The White Countess (2005)
In 1930s Shanghai, 'The White Countess' is both Sofia—a fallen member of the Russian aristocracy—and a nightclub created by a blind American diplomat, who asks Sofia to be the centerpiece of the world he wants to create.
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Memorable, crazy movie
Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
The White Countess is about Russian princesses, Jewish refugees and a blind American escaping from Shanghai. This tedious wreck of a movie failed at every hurdle except the props and the photography. The Redgraves were lustreless and Ralph Fiennes was no better than a good amateur. Ho hum, two stars for effort. Cannot believe the script - spark free, dull, characterless, tedious, humourless - was by Kazuo Ishiguro. And why use Fiennes as an American when he cannot speak in a convincing American accent? Fiennes can be good when he is strongly directed. Grand Budapest Hotel revealed him in good form. But this was as bad as he can be and that means very poor indeed. Self indulgent, simpering, and shallow. An hour too long; a fractured unfocused narrative; this is the nadir of the Merchant Ivory we love, probably because there is no Merchant in it.
I had no idea this movie would be so good; I knew nothing and hoped for the best. What a stunning surprise! In all parts. The cast could not have been better: Vanessa R, too! Every actor is who they are. The story is only what it should/can be, with no effort, and no artifice of any kind. How many movies do we see like this? It's an unexpected treasure.
After watching "Maid of Manhattan" recently with Natasha Richardson(RIP) and Ralph Fiennes, I decided to give this film a go. I thought the film was so so good. However I don't understand why Fiennes had to put an American accent onto this because he can't do a Amercian accent!! I always thought as the blind English Diplomat not American at all! They either should've got someone better or written the character off if they weren't going to get the character development right among the actors! Anyways moving in, I loved how himself and Richardson's relationship developed throughout the whole film. The story- line was sad because it was set in near World War 2 and the fact people running for their lives to Japan (I think)in order to be safe from the soldiers. Omg one scene that even more frightened me as well was, when Fiennes character met with the soldiers face to face. I really thought they were gonna shot him right on the spot but thank god, he made it out alive and let him go without hesitant!I really liked this film, it really shows the history of China and it had a good cast to entertain us with their fine acting. I give this movie 8/10!
It's 1930s Shanghai. The Russian aristocrats have escaped from the revolution as penniless refugees into this open city. Countess Sofia Belinskaya (Natasha Richardson) works as a taxi dancer. Her family sees her as dirty but needs her for survival. Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes) is a blind American former diplomat. He lost his sight and family in a series of Chinese strife. He bets all of his money and wins big at the racetracks. He opens a welcoming bar named "The White Countess" and hires Sofia as the hostess. The varied clientele provides intrigue as the wars close in.Everything in this movie seems a little fake. It was probably a mistake to film this in Shanghai. The modern city is too different from its gritty past. It's not the best to recreate the exteriors although they do try. I'm not always a proponent of CGI but they're better off doing a little bit for the last act. The lack of it makes the final escape looks inferior. It's not well done. The interiors also feel flat. Other than an abundance of Chinese extras, there is a falseness to the feel. As for the actors, Ralph Fiennes is unconvincing as a blind man. I didn't even notice his blindness for the first couple of scenes. A pair of sunglasses would go a long way. This is a waste of good Redgrave women. Natasha Richardson is poignant and radiant. Her scenes with her family are heart-breaking. The pacing is slow as many Merchant-Ivory films but this one has no heat. The resistance to a full-blown romance and his blindness keep the pair at an emotional distance. It feels tired and worn. It wants to be romantic but the beating heart isn't there until the very end. It's a long two hour journey to get there.