Week 3: The Age of Innocence (1993)

Before Viewing

I read Edith Wharton’s novel The Age Of Innocence back in college. The thing I most liked about it was not the prose (which was very good) but the fact that in a lot of ways, I could totally relate to Newland Archer. At the time, I too was in a relationship like his and May’s, but there was also someone else I was interested in. I could commiserate with him because I saw myself trapped by the same circumstances- doing what is perceived as the right thing to do and staying with the girlfriend vs. what your heart wanted you to do. Corny, I know, but I could totally relate. Interesting enough, I mentioned to the girl I was interested in that I had read the novel, and she went out and saw the movie (she may have even bought the soundtrack). While that relationship ultimately went nowhere, it DID give me the presence of mind to realize that there was more to life and love out there, and, unlike Newland Archer, I eventally got out of that bad relationship. A shout goes out to you, Rebecca C. Garcia, wherever you are.

Having read the book and lived the adventure, I’ve always wanted to see the film. It also helps that I think Martin Scorsese is the greatest American director of my lifetime. Add to that Roger Ebert’s praise for the film, and my admiration for Daniel Day-Lewis (seriously, if you haven’t seen The Last of the Mohicans, add it to YOUR list), and I decided to pick this one up.

My Thoughts After Viewing

I’m so mad at myself for waiting fifteen years to see this one. I should have gone to see it when it came out! Needless to say, I loved it. It’s been that long since I read the book, so I didn’t remember the storyline that vividly before I popped in the DVD, but the film must have been very faithful to the novel because it all came back to me.

The settings and locations were beautiful. I’ve never been to New England, but I’d love to visit the locations in the film, especially in the springtime. Obviously there was much care put into creating the sets and costumes, and it shows.

The one thing I loved about the film was that, even though it was a period piece, it still was a ‘Scorsese’ picture. The camera movement was there. The overwhelming sense of guilt was there. I particularly enjoyed how the camera focused on the artwork in the background, making those images a part of the narrative.  Technically, the film is solid, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Scorsese and his crew.

As far as the acting goes, Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfiffer were solid, but honestly, for me, Winona Ryder stole the show. Her ‘May’ came across as a product of high society, in some ways snooty and cold, but still youthful and innocent. We know Newland loves Madam Olenska, but there really isn’t anything wrong with May, per se, other than the fact that she’s like every other woman in those society circles. I thought Ryder looked great and came across as genuine. I’ve seen her in a few other things, but she really caught my eye in this one. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Newland low-key and doesn’t turn him into an angsy, mopey sap. He’s torn, you can tell, but he also knows he has to keep up appearences. I loved how the film ended. It’s only right that he treasures the memories he has rather than ruin them with harsh reality. How many of us have been a situation where we wish we could have done the same?

I also have to mention that I think that using a narrator to inject Wharton’s prose into the film was a great idea (it worked, just like it did in Goodfellas and Casino). My hat’s off to Joanne Woodward (whom I loved in the version of The Glass Menagerie that her husband, the late Paul Newman, directed). Her narration felt like a natural commentary on the action on the screen, and not simply like a voiceover pasted onto the screen. One of the main complaints you hear when a popular book is made into a movie is that the book is better just because of the extra detail. In this case, the extra detail is provided, and it works.

I really didn’t have any issues with the film. It flowed well for a period piece, it was fresh, funny, and interesting, and that has to do with the director’s touch. Rather than play it straight, Scorsese made Wharton’s story his own.

The Final Say

If you like Scorsese, you need to see this one, especially if you think he only does gangster films. If you are an Edith Wharton fan, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a solid film.