Director Emerald Fennell's latest film, 'Wuthering Heights', has garnered positive reviews following an early screening for critics on 3/2. Many anticipate the movie, noted for its sensual tone, will achieve significant commercial success upon its domestic release on 27/2, according to Variety.
Trailer "Wuthering Heights", set for domestic release on 27/2. Video: Warner Bros. Vietnam
On social media platform X, Variety critic Courtney Howard lauded 'Wuthering Heights' as a standout project in Emerald Fennell's career, placing it on par with classic cinema. Howard highlighted the film's captivating nature, effectively portraying the characters' longing and anguish. Linus Sandgren's cinematography and Suzie Davies's art design are credited as key contributors to its allure.
The performances of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi have drawn particular praise. Writer Jazz Tangcay commended their strong chemistry, noting how both actors adeptly built romantic nuances and controlled scene pacing. They conveyed the lovers' emotions effectively through their gazes and dialogue.
Dialogue in the film was subtly handled, allowing intimacy to unfold naturally. Throughout various sequences, love escalates into pain and hatred, creating a compelling emotional arc. Tangcay remarked, "It's an excellent display of filmmaking craftsmanship," acknowledging the convincing development of the relationship across the narrative.
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Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in "Wuthering Heights". Photo: Warner Bros.
Journalist Scott Menzel asserted that 'Wuthering Heights' solidifies Emerald Fennell's standing among today's prominent directors. Menzel believes the project demonstrates award potential in categories such as cinematography, costume design, production design, and music. He also lauded Jacob Elordi's performance, particularly in his interactions with Margot Robbie.
Anne Thompson, editor for film website IndieWire, concurred with the positive outlook, predicting favorable box office results. She believes the film will appeal to a mainstream audience through its visual style and Emerald Fennell's direction.
'Wuthering Heights', based on Emily Brontë's 1847 novel, explores the 19th-century love story of Catherine (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). As adults, their lives diverge due to class and societal expectations, particularly when Catherine marries Edgar Linton. This choice drives Heathcliff to despair, creating a conflict between their reason and emotions.
The novel has seen numerous film adaptations, with the most renowned being William Wyler's 1939 version, starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. Other notable adaptations include the 1970 film with Anna Calder-Marshall and Timothy Dalton, the 1992 version featuring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes, Andrea Arnold's 2011 rendition starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson, and the 2009 ITV television series with Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy.
Emerald Fennell has openly expressed her deep admiration for the original novel, stating in interviews that she is a "huge fan". At the Brontë Women's Writing Festival in England last september, the director articulated her ambition for her adaptation to evoke the same overwhelming feeling audiences experience when reading the novel for the first time.
Cat Tien (according to Variety)
