Thanks to its serenity and silence, a also some features in the nature of the inhabitants, by the way, the descendants of the first Dutch immigrants, this secluded dol has long been called Sleepy Hollow How I wanted to see this movie while listening to my friend’s cheers. How excited I was to go around every CD store I knew in my city looking for this movie, and all I got was that the sellers were hearing about it for the first time and had no idea where to find it. How long, in my opinion, time went by, because all this took me no more than two weeks of my life.
I do not remember most of the events of that day, I can hardly say what brought me to visit my friend, but I remember the fact that a friend that day turned on the most desirable movie for me at that time and ... perhaps my eyes from the computer monitor could tear only comments of a friend and her requests addressed to me. I’m not going to write that after watching it, I thought it was the best movie I’ve ever seen or seen because it’s not true. It is very difficult for me to describe the thoughts that I had that day, as they were incoherent and addressed only to the fact that a friend recorded this film for me on CD. So I was walking winged, thinking that as soon as I got home, I would be able to appreciate the film to its fullest. I remember the terrible bitterness of disappointment I felt when I realized I couldn't "hear" the film. In a complete disorder of feelings, I watched a silent movie for me several times, and still tried to find it in stores.
Of course, only now I realize that it is rather stupid and emotional, but this memory will probably remain for life, and not only because I felt strong emotions at the time, but because this film is really worth all my worries for that ill-fated month for me.
First, I think it should be noted that this film is based on Washington Irving’s classic novel “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (which, by the way, is one of the most boring works I’ve ever read, even though it doesn’t look like a horror movie at all and therefore doesn’t live up to its reputation at all, rather it’s just an accurate and meticulous description of the life of the time). I'm going to say a phrase that I probably won't use again. It’s good that the movie doesn’t look like a book. To a good idea Irving, which would pull 15% luck in terms of the plot of the picture, screenwriters Kevin Yager and Andrew Kevin Walker added, perhaps, 35% of what was required at that time to the viewer: real murders and a detective story based on the most real mystical events.
The remaining 50%, in my opinion, deservedly gave to the benefit of the audience the incredible atmosphere of the picture, developed from the book by the excellent master Tim Burton. The gloomy film reeks of dampness and dampness, all the shortcomings and flaws of the time, which before your eyes turn into the real merits, for which we value the eighteenth century.
Tension, mysticism, gloom, fear, uncertainty and some sense of hopelessness brings with it the incredibly soulful and attractive music of Danny Elfman in combination with the howls of the female choir.
This is an incredibly beautiful picture, shot through filters that refract light. For this, we can thank simply gorgeous cameraman Emmanuel Lubezki. His staff can be admired for a very long time. Some moments of the film simply can not get out of my mind, so they are mesmerizingly filmed, whether it is a herd of sheep running out of the foggy darkness, or a bogeyman in the middle of a field of corn, on the “face” of which a trickle of scarlet blood flaunts.
Imagination also amazes the scenery. The forest, which creates a complete unreality and a certain purity of events, immediately won my sympathy, however, as did the cemetery behind the church, in which a fairly large number of dug graves are empty. And the costumes of the heroes of the film only give the desired color to the picture.
I can say a lot about actors.
On secondary roles recruited simply incredible (let me many disagree) star cast. For starters, Michael Gambon. In the role of the cowardly and at the same time important Balthus Van Tassel, I like him much more than in the epic of Harry Potter, so in this case I am happy with his participation in the film. So did Richard Griffiths, who appeared relatively briefly but earned an award consisting of a replica of his head. It was nice to see Jeffrey Jones. Once again struck by his reincarnation Michael Gough.
Christopher Lee, who appeared only for a minute, made him remember himself until the end of the credits. It wasn’t without Lisa Marie, who in this film makes me understand why she was the director’s muse at the time. Perhaps one of the few worthy of this actor, and without a doubt a very successful role of Christopher Walken. In Casper Van Ding I saw that brave book Brom, though a little more restrained and serious. Even Miranda Richardson satisfies me in this film.
I also want to note that although Christina Ricci needed only her signature look, familiar from the “Adams Family”, she completely coped with her role. Now, at the mention of Katrina Van Tassel, I have the image that this actress created in my head.
I’ve seen more than one movie based on Irving’s work, but all of those Legends didn’t have the most important thing – Ichabod Crane. I think this is due to the fact that the films were quite detailed in the book and, alas, the actors in the hero noticed other qualities that are not quite important for both the work and the image. Only the character of Johnny Depp I can in good conscience call the embodiment of Ichabod Crane on the screen.
In the film, we see a coward (not because he is, but because he thinks of himself in this way and inspires others) and at the same time a charming rural teacher, who was reclassified and supplemented with characteristics important for this picture. To say anything about the performance of the role, I think, is not worth it, because those who have not seen this film, I will spoil the first impression, and those who have seen – I think, just can not forget the strange constable with a slightly detached look.
I think this picture will be interesting for lovers of Gothic, Victorian era and just beautiful cinema. And finally. You can find meaning in everything if you really want to find it.
10 out of 10
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