Based on Honore de Balzac's 150 plus year old novel that exemplifies the old saying, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, "Cousin Bette" is a deliciously wicked, but ultimately cold and detached tale of revenge. In the true spirit of centuries old French farces, the story features plenty of backstabbing, elaborate schemes and comical bawdiness. Despite its period setting, however, the film's universal themes of love, greed and revenge -- when combined with the first rate cast -- easily makes this story approachable to modern day audiences.
Six-time Oscar nominee Jessica Lange (with victories for "Tootsie" and "Blue Sky") is quite good as the homely spinster. Having already cut her teeth on the vindictive mother-in-law character, Martha, from this year's "Hush," Lange seems well prepared for the role. Fortunately, she underplays the part in comparison to that earlier work. Dressed and made up to conceal her natural beauty and radiance, Lange is believable as the woman who can no longer contain the years of pent up neglect suffered at the hands of those around her.
Oscar nominee Elisabeth Shue ("Leaving Las Vegas) is delightful in her role as the goofy and bawdy burlesque performer. While her bubbly, million dollar smile has occasionally worked against certain characters she's tried to play, here she wonderfully uses it to her advantage.
Other supporting performers, including Bob Hoskins ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit") in a small, but fun role, Hugh Laurie ("101 Dalmatians") delivering a subtly comic performance highly reminiscent of the late David Niven, and Aden Young ("Paradise Road") as the suddenly arrogant, heartthrob artist, are all enjoyable -- even if they're not always believable as French citizens.
Despite the elaborate and ultimately "successful" revenge scheme that Bette sets forth, however, the proceedings aren't exactly fun or wicked enough to make this film as much a crowd pleaser at it could or should be. That, added to Bette's aloof characteristics, prevents the audience from completely sympathizing with her and rooting for her success.
Also troublesome is that while a few obstacles arise during her elaborate plan, none are difficult for her to overcome. Displaying a near clinical iciness that isn't taken far enough to be considered camp, Bette's behavior never elicits any worry from the audience that her scheme might not work. Therefore, the average moviegoer almost always remains emotionally detached and distant from her character and what should be an exciting plan.
In addition, and unlike other French farcical efforts, such as Molière's "Tartuffe," this film isn't the kind that will deliver big belly laughs. Instead, it elicits more of an amused recognition of a vindictive woman's efforts and the sly plan she slowly unveils.
Tony award winning director Des McAnuff ("Big River"), working from a screenplay adaption by Lynn Siefert ("Cool Runnings") and Susan Tarr, has made a decent cinematic debut with this picture. The period costumes, the superb production design, and the lively score all lend the correct atmosphere to the film.
At times, however, the actors -- despite the overall good performances -- feel more just like actors playing parts than real, flesh and blood characters. Of course, French period farces aren't known for their realistically portrayed characters, so that's only a minor objection and isn't much of an overall distraction.
Decent, but not great, this lightweight film could have benefitted from involving the audience to a greater degree and by utilizing a more cleverly wicked sense of humor and retribution. While we "admire" what occurs and "appreciate" the effort, it's nothing so sensational that you'll go home and tell the neighbors about the clever scheme you've just witnessed. Even so, the film and the performances contained within still manage to be fairly enjoyable, and thus we give "Cousin Bette" a 6 out of 10.