The Danish Girl (2015)

The Danish Girl: Directed by Tom Hooper. With Alicia Vikander, Eddie Redmayne, Tusse Silberg, Adrian Schiller. A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

“With the transgender movement heavily in the media with figures like Caitlyn Jenner, and countless others heading the conversation, a film like Tom Hooperu0026#39;s u0026quot;The Danish Girlu0026quot; feels vibrantly relevant in todayu0026#39;s cinematic climate. Spearheaded by two powerhouse performances from Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, u0026quot;The Danish Girlu0026quot; is a luscious and gorgeously crafted piece, invigorating the soul with its conveying message of freedom and love.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs polarizing as Tom Hooper has been in his choices to shoot and frame his films like u0026quot;The Kingu0026#39;s Speechu0026quot; and u0026quot;Les Miserables,u0026quot; two films that are still delightfully poignant years after, u0026quot;The Danish Girlu0026quot; is by far his most alluring film to date. Cinematographer Danny Cohen truly hits his stride from the opening frames, as he calls back to Dick Popeu0026#39;s work in last yearu0026#39;s u0026quot;Mr. Turner,u0026quot; but allows a story fragrantly moving to become his blank canvas in which to respectfully capture the filmu0026#39;s most sentimental moments. If youu0026#39;re searching for the u0026quot;Hooper-ismsu0026quot; like people shoved into the corner of a scene or extreme close-ups, youu0026#39;ll find them, but thereu0026#39;s a resourceful way in which heu0026#39;s utilizing his tactics that feel genuine and necessary.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLast year Eddie Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in James Marshu0026#39;s u0026quot;The Theory of Everything,u0026quot; beating out some big names. A performance I quite liked but didnu0026#39;t fully understand the gravitation over other names throughout the year. As Lili Elbe, Redmayne ignites his most daring and captivating turn of his career. Visually married to the woman in dedication to the role, he allows u0026#39;Liliu0026#39; to wash over him both with aggression and delicacy. Itu0026#39;s a near masterpiece performance that Iu0026#39;ll remember for years to come.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEqually compelling, and even more magnificent in her turn is Alicia Vikander, who in just under two hours, solidifies herself as one of the most breathtaking and exciting actresses working today. Vikanderu0026#39;s subtlety and interpretation of u0026#39;Gerdau0026#39;, is a sensational vessel of complexity and honesty, as she runs the gauntlet of a woman desperate to understand and struggling to hold it together. As the tears well up in her eyes, and she desperately asks Lili to have u0026#39;Einaru0026#39; hold her, itu0026#39;s the single most heart wrenching scene this year. Itu0026#39;s the strongest and most compulsory turn by an actress this year, and one that will have the Academy Awards running to check off for a nomination.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe rest of the cast, in particular Amber Heard and Ben Whishaw is staggeringly good. Matthias Schoenaertsu0026#39; massive and stoic persona adds to the mystery and complicated nature of Liliu0026#39;s existence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhere u0026quot;The Danish Girlu0026quot; faults itself is with the script by Lucinda Coxen. While she successfully captures the spirit and tone of Liliu0026#39;s struggle through her life, her inserted beats of on-the-nose dialogue can be trying at times. Having Gerda say things like u0026quot;I felt like I was kissing myselfu0026quot; when recalling her and her husbandu0026#39;s first kiss, was a little over-the-top in an attempt at foreshadowing. However, she delightfully captures the humble beginnings of their marriage, with the secret that plagues their union with accuracy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJust one year after winning his long overdue Oscar for scoring u0026quot;The Grand Budapest Hotel,u0026quot; composer Alexandre Desplat synchronizes fervor and empathy with his brilliant orchestra. I believe its one of his most profound works to date. Same can be said for Production Designer Eve Stewart and Costume Designer Paco Delgado, who both capture the essence of European history with accuracy and vitality.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;The Danish Girlu0026quot; is a seducing feature with fortitude and grace, all of which measures up to heroic story of being yourself, no matter what the circumstances. Tom Hooperu0026#39;s direction, along with Redmayne and Vikanderu0026#39;s work will likely be at the top of Oscaru0026#39;s to-do list for the awards season.”