Acting was horrid, throughout!

There was not one 'stellar' performance in this film. Considering the cast (Redgraves, Richardson, Fiennes), they could have done sooo much better. Even if one disregards the dismal accents all around (It's true, Englishmen just don't 'do' an American accent -- and the Redgraves & Richardson didn't sound in the least like Russian nobility), the acting itself was stiff and amateurish.

Fiennes particularly was bad -- and the worst of his scenes was at the track! What was that pantomime (Fiennes 'riding and whipping' an imaginary racehorse) supposed to be? He looked like a lunatic. And the scene where he's walking toward the Japanese armed (bayoneted rifles) is laughable! Firstly, for the fact that in the 'real' world, at that time, he'd have been shot dead before he had any opportunity to actually touch the bayonet. Secondly, for the way both he, and the soldiers' commander, reacted, when the soldiers lowered their rifles. Even a blind man would have not reached twice, when the commander stepped back from the 'blind' gropping gesture Fiennes used. Just dismal.

With the money spent on the locations, the extras, etc., this film should have been wonderful. It was boring, never made me give a rat's ass about any of the characters, and didn't tell the story well, at all. The scene where 'Jackson' defends the 'honour' of the 'Countess' from the completely acceptable comment from the 'Frenchman' [who asked for a dance 'A woman like you should only be danced with slowly ....' -- not what anyone in those circumstances would have considered insulting to a lady's dignity ... much less someone in a 'speakeasy' type club] was hilarious, too. If the Frenchman had said, 'Hey, girly, put your hand in my pocket, I've got a surprise for you ...', Fiennes might have been justified. But otherwise, it just didn't 'fly' that he'd be furious with a mild flirtation from a customer toward his club's hostess. Just terrible. (Of course, that is not only Fiennes poor acting, it's also the fault of the screenplay.)

I fail to see where Fiennes has much of a reputation as an actor. I can think of a hundred American actors who would have done justice to this Merchant/Ivory film. And someone on this board makes a comparison between Jimmy Stewart and Ralph Fiennes! Whoever they are, they should be shot!!! lol!