Movie Review – Tristan and Isolde

Tristan and Isolde

Distributor: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX [US]
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Writer: Dean Georgaris
Producers: Moshe Diamant, Lisa Ellzey, Giannina Facio, and Elie Samaha

Starring: James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O’Hara, Henry Cavill

Rating: MPAA – PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexuality.

Running time: 125 minutes

Reviewed by Julie Gray
Review originally published March 17, 2006

Why you might like this:
· James Franco – as Tristan, this is a role with a little more grit and scope than the role he played in Spiderman. He doesn’t look too bad with a sword, either.
· If you enjoyed King Arthur, you will more than likely enjoy this.
· A different take on the old ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story with an interesting twist and Rufus Sewell brings a bit of depth to the story as Lord Marke

Why you might not like this:
· Historians may want to avoid this movie for the sames reasons they would probably avoid a movie like King Arthur. Facts and myth quite often get intertwined.
· Too many pretty people with not enough gore
· The American accents somehow managed to creep into the script even though this movie is supposed to be set in Britannia during the Dark Ages.
– Although semi-believable as Tristan, James Franco is just a little too pretty and a little too teary-eyed and broody as Tristan.

Synopsis:
The movie begins with Tristan (James Franco) as a young lad living in war ravaged Britain shortly after the Romans have withdrawn. England is under Irish rule and Ireland’s King (King Donnchadh played by David O’Hara) is depicted as a ruthless and blood-thirsty man who will stop at nothing to keep the English insurgents at bay. Lord Aragon (Tristan’s father) organises a secret meeting with the other English noblemen to discuss the idea of opposing the Irish ruler. As the meeting takes place, the Irish arrive at the castle, attacking the guards and burning down the castle and village. Many are killed, including Tristan’s parents. Tristan is heroically saved by Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell) who loses one of his hands trying to save him. Lord Marke takes the remaining survivors back to his castle in Cornwall along with Tristan whom he adopts as his son. We are then briefly introduced to a very young Isolde, who is attending the funeral of her mother, the Queen of Ireland.

Nine years pass and Tristan has become a skilled swordsman. The English nobles are still scattered and divided through-out England without a ruler. Lord Marke tries again to bring the noblemen together as a united front against the Irish ruler. This time he entrusts the responsibility to Tristan to lead the men against the Irish, much to the disdain of Lord Marke’s nephew, Melot.

After a brief yet successful clash with the Irish where Tristan kills the man betrothed to Isolde, Tristan is struck with a sword laced with poison. He quickly succumbs to the poison and is believed to be dead. Tristan is given a King’s burial and his body is sent out to sea in a boat set on fire. Days later, he is found on the seashore by Isolde and her maid. Isolde hides him from her father and nurses Tristan back to health. As the days pass, their attraction for each other turns into something much more. Isolde, destined to marry a man she did not love and thinking her betrothed to be dead, gives into her feelings for Tristan. Isolde’s nurse warns her against giving Tristan any details about who she is and when Tristan finally asks for her name, she lies and gives him the name of her nurse instead; Bragnae.

King Donnachadh, angered by the defeat of his men and by the death of his daughter’s betrothed, comes up with a cunning plan to try and separate the thin allegiance between the nobles by holding a Warriors Tournament. Word of this tournament spreads throughout Britannia. Tristan approaches Lord Marke and promises to fight for him so that he can win the competition and in turn, strengthen their volatile bond with the Irish. The tournament’s prize being the hand of the Irish King’s daughter.

At this stage in the movie, we can see the inevitability of the doomed lovers slowly coming to fruition. Without giving too much away, the rest of the movie will be appealing if you enjoy watching people’s lives unravel; deceit proving to be the killer of true love after all. Other movies such as ‘Excalibur’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ come to mind as obvious influences. Perhaps too much of an influence in parts. Rufus Sewell does well as Lord Marke, carrying off the role like many others he has played in the past, with understated skill and precision. James Franco as Tristan also appeals, especially when we get to see what all the fuss is about under that shirt! A huge step up from the role he played in Spiderman. But for entertainment value, the role of Wicktred (played by Mark Strong) is well worth watching as his masterful ability to deceive takes on a life of its own.

Overall, the movie slowly winds down, the story of Tristan and Isolde’s doomed love comes to an end and we are left wondering just how James Franco managed to stay teary eyed for so many hours of filming. It’s amazing what a little drop of clear-eyes can do.

You may view the original published review here.