Year of Release: 2012
Director: Tarsem Singh
Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Michael Lerner, Sean Bean, Jordan Prentice, Joe Gnoffo, Mark Povinelli, Danny Woodburn, Sebastian Saraceno, Martin Klebba, Ronald Lee Clark, Robert Emms, Alex Ivanovici
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review:
Director Tarsem Singh followed his successful "Immortals", with another take on a beloved classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and again in the same year, competing with another project, namely "Snow White and The Huntsman" (which featured a starrier cast, headlined by Charlize Theron, Kristen Steward and Chris Hemsworth, directed by Rupert Sanders). Based on a 19th century German fairy tale, published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, this adaptation once again follows the tribulations of Snow White, and her defiantly malevolent stepmother, The Queen. The Queen is the narrator of the feature, and through her, we come to know of the kingdom in which the action takes place, and of her marriage to the ruler. The King, a widower, has a small daughter by the name of Snow White. Once the King mysteriously disappears, the Queen takes ownership of the kingdom, and poverty and misery ensues. She also nearly imprisons Snow White, all the while using magic to make sure her beauty remains eternal and unchallenged. However as the finances of the kingdom are in dire need, the Queen starts looking for a wealthy suitor, which comes in the shape of a valiant prince, who while on a quest throughout the lands, is robbed by a pack of men in the woods. While the prince and Snow White accidentally meet, sparks fly, much to dismay and fury of the Queen, who stops at nothing to get her will fulfilled.
Tarsem Singh is well known for his unique aesthetic, and for his collaborations with phenomenal and sadly deceased, costume designer, Eiko Ishioka. After his passion project, "The Fall", the director tackled more commercial endeavors, starting with "Immortals", quickly followed by "Mirror, Mirror". The film is a lighthearted, comedic take on the "Snow White" mythology, but attempts to do so with some restraint, which assessing from the results, ends up being its biggest issue. The film can't quite find its tone, oscillating between the more slapstick, tongue in cheek humor that Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane try to bring to the film, to the somewhat more restrained, feminist and social aware perspective that is represented by Snow White. The comedic tone is indeed its biggest issue, since the film could have been just as funny without the overt and childlike humor. Sometimes less is indeed more. The characters are merely sketches, with both Snow White and the Queen, being defined by very broad strokes, and not much depth of characterization, the same going for the supporting characters. Where the film ends up being successful is, of course, the production virtuosity, from the stunning costumes of Eiko Ishioka, to the cinematography of Brendan Galvin. The actors are a mix bag, with Nathan Lane as always providing effective comic relief, whereas Julia Roberts is very miscast, sporting an accent that comes and goes. A forgettable endeavor from an interesting stylistic director.
Tarsem Singh is well known for his unique aesthetic, and for his collaborations with phenomenal and sadly deceased, costume designer, Eiko Ishioka. After his passion project, "The Fall", the director tackled more commercial endeavors, starting with "Immortals", quickly followed by "Mirror, Mirror". The film is a lighthearted, comedic take on the "Snow White" mythology, but attempts to do so with some restraint, which assessing from the results, ends up being its biggest issue. The film can't quite find its tone, oscillating between the more slapstick, tongue in cheek humor that Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane try to bring to the film, to the somewhat more restrained, feminist and social aware perspective that is represented by Snow White. The comedic tone is indeed its biggest issue, since the film could have been just as funny without the overt and childlike humor. Sometimes less is indeed more. The characters are merely sketches, with both Snow White and the Queen, being defined by very broad strokes, and not much depth of characterization, the same going for the supporting characters. Where the film ends up being successful is, of course, the production virtuosity, from the stunning costumes of Eiko Ishioka, to the cinematography of Brendan Galvin. The actors are a mix bag, with Nathan Lane as always providing effective comic relief, whereas Julia Roberts is very miscast, sporting an accent that comes and goes. A forgettable endeavor from an interesting stylistic director.
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