This is not a true story, it’s a love story.
The tag line for A New York Winter’s Tale, the screen adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Mark Helprin. Set in New York and spanning more than a century in the life of one man, Peter Lake, (Colin Farrell). It explores the presence of good and evil as well as miracles within each of us. Although the film has very admirable intentions and moments of enjoyment; its a film that has lost something in its move to the big screen.
The film is, indeed, based on the best selling novel Winter’s Tale. Directed by the Academy Award winning screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind Akiva Goldsman. The film was described as a passion project for the first time director who admired the novel so much.
The story here is nothing original or new. It’s the eternal idea that love can conquer time and death. It suggests that each individual has a miricle with in them that is destined for another human being. Along side this concept is the presence of dark and light and how forces struggle to proctect or claim these miricles. One major problem with the story is that the film feels split in two. You have the world of Peter and Beverly and the world of dark and light. They never fully connect so it never feels as if darkness is a threat to the pairs love. This divide in the film makes the whole story messy.
The film has religious undertone to it. It deals with miracles; the presence of demons and angels as well as the idea of good verses bad. Although theses themes are present, and sometimes integrated into the story, they feel underdeveloped. Something has been lost in translation from the novel which halts the film. The film has moments of tenderness and you admired what the film maker is trying to do but overall the film does not work.
Colin Farrel is always enjoyable to watch. He has real charm and this is briefly seen in the film. Unfortunately the films messy underdeveloped story leaves little for Farrell to work with. The one thing that really distracts from Farrell's performance is his bizarre hair in the film. The purpose was maybe to give his character an old school looks but he looks ridiculous and this is never overcome throughout viewing.
Jessica Brown Findlay makes a good transition to the big screen with her portrayal of Beverly; able to play a character that is both dying yet full of life. She is the right amount of sweet and although the film let’s her down she is still charming to watch.
Russel Crowe here is a strange screen presence. Sporting an Irish accent that would be more at home in a leprechaun spoof. Hes very over done and never really convinces or intimidates as the films lead villain. He’s also never really explained as a character so his motivations feel forced. Will Smith also has a small role in the film with the most random cameo ever. Smith is by no means bad as his character but watch mouths open across the cinema when its revealed who he is playing.
Although the story had great potential it never really comes together in this messy and over done adaptation. A few moments of sweetness and admirable ideas don’t make up for an over all disappointing film.