|
Name of the RoseRating:
Release Date: 06 July, 2004 Retail Price: $12.98 OUR Price: $8.99 You SAVE: $3.99! Cast: |
Name of the Rose Reviews
One of my favorite films
In spite of a story that is, ultimately, formulaic; there is very much to like in this movie and it is that rare film I enjoy revisiting from time to time.
Why? Since I read the book first, it never has been about the who-done-it for me.
The highlights are Connery's performance and the wonderful atmospherics. I judge a historic book or film successful if it gives me a believable sense of how people in that time and place experienced their world. At that, this film succeeds very well.
In part, this is because we see everything through the eyes of a teenage boy (Christian Slater), who is recalling the events as a very old man. There is a wonderful scene early in the film, when Connery and Slater's characters first arrive at the abbey, where we get a feeling for both the wonder and terror Slater's character experiences as he sees the Abbey's majestic chapel as well as its parade of horribles for the first time.
This film is a masterful adaptation of the book. I can't imagine how it could have been done better. However, as with many movie adaptations of popular novels, there are small details you will miss if you haven't read the book.
For example, Brother William and virtually every other character has a history, which is known in whole or part by some or all of the other characters. For 14th century monastics, it's a small world.
The movie is still perfectly understandable without the viewer knowing that history, but the movie respects those viewers who have read the book by making the characters act in a way that is consistent with their backstory.
A dark gripping tale - a 12th century murder in an abbey
Through the narrative of Adso (Christian Slater) at an old age, he recalled the enigma about the death of a young monk, illustrator Adelmo, in an abbey which took place at his youth. His then teacher, the intelligent William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), lent his previous onerous experiences to lead the investigation. Through the dialogue with his teacher, Adso learnt how wisdom, combined with acute observation and a wealth of knowledge, could eventually unravel the intriguing mystery. Sean Connery was superb; he was worldly and convincing as the wise teacher just as Christian Slater was young and innocent. The teacher was as shrewd as Sherlock Holmes but he was as loving and understanding to his protégé as he possibly could. They made a fine couple.
The creepy darkness and secretive air evoked by the whole film is visually enhanced by the abbey on a snowy mountain, the awesome library towers, the road that winded its way down the mountain and many strange images. The cast of the strange monks was so well chosen that they still leave vivid images in my mind after more than 20 years since I first saw it. The abbot, the old Venerable Jorge, the blind prophet Ubertino, the black Greek translator Venantius, the fat self inflicting assistant librarian Berenger, the stony libarian Malachia, the hunchback Salvatore.
Apart from the murder mystery, Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham, Amadeus) of the Inquisition represented the power which brother William was up against. The whole film evokes the thrill of discovering a dark secret in such dangerous waters, an era and hierarchy that even brother William could barely survive with all his wits. It also accentuates the essence of the mentor tradition in that era, building up a continuum of knowledge through William, then through Adso and so on.
What the movie lacked - lush colors - it more than made up for with its mix of danger, mystery and colorful portrayal of hideous human nature. It paid off handsomely to use unfamiliar faces for the mysterious characters; a wide pool of talents to choose from rather than limited to the existing big box office guarantee. A suspenseful tale back to its basics, with no frills (no overpowering special effects, computer animation and stars), it excels at the captivating story plot, wonderful cast and acting. A truly successful adaption of the Umberto Eco's novel, in spirit at least.
More Customer Reviews (38 total)
© 2004, 2005, 2006 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting made possible by donations from countrywide mortgage, Payday Advance Action, and Florida mortgages
