Glass Slipper

Cinderella (2015)

For close to 80 years, Walt Disney Pictures has created some of the most memorable and magical animated classics. Ranging from princesses to ‘street rats’, the Disney animated features and their characters have become a staple in American culture. One such character/movie that has captured the imaginations of little girls for generations the most could arguably be Cinderella. Walt Disney Pictures brought this Grimm fairy tale to life in 1950 and Cinderella has been one of the most popular of the Disney Princesses since. After the box office success of the Tim Burton live-action version of Alice in Wonderland, Disney has decided to bring some of their classics to ‘real’ life. This year Cinderella gets her turn starring Lily James (Wrath of the Titans) as the titular character. 

Ella (James) has been born into a loving and caring family. Ella’s father (Ben Chaplin The Truth About Cats & Dogs) is a kind, successful merchant and her mother (Hayley Atwell ABC’s Agent Carter) is a devoted wife who teaches her daughter to believe in magic. Above all, Ella’s parents instill in her to be kind to everyone not matter the circumstances. Ella’s world is shaken when her mother suddenly becomes ill and passes away. Over the years Ella and her father learn to deal with the grief, but after many years Ella’s father has decided to marry again. Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) and her two daughters, Drizella (Sophie McShera Downton Abbey) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger Showtime’s The Borgias), seem nice at first but it is not until Ella’s father must take leave when Lady Tremaine shows her true colors. Shortly after his departure, Ella’s father succumbs to illness and joins Ella’s mother in the afterlife. When news reaches Ella back at her home, Ella is devastated and Lady Tremaine’s slave-like conditions for Ella begin. Beaten but not broken, Ella remains kind to everyone and still believes that there is magic in the world, hoping that one day that magic will come true for her.

 

Due to the fact that I have two daughters and a couple nieces, I have seen Disney’s version of Cinderella quite a few times. I am very familiar with the story and the songs, so when Disney decided to bring this character to life I was a little less than thrilled. I was dead wrong with my fears. This Cinderella is a new take on a classic story that everyone can watch. The filmmakers tweak the story just enough to make it interesting for 112 minutes. Part of the tweaks that the filmmakers made was leaving out all of the animated songs. I know that most of those songs were reasons why people fell in love with the animated classic, but by leaving out the songs the filmmakers give us the true essence of who Cinderella is. The acting and directing in the film was superb and that is the biggest reason I actually enjoyed this film.

Lily James is wonderful in this film. Projecting such innocence and kindness throughout the film, but James does it in a way that doesn’t become so overbearing. James is strong in the leading role by not letting anyone else steal her scenes. This strength comes especially through when she is doing scenes with the deliciously nasty Cate Blanchett. Even though Blanchett is magnificent in this film, James never lets Blanchett’s great performance overtakes her own.  Richard Madden (HBO’s Game of Thrones), who plays Prince ‘Kit’ Charming, also is marvelous in this film. Madden exudes just enough charm and presence to make him the perfect fit as the Prince. Madden is immediately likeable and never comes across as spoiled or dim-witted. As for the ‘evil’ step-sisters, McShera and Grainger both are awesome. They both become the right amount annoying and dumb that makes these classic characters memorable. The cast as a whole never takes it over the top or campy which is another reason why this film very watchable.

Thor director Kenneth Branagh takes the helm of this Disney reimagining. Besides his talented direction, the one thing that popped out at me in this film is the way that Branagh uses colors. Branagh does a great job of making sure that each character has a certain color for their personality or who they may clash/complement each other. For example, in each scene that Kit and Ella are on screen their color scheme matches each other. Whereas the scenes with Ella and Lady Tremaine, their colors clash each other like their personalities do. Branagh also brilliantly keeps just enough of the Disney magic in the film to bring out the kid in all of us.  Branagh is able to keep this film light and fun amongst some of the sad parts.

 

The film is very enjoyable on many fronts. Lily James proves that she is a leading lady and Blanchett shows off her villainous side beautifully. I highly recommend this film to anyone that is a fan of the animated classic and to anyone that wants just a nice change of pace at the movie theatre. If all of the Disney live-action films are going to be like this, then I actually can’t wait!

The Verdict: See In Theatres