Moon Film Reviews: Cinderella, Far from the Madding Crowd and The Age of Adaline

Your Cultural Correspondent (Film and Theatre) thinks that if you're searching for a triple whammy of heightened emotion you could do far worse than sit through 'Cinderella', 'Far from the madding crowd', and 'The Age of Adaline' in one day.

Before we blub and sniffle our way through them, as several members of the audience did, let's have a bit of context.  It was Your Cultural Correspondent's first ever visit to the cinema at Wandsworth and indeed their first proper visit to that most thrifty of boroughs. During a break between films, they took themselves to the old burial ground for lunch. Who should be there, but a street preacher and his motley band, including someone with a guitar. Said preacher was doing his stuff under a homemade banner. It was emblazoned with the question, 'Where are they now?'. It featured pictures of Diana, Princess of Wales, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Adolf Hitler and Jimmy Savile.  Each had a question mark against their faces.  Welcome to Wandsworth, people.

Let's move on to the flicks.

'Cinderella' - what a wonderful film!  Save for occasional parts of the script, and the male lead, it is practically perfect.  Moving, lavish, ravishing sets, lavish, ravishing costumes, marvellous soundtrack, and the players acting it for all they're worth. Particular plaudits to Cate Blanchett, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, and Helena Bonham-Carter.  Fabulous!

'Far from the maddening crowd' - what a wonderful film! Gripping throughout, although a little disconcerting to see Tony Blair resurrected in the face in Mr Michael Sheen. Talk about type-cast. Anyway, the film: moving, wonderful scenery, wonderful script, wonderful acting.  Fabulous!

'The Age of Adaline' - what a wonderful film!  Your Cultural Correspondent (Film and Theatre) has often said that the only thing that makes life bearable is that you know it's not forever. Pity poor Adaline Bowman, then, fated never to age after a freak accident in the 1930s. Moving, fantastic acting, particularly by Blake Lively, and very thought-provoking.  Fabulous!