Ambitious to a fault, “Winter’s Tale” (based on the eponymous book by Mark Helprin) preaches humanism and universal connectivity, but delivers a plot that is often clunky, prematurely dramatic and unconvincing in the magical world it attempts to create. The characters, seemingly devoid of individual autonomy, act almost as puppets of the much-heralded force of destiny.
Taking on a role of its own, destiny, in the form of both a white horse and an omnipresent twinkling of light, guides young thief Peter Lake (Colin Farrell, “Saving Mr. Banks”), to the upper class dwellings of house-ridden heiress Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay, “Downton Abbey”). While attempting to break into the family safe, he is accidentally spotted by Penn.
Desperate for companionship, she dismisses his original intent to steal, and offers him tea. They exchange unfortunate truths about themselves—Peter is a wanted-for-dead thief, and Beverly is dying of consumption (tuberculosis).
All barriers aside, they fall instantly in love, believing that finding each other is their destiny and salvation. All the while, external forces work against them, in the form of the strikingly menacing mob boss Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe, “Man of Steel”) and the villainous, almost hilariously peculiar Lucifer (Will Smith, “After Earth”).
Complete with flying horses and characters of varying degrees of immortality, director Akiva Goldsman’s ( “I Am Legend”) “Winter’s Tale” is defined by a series of bizarre incidents attributed to both destiny and magic. These elements of fantasy come across as superfluous, even incongruous niceties. The stark contrast of poverty-stricken New York City to the out-of-nowhere miraculous (and beautiful, granted) fantasyland is hard to believe. Even while suspending belief, some of the scenes, bordering on laughable ridiculousness, are a tough sell.
Dialogue and action that emerges without any build-up. “Is it possible to love someone so completely they cannot die?” asks Lake, which, for a line intended to sweep viewers off their feet, somehow comes across as awkward in the context of the scene (they’ve just met!). It doesn’t help that the characters seem to act unthinkingly and without reason, driven by an invisible force to push them to fulfill their supposed destinies.
Despite the lack of multi-dimensional personalities written into the script, the actors are commendably emotive and expressive in the film. The acting carries the film, but cannot compensate for what lacks in the plot for their characters.
“Winter’s Tale” may be worth watching for fans of the book; for everyone else, save your Valentine’s date night for a venture less frustrating.
