I just don't think this actress playing Madam Bovary is that pretty. She is ok, kind of plain. She doesn't exude any passion, just has this bored confused look on her face all the time. Couldn't they have cast this role better?
shareThis whole thing was so awful and mis-cast. Not that the story is that great, its a bit cliche and in my opinion no matter what Madame Vovary/Emma is very very unlikable as a human being. But yeah Mia Wdkfskdjhf whatever her name is--shes so dull in every movie and also not that beautiful. Out of all the girls they could have cast for this role--why her? Why not Emmy Rossum, Emma Watson, Elizabeth Olson, Evan Rachel Wood... etc etc. She is supposed to be beautiful and charming---Mia was DULL, and plain. As usual. Maybe they wanted someone more talented/prettier but they all turned it down because the script and movie was utter crap.
shareI agree as well. Mia, is not a knock out. She is a plain jane. But, every since her career began she has been typedcast as the lead in a period drama, her next film is a period drama. maybe because she resembles how women looked back then, I really don't get the hype but I guess someone has to do it. When I look at portraits form the 19th century what was considered beautiful then, was not necessarily what we may call beautiful now.
Even so, this film was boring, when I think of Madame Bovary I think sultry, good girl gone bad, seductress, desperately wanting to be in the social world. I don't get this from Mia.It may have worked if she showed more passion and that could have made up for her looks but her performance was about as dry as her appearance.
Yes! I agree with everyone here thus far. If the novel's character was meant to be pretty, passionate, seductive and focused, it did not translate with Mia. I found her representation to be plain or at most "handsome" when dressed up, dull as dishwater, emotionally wooden, and too fickle to be taken seriously. My husband found it amusing that these men would be so taken by her upon introduction, or first sight. If looks and personality aren't attractive to the modern viewer, how can the filmmaker expect us to see her as the male characters do? Suspension of disbelief should not apply to the casting choices themselves.
While it was suggested that Mia may've been selected to represent beauty for that time period, it's more likely that Mia was the only "well-known" actress to accept the part since the script is so bad. Besides, a modern audience will respond to what is perceived by our standard of beauty as it stands now. It's naive to assume that the viewer will respond emotionally as intended, when there's not a proper stimulus per our modern interpretation. The language and accents were adapted to create modern appeal, so why not more closely adapt what is considered attractive now? I'm talking about natural beauty within the framework of the character, not something like breast implants or fake eyelashes. The best period pieces pull that off successfully.
As I mentioned in a previous thread about Emma...
I was never so happy to see a protagonist successfully remove herself from the gene pool. Good riddance.
"Don't get chumpatized!" - The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
In what way is the story a cliche?
shareReally? Are you being sarcastic? How many freaking novels or movies have you read, especially a period piece in which a woman is trapped in a loveless marriage and rebelliously cheats on her husband with usually the more poor but sweeter man. or just a more exciting man. and its so looked down upon so it must be a secret. its sooo played out so if you're going to do the love triangle, bored woman looking for love story at least make the script, actors and overall movie more entertaining and well done.
shareI am not being sarcastic. I have not watched the movie, only read the book, and I think this story is very far from being a cliche. She got bored of her lover, and her lover got bored of her, her other lover was awful and she dies in pain. I thought the book was very original, and I have not seen this kind of story depicted that often, especially not by the time the novel was published. Loveless marriages and cheating are as common as relationships, but that does not make it a cliche, it´s just how humans relate to one another, the originality lies on the way these things happen. The novel was incredibly realistic and sad, in my opinion. The only other novel like this that I have read, which I also love, is Anna Karenina. Movies often do not do these stories justice.
shareShe isn't Jennifer Jones, that is for sure!
shareBeauty back then was way different than current beauty. I would say she would be considered beautiful.
shareWhile I agree that Mia is a Plain Jane. I like that. It's much better than the crap ton of makeup most actresses wear. I think she is very attractive. Her acting is decent. Not great but also not bad. However since I have never really seen the story before I don't know if she was supposed to be a great beauty. If this is the case they probably could have gotten someone better but I think they did fine with her. The movie was pretty slow though, like most period pieces but I thought it was just OK.
shareNo, in the book, which I've read many times, she's described as a pretty young woman, not some glamorous pin up - people get confused with the Hollywood hype glitz that went along with the Jennifer Jones 1949 version. Mia has a haunting, natural beauty that can transform from film to film - it even transforms in the span of this film.
shareGood to know. Thanks!
shareI get your point but to dismiss Jones on account of her "pin-up beauty" is not fair at all. Jones was a highly capable actress and fitted the role perfectly in all aspects. Yes, the 1949 film had many flaws but Jennifer Jones was NOT one of those. Despite her striking beauty, she still managed to portray Emma Bovary as a creature not quite deserving of our sympathies.
I am not sure how one can argue that Wasikowska is a better casting choice merely because she doesn't conform to the "Hollywood glitz" culture. The actress still has to be convincing in her role, which Wasikowska wasn't able to do - or at least, not at Jones's level.
Please click on 'reply' at the post you're responding to. Thanks.share
to dismiss Jones on account of her "pin-up beauty" is not fair at all
But yeah Mia Wdkfskdjhf whatever her name is--shes so dull in every movie and also not that beautiful. Out of all the girls they could have cast for this role--why her? Why not Emmy Rossum, Emma Watson, Elizabeth Olson, Evan Rachel Wood... etc etc.
Right, what's so difficult about spelling Wasikowska? It's pretty funny; it's like how dare you not have a simple, american sounding name - are you trying to make things difficult for us?
Thanks for your reply, and you make good points that I won't argue. I agree that the Minnelli version was aimed at a Hollywood public instead of a literature reading public. And sure, had Jones not been the beauty she was, she'd probably not have been cast as Emma Bovary back in 1949. Sorry if I interpreted your comment in a wrong way, I just thought her acting efforts deserved praise, given the twee-ness of that production.
I still agree though with others that it's hard to be convinced that Wasikowska's Emma would have such a captivating effect on males, even taking the diachronic perceptions of beauty into account. Perhaps she was the most suitable amongst the casting candidates, but I think Carey Mulligan, for instance, would have been more convincing, while not being a typical contemporary beauty (though 'cute', I admit). Well, in the end we all react differently to books and movies and the people involved with them, and no-one's evaluation is the "right" evaluation. I can respect the fact that you admire what Wasikowska's portrayal brought to the character of Emma Bovary.
Please click on 'reply' at the post you're responding to. Thanks.share
Well, in the end we all react differently to books and movies and the people involved with them, and no-one's evaluation is the "right" evaluation. I can respect the fact that you admire what Wasikowska's portrayal brought to the character of Emma Bovary.