MovieChat Forums > The Danish Girl (2016) Discussion > Overwrought, overdone, overly dramatic p...

Overwrought, overdone, overly dramatic performances...

posted 8 years ago by Landofree
6 replies | jump to latest

This was basically a PBS/BBC/Lifetime Network TV movie, but due to it's content and budget it became an independent feature film.

The cinematography was not good, out of touch with the story and moments, and basically seemed a little self-indjulgent. Many of the shots seemed like they were chosen because of how cool they looked, and not because it was a reflection of the moment, nor furthered the story. The wide angle lens was the worst choice out of all the lenses...were they saying it was warped?

This movie would have made a better stage play, in story, but mainly due to the overdramatic nature of the performances that suits the theater and not the cinema.

There was no real sense of drama, and the stakes were very low. Society doesn't accept you...we get it. Most doctors think you're nuts...we get it. You aren't happy with yourself...we get it. Any conflict that was in this story was easily stepped over, and we never, not for one second, thought this guy wasn't going to go through with it. By the way, Eddie Redmayne played this character as more of an effeminate homosexual, than a trapped woman. Alicia VIkander had more balls, sexuality and femininity than Redmayne. There were a lot of woman in this movie, and Redmayne wasn't like any of them.

The more I think about this movie, the worse it seems to get. Too on the nose with every moment, too much Lifetime Network styling, too much theater sensibility. And too much piano. The Kings Speech was better, but still like a stage play.

It's no coincidence that Tom Hopper has a background in both Theater and Television...that's were he should stay. These films aren't cinema, they are filmed TV Plays, and they are better suited for those mediums.

Come to think of it, this movie seems like a parody. The ending was just plan silly (insert introspective piano melody).

[–] Stirchley 8 years ago

I found it terribly boring & bailed out fairly quickly. Disappointing.

[–] cagneychick182 8 years ago

I was actually very quickly sucked into this movie and find it beautiful and well made but the main character is unlikable and unbelievable and I find myself rooting for his wife to leave him rather than I think the film's intention was.

[–] msvillager 8 years ago

Yes. You basically took the words right out of my mouth. The whole movie reeks of self-importance and is so incredibly contrived and shallow. To add to your point about the cinemetagrophy being out of place, out of touch with the story and done simply for cheesy effect. The scene at the hospital/institute where the change operation took place, the characters walk in and the nurses are placed and seated and the shot is framed in a way that is more suited for something by Tim Burton than for something that purports to be a serious biopic on an important subject matter.

[–] ChocolateButt 8 years ago

The scene at the hospital/institute where the change operation took place, the characters walk in and the nurses are placed and seated and the shot is framed in a way that is more suited for something by Tim Burton than for something that purports to be a serious biopic on an important subject matter.

 Well, excuse Tom Hooper for attempting to frame a shot in an interesting, unexpected way. 'Serious biopic about important subject matter' doesn't mean you have to just point a camera at the actors and press record.

"What race are you? If you don't tell me I'll just...assume the worst."

[–] bbb984 8 years ago

I totally agree. I joked "this movie needs more crying!"

[–] IMDb_Neverforget (14) 8 years ago

I thought the acting was fantastic, but it was an otherwise very dull movie that focused more on the bland stuff than the interesting stuff. It became very repetitive during the 2nd act when there are about 3 or 4 scenes in a row where the wife comes home, sees Redmayne in a dress, and starts crying about their relationship. It continues with annoying repetition when Redmayne goes to several doctors and is told he's a loon over and over and over and over again. It was also really inaccurate to the real life story, so much so at times that it make me wonder why they even kept the original character names.