Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998)

No one does tragedies as well as Thomas Hardy, and this new BBC production of his 1891 novel is a peach. Tess is a teenager captured between happiness with an educated man (Oliver Milburn) and a dreadful existence with a scheming aristocrat (Jason Flemyng). Compared to Roman Polanski's 1980 Oscar-winning film Tess, the BBC version is far more interested in Hardy's text than in directorial exportations. Hence, the famous strawberry scene in which the aristocrat seduces the young Tess is just long enough to plumb the emotions; Polanski's version made the scene into a miniature classic of innocence and seduction. Both versions are worth seeing.

Star Justine Waddell gives Tess more pluck and less innocence than Natassja Kinski does. She makes Tess a character to root for, which can lead to your own tragedy when working through Hardy's tale. The film doesn't have the drop-dead gorgeousness of Polanski's version but is quite beautiful. Director Ian Sharp keeps in line with Hardy's affection for rural settings and vistas. Flemyng is such a great cad it leads one to wonder what he might have done with Billy Zane's role in Titanic. Another winning adaptation of a classic from the BBC. --Doug Thomas Amazon.com

 Love The Actress
I enjoyed Tess and watched it twice, the second time with my sister because we both like period films. She was not as jazzed for it as I was though. thanks March 15, 2008

 A Jewel
There was some terrific acting in this mini series, specifically from Justine Waddell, Jason Flyming and Oliver MIlburn. This film has a dark ending, but the production itself is not. There are many light moments to overcome the tragedy that is unfolding. Tess is a traveller on a road towards her inevitable fate, a fate that seems typical of Thomas Hardy. Much like Antigone in the play, once the clock is wound and events are set in motion, the outcome becomes unavoidable. Justine Waddell as Tess is beautiful as a sixteen year old and even more so four years later, but when she is forced to do hard labor to earn a living, she has the mannerisms, the walk and the talk of a laborer who is worn down by the grind. As the charming Angel, Oliver Milburn is pleasant and then downright disgusting in his betrayal of Tess. The actor did a great job as the loving courter and then the creep that rejected her. Then he came back after he decided he could forgive her. Even though it was kind of cute, I was thinking: What a jerk. He's forgiving her after all she went through! Even in the end when he was trying to finally be the loving husband that he should have been to begin with, I couldn't forgive him. I felt that it was only the now twisted mind of Tess that allowed her to forgive him. And there was Jason Flemying as Alec, the D'eurberville that wasn't. He loved Tess in his own way, she declared. Well he did. This guy went above and beyond the call of duty to love and care for Tess, but she would not love him. Yes, he did rape her, and he never knew the consequences until it was too late. For Tess, much that people did to right their wrongs was 'too late'. I did not find this DVD to be depressing. It was vintage Hardy and very well done. Also, I did not see this as a romance at all. This was a tragedy to be played out. I was also impressed by the work scenes, in the fowl farm and later in part 2 on the farm where Tess was working. Very depressing working conditions that demonstrated how far the lady had fallen. Tess of the D'eubervilles was excellent. September 28, 2007

 Depressing period piece movie
Depressing, gloomy, meaningless, useless garbage. I bought this movie based on the number of positive reviews I read. I had great difficulty making it to the end, after which I wanted to throw the DVD out the window ( but instead gave it to my sister as a gift). If you enjoy watching wasted lives and meaningless death this movie is for you. It's not that I can't handle such themes, but why bother. August 25, 2007

 Waddell Gives an Oscar Worthy Performance as "Tess"
Justine Waddell captures the soul of Tess Durbyfield, a young, naive, somewhat conflicted, and yet deeply loyal woman residing in the 19th century English countryside. This simple country girl, sent to claim kin with the rich D'Urbervilles, is badly used by her "cousin" Alec. Ashamed and stigmatized, Tess reconciles herself to a loveless life -- until she meets Angel Clare, who is intent on capturing this elusive, complex girl. Torn between her fear that she's unworthy and her love for Angel, Tess finally relents. But for Hardy's characters happiness is haunted, unsteady and tragically short-lived. After confessing her "sin" the night of their nuptials, Angel abandons poor Tess. Weighed down with the hope of his return, her loyalty and her plight, Tess struggles on. Waddell beautifully portrays Tess as she unravels emotionally and heeds the violent impulses of her ancient family -- the D'Urbervilles. August 2, 2007

 Hardy kills another romance novel
Well adapted, true to the story, but honestly: Of all the books out there, why would they film this? It's depressing, dismal, and desperate. There are NO heroes in this. I would compare it to Vanity Fair but at least in Vanity Fair there is a good guy to get a silly girl in the end.
This is what happens when men write romance novels. If you don't believe me watch his other "classic": The Major of Casterbridge.

1 star for Music
1 star for Acting and adaptation

0 for brilliant story

If you want to watch a good romance that has depth, makes you weepy, and that ends well, watch the BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. June 23, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...