Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a hardworking young sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.
This 2015 adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel is elevated by Carey Mulligan's commanding central performance and Thomas Vinterberg's gorgeous cinematography of the Dorset countryside. The acting ensemble is strong across the board, with Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, and Tom Sturridge all delivering nuanced work. The visual palette is lush and immersive. However, as an adaptation of a well-known Victorian novel with numerous prior screen versions, Novelty is limited — it refines rather than reimagines. The plot, faithful to Hardy, can feel episodic and overly familiar to those who know the source material. The ending, while satisfying in a classical sense, lacks the emotional punch the buildup promises.