Tristan + Isolde (2006)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writer (WGA):

Dean Georgaris (written by)

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Before Romeo & Juliet, there was...

Plot:

An affair between the second in line to Britain's throne (Franco) and the princess of the feuding Irish (Myles) spells doom for the young lovers.

Plot Keywords:

King | Boat | Princess | Throne | Ireland

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 16

6:30 AM

USA

Cast

James Franco	...	Tristan
Sophia Myles	...	Isolde
Rufus Sewell	...	Marke
David O'Hara	...	Donnchadh (as David Patrick O'Hara)
Mark Strong	...	Wictred
Henry Cavill	...	Melot
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Bragnae
Ronan Vibert	...	Bodkin
Lucy Russell	...	Edyth
JB Blanc	...	Leon
Graham Mullins	...	Morholt
Leo Gregory	...	Simon
Dexter Fletcher	...	Orick
Richard Dillane	...	Aragon
Hans Martin Stier	...	Kurseval (as Hans Martin-Stier)

Also Known As:

Tristan & Isolde (USA) (promotional title)
Tristan a Isolda (Czech Republic)
Tristan and Isolde (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:125 min

Country:

Germany | Czech Republic | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | Brazil:14 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Iceland:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U

Filming Locations:

Glissaun Beach, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

Company:

ApolloProMedia GmbH & Co. 1. Filmproduktion KG (I)

Trivia:

Originally Ridley Scott was going to direct the film in the late-'70s, right after his debut film The Duellists (1977). He put the film aside to direct Alien (1979).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Marke's castle is stone built in the "motte and bailey" style with a keep and a drawbridge. These didn't exist in Britain until after the Norman invasion - about five hundred years after this film is supposed to be set. Britons, either Celts or Anglo-Saxons built large earthwork defenses or walled their towns with wooden palisades.

Quotes:

Melot: [on Tristan] Behold your hero, Uncle.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-01-21)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Plainsong

Subtley impressive

I did not expect to like this film; the reviews were lackluster, and many seemed to think the leads were mediocre at best. I found the performances riveting and highly engaging. While I do not know the actual historical story, I found the storyline highly captivating.

I thought James Franco played Tristan brilliantly - broken hearted but not brooding, he seemed to only come to life during battle before meeting Isolde, and then afterward only in their stolen moments together. Many of the reviews I've read seem to think that he played the role flatly, but I thought the subtlety of expression in his eyes and body language was impressive. Confident as a warrior, but almost innocent in intimacy, I thought he walked the thin line between adult and youth effectively.

Sophia Myles captured the fire, vulnerability and desire of Isolde with fervor - and that's not easy to do. Myles delivered her lines subtly, tinting words with emotional depth -scorn, joy, passion, frustration, disappointment - that was understated and yet passionate. She, too, managed to portray a delicate balance between the innocence of idealistic youth and the realities of a woman who found her self in an unenviable position.

Rufus Sewell was fantastic. As king, he had to walk the thin line between diplomacy and his own frustrations; as a man, he came alive when with Isolde, and so her betrayal was all that more heartbreaking, a scene which he played with focus and power.

I thought the fight scenes were very well done, except for the excess of cut shots, jumping from person to person, which moved the action almost too quickly, occasionally resulting in a jagged flow of action. Overall, however, the battle scenes were very well done.

The costumes were incredible - not period realistic (especially Isolde's wedding gown) but they were beautiful and overall well designed to intimate the period but still have some glitz. The locations shots were awe-inspiring.

I LOVED these characters very shortly after they each came on screen. I rarely feel such a strong connection to characters, especially of period pieces, but each of the leads played their roles with finesse. I deeply cared about these people, seeing hope and joy rise in their eyes, only to see events quickly turn that joy to sorrow, and hope to forceful determination. Their moments of happiness are so brief, their heartbreak so complete that I found myself profoundly moved by their experiences. As deeply invested as I became with these characters, I nearly sobbed at the end of the movie. A 5-hankie tear jerker.

I eagerly await the release of the DVD, and expect to enjoy this film many times over.