FilmSnobReviews

Title: My Cousin Rachel
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Roger Michell
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

What It Is: When a young man’s only father figure, his cousin, does the young man Philip (Claflin) wants revenge on his cousin’s young, beautiful wife. Instead of seeking vengeance he may instead be becoming bewitched by the beautiful Rachel (Weisz). As his infatuation grows Philip may have been right to use caution around the mysterious Rachel. Will Philip fall under her spell or will he uncover what happened to his father figure cousin Ambrose (Deano Bugatti) and whether he died of disease…or murder.

What We Think: I would like to point out that the film is beautiful. It looks beautiful and most of the dialogue is very…period so to speak. I am not and have never really been a period piece guy at least when it comes to those films that take place in the Victorian era. I find it all a bit too stuffy. That’s exactly what I feel here as well. I feel like it’s a great looking movie with good enough performance that is stilted by period dialogue that’s flat and somewhat uninspiring.

Our Grade: C+, I would definitely recommend this to all my snobs out there with an appreciation for the Victorian period much like last years Love & Friendship which again I did not like but seemed to get universal praise. Nonetheless, it is not by any stretch of the imagination a bad film. It looks amazing so the DP earned his paycheck for sure. If you don’t like period dramas then this is a definite skip. Rachel Weisz continues to show why she’s one of the most underrated actresses working today. I thought she deserved a Supporting Oscar nomination for The Lobster and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.