Review: "Wuthering Heights"

Official synopsis: A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff (Owen Cooper as a child, Jacob Elordi as an adult) and Catherine Earnshaw. (Charlotte Mellington as a child, Margo Robbie as an adult)

I'll start off by saying that I don't care about the novel and I barely remember any of the versions of this I have watched. Not to sound flippant, but I mention this because I don't have a dog in the current internet fight going on over this film. Emerald Fennell has shown in all her directorial efforts that she's a provocateur and I love that for her.

And that worked out great for me because I thoroughly enjoyed Wuthering Heights. Like many adaptations, it doesn't do the full book, it keeps Cathy Earnshaw and Heathcliff as the main figures, and that's fine. The production design and costume design are absolutely breathtaking. The use of reds and pinks in Cathy's clothes are so striking against the moody backdrops. The only fumble is the unfortunate wig they stick on Young Cathy.

The actors are all spectacular as well. It was nice seeing young Owen Cooper in this after being so familiar with him in Adolescence. He, Mellington and Vy Nguyen who plays young Nelly aren't in the film for long, but they are very memorable. Elordi, Robbie, and Hong Chau are obvious power houses. Elordi and Robbie have excellent chemistry together and all three actors do a great job of feeling like grown up versions of the actors that played them as children. Alison Oliver as Isabella was another standout. Her character is kind of ridiculous, and I can see book fans feeling some type of way about how her character is portrayed in this, but I loved it. 

If anything, I was expecting this film to be a bit more...hornier. There's an insane sense of longing, but I was expecting some Lady Chatterley's Lover level of love scenes in this and there really isn't. There's no nudity, which also surprised me a bit.

I had a great time with this, it was the perfect February movie for me, and I hope I see it in the Production and Costume categories next Oscar season.

Grade: B