W.E. - A love story

W.E. is a 2011 film, written and directed by Madonna, not word's anyone interested in cinema is ever ford of hearing. W.E. is the story of Edward VII of England, who fell in love with an American woman named Wallis Simpson, and who abdicated the throne to be with her. The film draws parallels between this story, and that of a wealthy socialite living in New York in 2001, Wally Winthrop, a woman obsessed with the story of Wallis Simpson, and whose life carries certain parallels with that of Wallis.

I have in the past expressed a loathing for films that feel the need to use multiple storylines, as it often feels redundant and over complicated, W.E. is no exception, the love story between Wallis and Edward is fascinating, and not something i know a huge amount about, the story featuring Wally Winthrop on the other hand is trite, melodramatic and boorish, much of it's story involves Wally obsessively musing over the life of the Duke and Duchess, her story with her abusive husband is not much more interesting either, and the story doesn't carry the affecting weight that it is supposed to, by the end of the story, there simply isn't the emotional payoff that is required.

The film looks fantastic, and Madonna clearly spared no expense, the parts featuring Wallis and Edward are particularly beautiful. Wallis Simpson was known for her sense of style and is today seen as a fashion icon. The clothes were partially recreated from old patterns found in archives of clothes actually worn by the Duchess. What is clear from the film is that Wallis Simpson had fun with fashion, she was unafraid to wear clothes that were extravagant and fun. Her fashion legacy is suitably portrayed in this film, and the costuming is beautiful and detailed Also fantastic is the music of the film, the score, composed by Abel Korzeniowski is harrowing and ethereal, mysterious and beautiful.

This part of the film is also reasonably well acted, Andrea Riseborough is fantastic as the Duchess, she gives a realistic harrowing performance, Riseborough successfully penetrates the iconography of and manages to find the human inside the portrait of a woman vilified and despised by the British public, and manages to create something somewhat resembling a person. The Wallis Simpson created by this film is a woman who is fragile and delicate, and who never intended to hurt anyone, she is portrayed as being fun, loud and with a wicked humor.

Despite being a fairly well handled film, W.E. is also a highly frustrating film, as it never reaches it's full potential, the scenes featuring Wallis and Edward are fantastically acted and visually lavish, however the whole spectacle which should be allowed to soar, is instead caged in a drearily dull modern retelling that is mostly histrionic melodrama and partially hysteria. W.E. whilst being a visual treat, never reaches it's full potential, and it's a shame that so much which is good got clouded in so much that is bad. Rating: B-

Wallis Simpson: Attractive, my dear, is a polite way of saying a woman's made the most of what she's got.