Susan Granger’s review of “Tristan & Isolde” (20th Century-Fox)
Based on a Celtic myth about star-crossed lovers, this reworking of the murky romantic drama revolves around a classic tragic hero who is torn between loyalty to his king and love for a princess.
Shortly after the Fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland conquered the tribes of Briton. During one of the battles, Tristan of Aragon (James Franco), the adopted nephew of the-man-who-would-be-king of England, Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell), is presumed dead and cast out from the Cornish coast into the sea. But he’s alive and drifts ashore on the emerald isle, where Isolde (Sophia Myles) the beautiful daughter of tyrannical King Donnchadh (David O’Hara), finds him and nurses him back to health. But the on-going war is inevitable so, despite their passionate trysts, hopes for a future together are bleak, particularly when Isolde is obliged to marry Lord Marke and then sneaks around with Tristan until their secret is betrayed.
Director Kevin Reynolds (“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “Waterworld”) and screenwriter Dean Georgaris (“The Manchurian Candidate,” “Paycheck”) drift far from Richard Wagner’s Schopenhauer-soaked opera, coming closer, instead, to the Arthurian legend of Lancelot and Guinevere. Sophie Myles sizzles while James Franco smolders and Rufus Sewell is stalwart.
Years ago, Ridley Scott optioned this project and his input as executive producer explains the superb production values, particularly in the swordplay and combat scenes. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Tristan & Isolde” is a poignant 7. It’s an old-fashioned, history-heavy forbidden romance that lends itself to many different interpretations.
