Retro Film Review: The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004)
The age-old saying that great literature often becomes poor cinema, and vice versa, certainly holds true for Pulitzer Prize-winning novels such as Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey. Hollywood has attempted to adapt this novel twice, in 1929 and 1944, illustrating this point. In 2001, Tony Blair quoted the novel during his speech about the 9/11 attacks, which may have inspired a consortium of European film companies to try their hand at a third version. Unfortunately, the 2004 drama, penned and directed by Irish playwright Mary McGuckian, proved to be a disappointing effort, often referred to as "third time not a charm."
The film is set in early 18th Century Peru, where Brother Juniper, a Franciscan monk played by Gabriel Byrne, witnesses a horrific tragedy. As he prepares to cross an ancient Inca rope bridge, it suddenly collapses, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. The incident leaves Brother Juniper in a state of shock, and he spends the following years meticulously gathering information about the victims, hoping to uncover a higher purpose behind their untimely deaths. His findings are documented in a book, the conclusions of which are met with disapproval from Church authorities, represented by the Archbishop of Lima, played by Robert de Niro. Brother Juniper is ultimately put on trial for heresy, during which he shares the stories of the victims and their lives.
With a budget of $24 million, The Bridge of San Luis Rey was one of the more costly European films of recent times. The film's substantial budget is evident in its star-studded cast, featuring Hollywood heavyweights like de Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Kathy Bates, as well as its intricate recreation of the early 18th Century through detailed costumes and period-appropriate settings. However, despite the film's grandeur, the characters lack depth, and the pacing is pedestrian at best. While some actors manage to deliver decent performances despite the poorly written roles, Gabriel Byrne's slow and monotonous narration dampens any enthusiasm for the story. Ultimately, while the film is watchable, it leaves audiences with the same unanswered question posed by its narrator.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
Posted using CineTV