Angels & Insects
by Philip Haas
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DVD details
Actor: Douglas Henshall, Jeremy Kemp, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, Patsy KensitDirector: Philip Haas
Writer: Philip Haas
Producer: Belinda Haas
Writer: Belinda Haas
Producer: Joyce Herlihy
Producer: Kerry Orent
Producer: Lindsay Law
Writer: A.S. Byatt
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-03-19
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Angels & Insects
DVD Review: Of insects and dark family secrets
Summary: 4 Stars
"Angels and Insects" unfolds leisurely, and is an aesthetically pleasing movie. Based upon A.S. Byatt's [whose "Possession" was also adapted for the big screen] novella "Morpho Eugenia", the story centers around an impoverished naturalist, William Adamson [Mark Rylance] who has spent a great many years in the wilds of the Amazon, studying the insect colonies there. Upon his return to Victorian England, he is taken under the benevolent wings of Rev Harald Alabaster [Jeremy Kemp], and promptly forms an attachment to the Rev's daughter, the ethereally beautiful Eugenia [Patsy Kline]. The pair marry and settle in Eugenia's family manor, where Adamson finds himself treated with disdain and condescension by Eugenia's boorish brother. Even his wife blows hot and cold, exhibiting wanton passion one moment, and shunning all physical contact the next, leaving Adamson perplexed. The years pass, and Adamson finds himself unaware of darker undercurrents running through the Alabaster household, which harbors some very dark and perverse secrets. Adamson meanwhile dedicates himself to his bug study, aided by a poor Alabaster cousin, Matty [Kristin Scott Thomas], and it is only in the last half an hour of the movie that the action speeds up and Adamson is made aware of the darker events occurring in his home.
Though I was engrossed in this story, I did find the first half rather plodding, and also quite infuriating as the viewer senses the 'secret' in the story long before naive Adamson does. Mark Rylance is credible as the unsuspecting husband and devoted naturalist, as are Kristin Scott Thomas' spinsterish Matty and Patsy Kensit's blonde beauty Eugenia. The cinematography is lush and beautiful, even to the extent of romanticizing the insects featured.
Viewers need to be forewarned that there is plenty of graphic nudity in this, i.e. male and female full frontal nudity. To some extent it does serve a purpose in the narration of the story. This is no prudish Victorian drama, but a period movie that happens to deal with some dark themes. It is definitely worth checking out for fans of serious period dramas.
DVD Review: Truly a case of too little too late...
Summary: 3 Stars
I had really high expectations for this film walking in. I love period pieces and I love the idea of the erotic love story; and even the whole fascination with the study of insect life mirroring the relationships of the human counterparts seemed really intriguing to me.
What can I say; I love the bizarre.
The problem I have with this film is that it takes so long to actually grab your interest that it's over before we have a chance to really appreciate all that it has to say. The final thirty minutes is shockingly good; stellar to be exact, but getting there is rather difficult when the film fails time and time again to be even remotely interesting.
The film tells the tale of William Adamson, a naturalist who returns home after an expedition fully reliant on the financial help of his sponsor, the wealthy Sir Harold Alabaster. Sir Harold is smitten with William, who possesses and intelligence he only wishes his own son Edgar would possess. When William falls for the emotionally damaged Eugenia, Harold is happy, but Edgar is furious. William and Eugenia are married, and despite their social differences they seem to be happy; having child upon child, but it is obvious that they are not as connected as William would like. That is when William seeks the company of the Alabaster cousin Matty, a young and interesting girl who has the same fascination for insect life that William has. They indulge themselves in study and grow fonder and fonder of one another.
Until...
The film moves at a very slow pace, but it doesn't possess the brooding quality of a good dramatic film, so despite it's efforts, it fails to be captivating or moving. There are times where I longed to fast forward to find some meaning within the film; to find a sequence of events that didn't leave me cold.
Then the last thirty minutes happened and I found my dreams coming true; but it's a case of too little too late for sure.
The acting is very strong in areas and then very weak in others. Mark Rylance is superbly understated as William. He matches the tone of the film well, and says a lot with his eyes, conveying emotions and concerns long before his words are spoken. Kristen Scott Thomas is a major highlight, especially in her final scene where her emotional guard is dropped and her character is fully fleshed out to us. In fact, the finest scene of acting comes during a card game towards the films finale when William makes the word `insect' only to have Matty rearrange the letters.
Look at those eyes.
Patsy Kensit, Jeremy Kemp and Douglas Henshall are all effective. I at first as put off by Henshall, but he grew on me towards the end. Annette Badland is just plain bad, but whatever.
I really wanted the best for this film. It has a lot to say about the deeper side of human relationships and it's theories of Darwinism and their social relevance could have been rather enlightening; but the films construction and overall delivery is poorly done and takes away from any significant impact this film could have had.
DVD Review: Abstract Ideas Always Better Than Reality
Summary: 4 Stars
Mark Rylance, a naturalist in the Darwinian/Victorian sense returns to England after losing his life's work in a shipwreck. While visiting the estate of an educated wealthy sympathizer, he falls in love with the patriarchs daughter, Eugenia (Patsy Kensit). Eugenia agrees to marry him and continue to live on the family estate. Because the naturalist has no visible means of support or noble lineage, he is despised and mistreated by Eugenia's brother. Apparent to everyone is the fact that the naturalist should have married a poor though educated and intelligent cousin of Eugenia played by Kristin Scott Thomas.
The most interesting thing about this movie is the way the naturalists abstract ideas seep into his real life. Darwin talked about the evolution of species and how the strong survive. But does the evolution of a master race mean you should procreate with your sister? Darwin postulated that the best looking of a species will procreate because they can aptly a mate. But the reality is that the best looking person may not be the one to love. People are complex creatures and what we need in love goes far beyond what our biology dictates.
A very good movie with excellent performances. [...]
DVD Review: A Victorian Costume Drama That Is Way Off The Beaten Path
Summary: 4 Stars
Set in England in the 1860's, ANGELS AND INSECTS is a highly unusual film. Briefly stated it is the story of William, a young entomologist from working class beginnings, who can't believe his luck when Eugenie Alabaster, the lovely, fragile, daughter of his very wealthy benefactor agrees to marry him and everyone in the Alabaster family but her brother Edgar seems to approve the match. It seems poor Eugenie had previously had her heart broken by a fianc? who committed suicide. However it soon becomes apparent to the viewer if not her new husband that Eugenie's relationship with her overbearing brother, Edgar, may be the real cause of her unhappiness.
The positives of the movie include the fine acting (especially by Kristen Scott Thomas as Maddy, the poor relation serving as governess to the Alabaster family), beautiful photography as well as on location settings and unique, vibrant Victorian costumes that may not be totally historically accurate but underscore the connection between the female members of the Alabaster household and certain insects. Unfortunately the movie is so heavy handed in connecting the Alabaster family drama to the bug world that some characters become almost caricatures. And the film has some explicit scenes including nudity that seem unnecessary.
DVD Review: Angels and Insects
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband and I watched Angels and Insects when it first hit the movie theaters and thought it was an excellent movie. We wanted to see it again and bought the DVD. We have not changed our view of the movie. Two thumbs up, it was worth watching again.
Description of Angels & Insects
Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas and Patsy Kensit star in this "mesmerizing" (The New York Times) story of a scientist who marries the woman of his dreamsonly to find himself entangled ina nightmarish web of dark intrigue and shocking secrets! With stunning performances and breathtaking visuals, Angels and Insects is "tantalizing, hypnotic and seething with sexuality" (Playboy). Taken in by a wealthy family after a failed expedition to the Amazon, biologist William Adamson (Rylance) wins the hand of his benefactor's daughter (Kensit) and believes his dreamsof fame and fortune may finally come true. But a servant (Thomas) has secret knowledge about his new family, and his visions of grandeur tarnish in light of an erotic decadence and illicit passion beyond his darkest fears.Angels and Insects, an ambitious costume drama, tells the tale of William Adamson, a buttoned-down Victorian explorer (Mark Rylance) who returns to England penniless and dependent on the kindness of his sponsor, Sir Harald Alabaster (Jeremy Kemp). Adamson's intelligence and lower social class endear him to the old man, but Sir Harald's son, Edgar, seems annoyed by his presence. Nevertheless, Adamson falls in love with Sir Harald's daughter, a shy sex kitten (Patsy Kensit), and offers to marry her. A web of sexual politics, true love, and class struggle develops, even as the explorer begins an intriguing study of a nearby ant colony. With encouragement from a dirt-poor Alabaster cousin (Kristin Scott Thomas), Adamson begins to write about the insects, never realizing the parallels with his own life. The film is a puzzle to solve while savoring the beauty of flesh and outlandish, vibrant costumes. Rylance, unknown to most American audiences, is a perfect hero to root for, with his impeccable manners and soothing Scottish tones. Another curious winner from filmmakers Philip and Belinda Haas (The Music of Chance). --Doug Thomas
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