A two-tiered romantic drama focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard.
While flatly acted and stiffly structured, W.E.’s brazenly sumptuous look and gorgeous costumes give the film a substantial entertainment value, even if the patchy result will be of less interest to those interested in royal history than Madonna’s own fan-base.
Madonna’s second outing as director only gives ammunition to her critics with a movie destined to join Body Of Evidence in the bargain bin.
WE is so weirdly directed and edited that you keep wondering if this is a cheese dream. Even basic history bends like a Salvador Dali watch so the “archive” footage of his funeral describes George VI as George III.
An uneven study of a notorious love story, raised by some superb performances and nuances, but brought down by awkward direction.
In the end, risible though it often is, W.E. is really little more than an indulgent folly, one that will doubtless generate a disproportionate amount of coverage given its relative insignificance as a film.
A pointless and pretentious oddity.
That's W.E., seeing a smaller picture when it should have gone big, opting for the glossy, pop star take on Wallis and Edward when it should have gone punk and political.
A stultifyingly vapid film, festooned with moments of pure aesthetic idiocy.
For some, the film will be paper hankie time, for others paper bag.
The fantastically wooden drama moves in a deafening series of clunks; setpieces are agonisingly orchestrated, and Madonna's historical perspective is eccentric.
A royal mess.
The two stories don't resonate or comment on each other, they're just mashed together, boringly, fatuously.
Maddeningly incompetant.
It’s a clutch of directorial assertions, with little to back them up: we leave the movie, sadly, knowing and caring less than before.
Apart from some nice period detail, Her Madgesty's second attempt to direct a film is an abysmal failure.
The two tiresome stories go together the way the sauce and the burger melt into each other within the bun of a Big Mac, and the effect is even less nutritious.
Here and there we get glimpses of a better film – and then it's back to Wally Winthrop's wistful wafting.
Andrea Roseborough on Madonna, Wallis Simpson and the scandal that rocked the Empire
Acting at the court of Queen Madge
W.E.'s Arianne Phillips on the world's best costume shops
W.E. stars: 'Madonna's passion was infectious'
We're still obsessed with Wallis Simpson
Madonna talks about 'fascination' for story behind W.E.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee from Friday February 10, 2012, until Thursday February 16, 2012. More info: www.dca.org.uk
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