News for
Washington Square (1997) More at IMDbPro »

ad feedback

1 item from 1997

10 October 1997 | Studio Briefing - Film News | See recent Studio Briefing - Film News news »

Henry James' Washington Square (1997), which came to the screen (by way of a stage adaptation) in 1949 with William Wyler's Heiress, The (1949), has received a new look from director Agnieszka Holland (Secret Garden, The (1993)) that has provoked mixed reactions from critics. "Hampered by widely divergent performances and a troubling tendency toward the obvious, " says Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan "the result is not a success." On the other hand, Toronto Star movie critic Judy Gerstel, while observing that the film is not likely to satisfy diehard fans of the earlier film, concludes, "Anyone who relishes a zesty, contemporary take on James' savory tale ... may find this one of the best movies of the year." In between is the Washington Post's Steven Hunter who praises Holland for rescuing "the story from the emotional streamlining it underwent in 1949" but faults her for taking "some of the raw fun out of it." Most critics heap high praise on the performance of Jennifer Jason Leigh in the role that brought an Oscar to Olivia DeHavilland nearly 50 years ago. Writes Jay Carr in today's Boston Globe: "Washington Square is Leigh's show and she will hold you enthralled." »

Permalink | Report a problem

1 item from 1997