Though it's unclear what the audience would be for a faithful rendition of the Hawthorne novel, the question of who would ever want to see this one is murkier still.
The Scarlet Letter (1995)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:5
Rotten:27
Average Rating:3/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi... Roland Joffé's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seminal novel tells the story of an intolerant Puritan community in the early days of American settlement. In the 1660s, Hester Prynne (Demi Moore) makes the voyage to the New World in order to find religious freedom and a new home for her and her husband, Roger (Robert Duvall). However, Hester proves to be too free-spirited and strong-willed for most of the conservative Massachusetts Bay colony members. She abandons the laws of the colony and sets up a home far from the town square, living by her own rules and setting the townspeople's morals on end. While waiting for her husband's arrival from England, she befriends the town pastor, Arthur Dimmesdale (Gary Oldman), a liberal-minded and passionate man who instantly strikes Hester's fancy. Although the married woman and pious pastor are strongly attracted to one another, the two refuse to give in to temptation--until Roger is reported dead in a violent Indian massacre. When the townfolk hear about the ensuing scandal, they force Hester to wear a shameful scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her clothing at all times--while living as a moral and social outcast. [More]
Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh
Starring: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall, Lisa Jolliff-Andoh, Edward Hardwicke, Robert Prosky, Roy Dotrice, Joan Plowright
Director: Roland Joffé
Director: Roland Joffé
Composer: John Barry
Reviews for The Scarlet Letter
With Demi Moore and Gary Oldman as those 17th century adulterers Hester Prynne and the Rev. Dimmesdale, the movie has its silly moments, but more impressively, it is turgid, the second most prevalent trait of Joffe's films, and long, the third.
The result is merely a big-budget, opulently costumed soap opera that is way too long (two hours, 15 minutes) and way too slow.
Roland Joffe's deeply ridiculous movie is caught between rocks and hard places, from its "what were they thinking?" concept ("freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne") to its muddled execution.
Picture yourself trudging out of the theater with a letter "D" (for "disappointment") firmly pinned to your chest.
This catastrophic conglomeration of Puritanical repression and modern sensibilities squanders terrific acting talent and sumptuous production values, not to mention a darn good story.
Literary purists will be aghast at some of the liberties taken with the original text, but my complaints have more to do with cinematic misjudgments than with those in the book-to-screen translation.
Pitiful loose interpretation of the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel of adultery and its implications.
The picture's period furnishings include Hester's 17th-century hot tub.
The movie has removed the character's sense of guilt, and therefore the story's drama.
Students beware: This is no sub for Cliffs Notes. The script takes more liberties with the text than Elizabeth Berkley did with that pole in Showgirls.
Instead of being a symbolism-laden parable about hypocrisy and set-morals, it decides to become a condemnation of Puritan lifestyles, not because they're a bunch of hypocrites, but because, hey, they won't have sex!
Latest News for The Scarlet Letter
March 30, 2009:
An Easy A for Emma Stone ![]()
Emma Stone will star in a "modern, high-school retelling" of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," penned by Bert V. Royal and titled "Easy A." More...
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