Far from the Madding Crowd

Three men like the three different seasons in a woman's life!

This is a wonderful drama, I have been waiting for such film to come and since its release, I have been looking forward to this day. The romance is the theme of the film, so not the entire film as what it looks like. Based on the one and half century old novel of the same name and the fourth film adaptation. I have seen only 'Tamara Drewe', but that was altered to the present era, other than that I've not seen any other version. Still, I believe this will be remembered as the best one so far.

I would say Carey Mulligan is the British version of Jake Gyllenhaal. Because they both make fine films, I admire their selection of the films. Mulligan was so brilliant here and in addition to that, Matthias Schoenaerts was equally good. They both made this film look so poetic, and so supporting cast including Michael Sheen and Tom Sturridge contributed well.

If you like periodic drama, then you probably would enjoy it. The story was excellently told. The three layered romance was narrated like three that happens in the different seasons. Like landscape change, how humans too transform was quite neatly briefed for over two hours. One of the best films in the recent time I've seen. The director of 'The Hunt' did a great job. If you like Jane Austen's kind of story narrations then you must try this, so I highly recommend it!

8/10

This is a very classy adaptation of the Thomas Hardy story and Carey Mulligan plays the role of "Bathsheba Everdene" will some skill. It is one of those stories, however, where I never quite understood why the heroine just didn't stick to her plan A and marry the right boy first. In this case, the hunky and decent farmer "Gabriel" (Matthias Schoenaerts). Instead, she has to mess around with the dashing but fickle "Capt. Troy" (Tom Sturridge) whose heart lies elsewhere until tragedy strikes, and then with the wealthy but rather too genteel "Boldwood" (Michael Sheen) upon whom tragedy also pays a visit. The attention to detail is wonderful; the outdoor settings look so very natural with some lovely photography that immerses us in their bucolic life complemented by some fine costumes and period imagery. There is chemistry a-plenty on screen between her and both Schoenaerts and Sturridge; Sheen is adequate but somewhat underused and as the story gathers pace I did find myself wondering if she was ever actually going to see sense. It is perhaps a touch too long, the character establishment is a bit on the plodding side, but it is a strong story of characterful personalities with flaws, lusts, and plenty of passion. Not as rugged, perhaps, as the 1967 version - but still a good watch.