Love In the Time of Cholera review
Gabriel Garcia Marquez's classic novel is adapted to the big screen
Javier Bardem headlines a stellar cast in Mike Newell's adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's acclalmed romance novel.
Love in the Time of Cholera is an epic tale of unattainable passion
Love in the Time of Cholera is based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s acclaimed love story that tells the tale of the forbidden love between the smitten Florentino (Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men) and the unattainable Fermina (Giovani Mezzorgiono, Facing Window), whose strict authoritarian father (John Leguizamo, Summer of Sam) forbids her to marry him. Instead, he arranges his daughter to marry Dr. Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt, Blood In Blood Out), as a heart broken Florentino bids his time in the arms of countless women. After 50 years has passed and Urbino has died from old age, an elderly Florentino declares his love for Fermina.
Director Mike Newell fails to bring Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel to life
British director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) tries to bring Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s sweeping romance novel to the big screen, yet accomplishes in creating a sickly sweet, highly erotic, and at times humorous melodrama, which does not meet its high expectations.
A lot of this comes down to its script, which was written by Oscar winning screenwriter Roger Harwood (The Pianist). The films dialogue in particular is rather corny, as Marquez’s sweet nothings just do not translate well on the big screen. Perhaps keeping the films dialogue to its original Spanish would have made a difference.
Love in the Time of Cholera contains striking imagery
The look of Love in the Time of Cholera is striking. At the behest of the Vice President of Columbia, the film was shot in the South American country that is captured magnificently by cinematographer Affonso Beato (The Queen).
The art direction, set designs, and costume designs are spectacular, as is the superb make up effects that successfully age the films actors. Yet for all of its lush production design and its abundant talk of love, this is a film that comes off feeling surprisingly empty.
Javier Bardem headlines a stellar cast
The films shaky script no doubt had an effect upon its performers. This is a shame, as the cast is rather good. Benjamin Bratt puts on the charm as Fermina’s suitor turned husband; John Leguizamo spits venom as her over protective father; and Javier Bardem expresses a well of emotions as the lovelorn poet consumed and devoured by love for his Ferminda, who is played well by the steel blue eyed Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno. But try as they might, they cannot add spirit to a spirit-less, yet beautiful looking film.
