British Actress Blog

Cinderella (2015)

Score: 5/10

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Stars: Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgard, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Nonso Anozie.

The Honorable Mention Series:

Synopsis: When Cinderella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming step sisters. Cinderella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting the Prince.

Review: Ella ( Lily James ) is a young girl who truly enjoys life. She loves her family and nature very much. Unfortunately her mother become terminally ill and passes away. She grows up and her father remarries. His new wife moves into the family home with her two daughters. Ella’s father goes on a journey and never returns leaving Ella with her step mother and two step sisters who treat her poorly. As a way to mock her, they give her the name of Cinderella because Ella would sleep next to a fireplace instead of a bed because the attic that was her room, was too cold to sleep in.

Helena Bonham Carter plays the silly and whimsical fairy godmother of Cinderella. Her character is so silly she could be Tom Bombadil’s next door neighbour. Her performance is just OK. Some how I really don’t see Lily James as Cinderella. She doesn’t look like the character, but of course the character is just a drawn two dimensional cartoon. Richard Madden is playing another royal who is looking for a wife just like his character Rob Stark in the HBO TV show Game of Thrones. Since this is a Disney movie, there is no Red Wedding. Speaking of marring, Nonso Anozie who played the character know as Xaro Xhoan Daxos in Game of Thrones. His character in that show is trying to marry khaleesi played by Emillia Clarke. His character in this film ‘The Captain’ is helping the Prince find his future wife. Funny how marriage is a big part of both their roles in the TV show and this movie. Both actors do an acceptable job in this film. Derek Jacobi is a legend in British films. We know him better as Corvinus in the film Underworld: Evolution (2006). He does well in this movie. I see that Disney has cast veterans in the fantasy genre as a way to make this film work. But nothing beats Helena Bonham Carter’s role in Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix (2007).

The film focuses on the concept of love. Yes this is a very typical happily ever after story so true love must conquer all unlike in real life. Be kind, have courage and all will be well. Sounds good but I doubt that will save the world. For a children’s Disney fantasy world why not? Just as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit films, BBC Merlin, and Game of Thrones, its all possible. Good on Richard Madden for not having a Red Wedding this time around.

The cinematography is perfect. The lighting is amazing. The set dressing, backgrounds, and wardrobe are all well done. The production of this film is extremely high quality. The CGI a way better than Beauty and The Beast (2017). The film looks great but this is a kids movie. Yes this is the typical Cinderella story but with Disney pumping a lot of money into the production and hiring a top level director. Its a film for children so that’s the level of complexity the movie has. As for the movie its self, its passable.

More Films from Helena Bonham Carter

The King’s Speech (2010)

Suffragette (2015)

Fight Club (1999)

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

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