the story of a young woman with incredible imagination who refuses to accept the world around her, and creates her own realities.

Movie Review:

Before I begin this review, allow me to make a confession: I am not very well-versed in English literature. So, when I first learnt that there is an upcoming film titled “Angel”, plus the fact that it is based on a novel written by Elizabeth Taylor, I was dumbfounded. I wondered when Elizabeth Taylor (the American actress best known for her role as Cleopatra and her friendship with Michael Jackson) wrote a novel and whether or not Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes a guest appearance in the film. Both questions turned out to be irrelevant. This other Elizabeth Taylor was actually a popular English novelist and short story writer who had her works published from the late 1940s till the late 1970s.

Based on Taylor’s novel “The Real Life of Angel Deverell”, “Angel” is a film that chronicles the rise and fall of Angel Deverell (Romola Garai), a young writer in the early 20th century. Having brought up solely by her mother in a small house above their family grocery shop, she yearns for a life of luxury, epitomized by her dream of staying in a mansion. She later gets her chance of hitting it big when a publishing company owned by Theo (Sam Neill) decides to release her saucy romance novel unedited. As it turns out, she obtains wealth, fame and later love, in the form of a dashing painter named Esme (Michael Fassbender). However, Angel eventually learns that having all of her dreams achieved does not necessarily equate to happiness.

As far as biographical films are concerned, it is essential that the viewer can connect with the subject. In “Angel”s case, this is hardly achievable. While there is no doubt that Angel has a tragic life and deserves sympathy, I can’t seem to connect with her in any way. This is in large part due to her obnoxious behaviour which can irritate even the nicest person on earth. She is too egoistic with a hint of foolishness to boot as evident in one scene when she still clings to Esme even after he has forced herself onto him.

Another downside to the film is its apparent lack of budget for outdoor scenes such as those depicting Angel and Esme’s honeymoon trips to Italy and Egypt as well as an early scene of Angel and Theo riding a carriage where the blue screen effect stands out like a sore thumb. I guess British productions still have a long way to go to match their Hollywood counterparts in terms of funds, which is further supported by the fact that Sam Neill is the only recognizable actor in the entire cast.

The film’s only saving grace is the wonderful performance by the cast, especially Romola Garai who carries the weight of the film squarely on her shoulders. Previously appearing in the award-winning “Atonement”, Garai manages to depict the transformation of Angel from an ambitious young girl to a devastated woman. It is a pity that Angel is not properly written to be likable enough. Otherwise, the film would have been a notch higher on the entertainment scale.

Movie Rating:

(A tragic rags-to-riches story that may not connect well with its audience due to its unlikable
protagonist)

Review by Tan Heng Hau