Grace of Monaco

A highly glamorized, highly stylized and highly publicized film, presented as a Hollywood biopic of Hollywood legend Grace Kelly, AKA Princess Grace of Monaco. This is also a film that, for whatever positives it may hold, has been almost universally panned by critics and audiences alike. So, time for my two pennyworth... 

Whilst I did not think the film was a total flop at all, I do think it could have been finished to come across a lot better. 

For a start, you do not have to be an avid historian to twig that this is not a film that is faithful and accurate in terms of a biopic. The script features a heavy Hollywood-style theme, and it is plain to see that sadly yet again Hollywood has made quite a butchery of a distinguished and elegant historical figure. Whilst the idea was sound, I think in practice this film has been sequenced and presented all wrong. In trying to make it a very personal journey, centering on Grace almost completely, they have also thinned out any depth to her story, almost to the point of extinction. The result being a story that floats loftily from point to point with the merest whiff of historical intrigue, relying solely on its good looks to succeed.

That being said, there is just enough substance, aided by just enough performance, to keep your interest ever so slightly held. I for one did not feel disgruntled, angry or even dissapointed at the film's end, but I did get a slightly hollow feeling which cannot be good.

Talking of just enough performance, let us now look at the cast which is quite extensive; on paper the names alone on the cast list should add up to a winner but sadly it was not to be.

We should start I think with Nicole Kidman as Grace of Monaco. To look at, she is Grace Kelly - effortlessly stylish, breezily ethereal, serenely sexy and deliciously beautiful. Yet when she performs, again it is almost a case of the minimum will do. This was a disappointment for me as I know that Nicole Kidman has the star quality and the talent to carry the role and the film effortlessly. But she merely inhabits the role of Grace Kelly just enough to get away with first glance inspection. Hers was one of the better performances of the film, but if you are looking forward to a 100 % accurate and emotively powerful Grace Kelly, then I fear you must look elsewhere.

Opposite her is Tim Roth as Rainier III. Again, there are elements of his performance which are touching and stoic, but scratch away the surface and I think more often than not you will find a rather shallow and empty sense of character. Other British acting staples included Robert Lindsay, who again was well conceived and well placed as Aristotle Onassis, but in terms of his accent and some bits of characterization... oh dear.

Frank Langella was a well needed piece of gravitas and quality, but not much is done with his character in terms of driving the plot. Still, his dulcet tones are still always welcome.

Again oodles of quality were readily found in the surprise but welcome appearance of Sir Derek Jacobi. He was a joy to see and watch but again very frustratingly his power and talent was used very trivially and not to full advantage. 

I think that really sums up Grace of Monaco. Nice idea, and in theory works well, but not nearly enough oomph was put in at almost every juncture. Given enough performance and commitment,

this film could be as glamorous and stylish and though provoking as it attempts (and fails) to be. Beautifully shot and nice music, and just good enough performances, but in the end Grace of Monaco, whilst being a good watch, is not much more than that.