Usually the name Jane Campion is kryptonite for me. I know it’s not fashionable for a film critic to hate her, and it probably won’t win me any friends among our female readers, but I think her films are unbearable. But this once, she’s doing something that has me interested… at least until I actually see it. I’m sure it’ll be as much of a bore as all of her other films in practice, but in theory at least, her new movie Bright Star has my attention.
To be fair though, the reasons for my interest are pretty shallow. See, Bright Star is about a three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Browne. That interests me, because the lore of John Keats figures prominently in the philosophy of what is currently my all time favorite novel, “Hyperion” by Dan Simmons. Yes, I realize that this has absolutely nothing to do with “Hyperion” other than a slim Keats connection but that’s how much I love “Hyperion”. For me it’s enough.
The overrated actress and tabloid darling Abbie Cornish has already been cast as Fanny Browne. The latest from The Hollywood Reporter is that Campion has also now found her Keats.
Perfume star Ben Whishaw is supposed to be in negotiations to take the part. Before Bright Star though, you can see him in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There. The film casts several different actors to play Dylan (nobody seems sure how that will work), and along with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett (no really), Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger he’s one of them.
