THE SECRET OF MOONACRE (2008) **1/2 There's not only a lot to like about it, I like it too. The writers have clearly benefited from the works of C. S. Lewis, and those are fertile fields. And we need more ploughmen, in a culture so desperate for authentic spirituality of any positive aspect at all. So it's pleasant and spirited, and raises the prospects of danger and dejection; much of it self-inflicted and some of a psychological nature. Well done. It looks great and Beatrix Aruna Pasztor's costumes are great great. It doesn't all unfold rhythmically, for me, unfortunately, which seems particularly important for this stuff. And as much as I like the casting, I couldn't escape the sense that. the actors...particularly Ioan Gruffudd...had even more to offer the role than they left on screen. Well, Natascha McElhone too, she was really good but I know that she's got even more romance in her, even more turbulence, even more wild pagan energy. Dakota Blue Richards is fine as the centerpiece but never quite manages to communicate as much as you'd like during the pivotal and climactic scenes...not because she's not a fine young actress so much, I think, as the result of growing up in a culture still reeling from centuries of believing that the best, coolest, people in command... don't exhibit emotion at any time. They do, just not all as with the subtle fluency of Churchill. And whoever decided that Tim Curry might do well in the better children's films deserves some kind of special award, he's always in the mix these days. All in all a splendid effort, time well spent, I suppose if you hope for anything more you should just feel free to follow the clues...
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