SPOILERS:
I really struggled with this movie. As talented as Heath Ledger is and as entertaining (at times) this movie was, ultimately I didn't like it very much.
Part of the problem for me, was that some of the aspects that seemed to be there for comedic purposes were not funny at all. There were times when actually instead of being funny, they were more then a bit obnoxious. The movie really didn't seem to take itself seriously enough but it didn't make up for that with the humor because it wasn't very funny. Not that it didn't try to be because it did. To much so. It was like it was trying to hard to be funny. I'd have preferred that aspect have been toned down because I felt it was at it's best when that element was not present. I just wanted to get involved in the story and was constantly distracted by the weak attempts at comedy.
Also I just didn't feel the love story was really all that interesting. I didn't feel especially intrigued or invested in the characters. I will say the acting was really good. I've not seen much of Sienna Miller's work but she was really good and Ledger dominated the screen in a way that seemed almost effortless. I could see where maybe this would be a fun movie to be in. But the movie couldn't keep my attention very much.
I'd have preferred the whole thing was played seriously or that the humor was less in your face. It was difficult for me to buy into the movie at all and I wouldn't really call it a guilty pleasure either since it was not all that enjoyable and dragged at times. I'd ultimately say it's around average and it's major strength is Ledger in the main role. I did enjoy the strong period feel as well. It's probably not something I'd see again though. My vote is around a 5 of 10.
I really struggled with this movie. As talented as Heath Ledger is and as entertaining (at times) this movie was, ultimately I didn't like it very much.
Part of the problem for me, was that some of the aspects that seemed to be there for comedic purposes were not funny at all. There were times when actually instead of being funny, they were more then a bit obnoxious. The movie really didn't seem to take itself seriously enough but it didn't make up for that with the humor because it wasn't very funny. Not that it didn't try to be because it did. To much so. It was like it was trying to hard to be funny. I'd have preferred that aspect have been toned down because I felt it was at it's best when that element was not present. I just wanted to get involved in the story and was constantly distracted by the weak attempts at comedy.
Also I just didn't feel the love story was really all that interesting. I didn't feel especially intrigued or invested in the characters. I will say the acting was really good. I've not seen much of Sienna Miller's work but she was really good and Ledger dominated the screen in a way that seemed almost effortless. I could see where maybe this would be a fun movie to be in. But the movie couldn't keep my attention very much.
I'd have preferred the whole thing was played seriously or that the humor was less in your face. It was difficult for me to buy into the movie at all and I wouldn't really call it a guilty pleasure either since it was not all that enjoyable and dragged at times. I'd ultimately say it's around average and it's major strength is Ledger in the main role. I did enjoy the strong period feel as well. It's probably not something I'd see again though. My vote is around a 5 of 10.