A look at the mysterious relationship between Victorian art critic John Ruskin and his teenage bride Effie Gray.
Handsome, well-mounted but dull, dull, dull.
he result is dark and offbeat, but as a murky anti-romance, Gray is undeniably effective.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable, if slightly sluggish biopic that overcomes its flaws thanks to Thompson's way with dialogue, although it doesn't tug on the heartstrings as surely as you might hope.
The filmmakers do an excellent job of portraying her misery but that’s very bleak subject matter for sustaining an entire movie.
It’s a little hammy and soapy, with an occasional Pythonesque sense of its own importance but this film, directed by Richard Laxton, is performed with gusto.
Interesting subject, stellar cast, curiously packaged.
Effie Gray is a very beautiful, elegant period drama.
It should fizz with desire, passion and brilliant, intriguing characters but is unfortunately rather dreary and slow.
Intelligently dramatises the prison-like nature of Effie’s status while struggling to engage us in what is essentially a non-relationship.
Verdict: Turgid period tale.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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