Director: Akiva Goldsman
Starring: Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint, Graham Greene, Kevin Corrigan, Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths, Ripley Sobo, McKayla Twiggs, Alan Doyle, Will Smith
Running Time: 118 Minutes.
Certificate: 12A.
What is the plot?
Miracles occur and destinies collide in this enchanting romantic fantasy telling the story of an age-old battle between good and evil in a mythical New York.
Review
Akiva Goldsman is making his directorial debut in an adaptation of Mark Helprin’s 1983 novel. In short, it is a love story set in a mythical world.
The film starts off in 1895 when a baby boy is abandoned on a toy boat called City of Justice into New York Harbour by his parents who are immigrants forced to return to Europe.
During the cold winter of 1916 in the Big Apple, a grown up Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) is a burglar who breaks into an expensive property, which he thought was vacant, whilst trying to escape sinister crimelord Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe). His only ally coming in the form of a white horse, a Pegasus.
Unbeknown to Peter, there is still one resident left in the house – a beautiful young woman named Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay). Very predictably, he falls in love with the beautiful redheaded daughter of one of New York’s richest men (William Hurt).
Their growing love affair continues for the next hour as the star-crossed lovers realise their time on the planet is a ticking time bomb, with Beverly facing an imminent death due to consumption.
Meanwhile, as the love story develops, Pearly is still on the hunt for Peter and asks for help from Judge (Will Smith), whose character represents a Lucifer-type figure to kill the man he once loved as a son.
It seems the world conspires against the doomed pair as shortly after spending her first night with her lover, Beverly dies in his arms.
An angry and bereaved Peter, upset that he could not save Beverly, returns to New York for a showdown with Pearly. It seems his fate is sealed as the sinister leader throws him off Brooklyn Bridge and that appears to be the end of the story, but perhaps not…
Fast forward to 2014 and Peter Lake is still alive (and thankfully sporting a different hairstyle). He has no memory of what has occurred, his name or any of his history. He spends his days creating chalk drawings of a girl with red hair, but without recollection of this meaning.
A chance meeting with Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) and her little daughter Abby (Ripley Sobo) helps Peter to embark on a brief journey of remembrance and self-discovery, where he learns that he is still yet to fulfill his miracle – the reason he is still alive.
In a beautiful, eerie, cold setting, Pearly and Peter dance their final battle in a bid to achieve the miracle and keep Abby alive.
What’s great about the film?
If you are looking for a fairytale film that offers love, tears, fantasy and heartbreak, then this film is perfect for you.
What’s wrong with it?
Some scenes are rather far-fetched and the twist at the end didn’t really seem to flow. It felt like an additional element to the story, rather than part of it.
Verdict
★★★
A Winter’s Tale in New York is a story of love, betrayal and miracles. The film is rather predictable and on occasion unrealistic, but the tragic love story may win you over. This film may have been more timely with a Valentine’s Day release.
Here is the trailer for the movie:
