A Nice Man

I really wanted to like this film however I was let down by the disjointed feel and the lack of a plot I could engage with. Each actor was very good individually but they did not connect with each other. I love the idea of a color blind cast however it needs to follow some sort of logical patten otherwise placing character relationships becomes taxing. I could not get through it which is rare as I will watch anything once. I do not understand the critics hype and positive reviews. The film is beautiful, the cast are great actors but this was a huge miss for me.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! A wonderful adaptation with perfectly cast female archetypes, the men paled by comparison which was a welcome contrast between 1940 and 2020 direction as well as a spotlight on how well Du Maurier channeled timeless female strengths 80 years ago! For me the garish yellow suits the alfa males cowardice, his fear of living alone, of betrayal and of losing face. This actor was very close to the Maxim in my mind, conjured from re-reading the book a 1000 times; handsome, commanding, hotheaded... difined by his priviledge not his character, a shell. We are not meant to fall in love with Maxim, he is an object of pity; a male in distress. It is the simpering, unnamed heroine who eventually devours her dragon, absorbs her dead rival and embodies all women to rescue her husband and marriage. The book strikes a chord with women and this film highlights and celebrates its girl power where Hitchcock placed artful, broody shadows, perhaps to keep the book within his social lens and time. Nothing can touch the original masterpiece however this film, in many ways is more honest towards Du Mauriers cunning flip of stereotypes. The locations, cinematography and costumes are superb.I feel the critics are comparing the film to Hitchcock's vision not Du Maurier's book and for that very reason have missed the magic of this telling.

Absolutely loved it, do not listen to the critics, stunning visual effects, great acting and believable characters. I am not an action movie lover this is one of the few I have enjoyed because it offered much more than bloody battle scenes. Critics got this completely wrong.