Agnes of God
by Norman Jewison
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Actor: Anne Bancroft, Anne Pitoniak, Jane Fonda, Meg Tilly, Winston RekertDirector: Norman Jewison
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Sven Nykvist
Producer: Norman Jewison
Editor: Antony Gibbs
Producer: Bonnie Palef
Producer: Charles Milhaupt
Producer: Patrick J. Palmer
Writer: John Pielmeier
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-05-21
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Agnes of God
DVD Review: If only the possibilities were as richly convincing as the performances...
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a huge fan of ambiguity; honestly, for I think that a movie that moves you to question what you think you know is beyond important. It challenges our views of certainty and challenges us to contemplate a reality different than the one we have already accepted as definite. Because of this I can't really come down too hard on `Agnes of God' for trying to be just that. Sadly, the film doesn't fully accomplish the task, but it is a valiant effort at least.
The film revolves around a young nun, Sister Agnes, who violently gives birth to a child and then murders the baby. Psychologist Dr. Martha Livingston is given the task of determining whether or not Agnes is crazy, but in order to get to Agnes she has to go through the overly protective Mother Miriam Ruth. Martha has her own quorums with faith and religion that move her to butt-heads with Mother Miriam, but it is apparent that both want what is best for Agnes, they just both see a different answer to the question of `what is best'.
I'm yelling SPOILERS even though I don't really think that they are.
The problem I have with this particular films ambiguities is that they don't really validate themselves. We are meant to believe that there are two viable options to Agnes's conception; namely that she was unfaithful to god by having relations with a man, or that she was divinely impregnated. Dr. Livingston looks at things logically while Mother Miriam is insistent that the child was a child of god. The mere fact that the birth resulted in the murder of a child somewhat disputes Mother Miriam's whole argument and thus leaves the audience conflicted, for they want to embrace to possibility but are unable to, for accepting it would seem morally wrong; as if to admit that god would choose such an unstable vessel. The film also never backs up its claims with any real weight. It never gives us explanations as to why we should keep our options open. These few plot holes leave the ending more absolute than ambiguous, which then just comes out overly frustrated because they refuse to tie up the loose ends that they have created.
However off balance the films construction and or script was, there is no denying the fact that the performances within are beyond superb.
I am not a huge fan of Jane Fonda's style of acting. It seems almost too methodic, as if she is really thinking too hard. This comes across more here than it does in some of her other work. That said, she is effective and at times moving, but she is not the `superb' part I was talking about. No, it is Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly who sum up my feelings on the films performances, and they sum them up with grace and power. Both actresses were Oscar nominated, and rightfully so (although I tend to think BOTH actress should have been in the `Supporting Actress' category). Bancroft plays Mother Miriam, the stern and matronly caretaker to young Agnes. Her beliefs are strong and they play a huge role in her approach to the situation at hand. She comes across cold and bitter yet she is at heart very loving and sincere. Meg Tilly is even more impressive as Agnes, capturing her jaded innocence with such heart and soul. We can see her suffering below the surface while she attempts to create a person filled with the grace of god.
In the end I can say that `Agnes of God' is a good film, but it fails to become the great film it was trying to be. I heard that the inconsistencies within the film are also present in the stage play from which this was spawned, and that is a shame. If only a few areas were tightened up then this would be a masterpiece.
Description of Agnes of God
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