Director Stephen Frears plays it decidedly safe with this graphic novel come to the screen. The story of a sexy columnist who comes back to her rural Dorset village and stirs the passions of the local men (mostly writers) is a far cry from 'hardy' material for a screenplay, despite being based on FAR FROM THE MADDENING CROWD. Visually, the scenery is lush, but there isn't a hint of the story's graphic novel roots except for a couple of split screens and a title or two. With no help from their director, a crack cast might have put some comfort in this cold farm, but this grouping looks more like stand-ins for a top flight Brit-cast and do little to embroider the yarn with thespianic interest. Not nearly funny enough, nor nearly dark enough - this is a muddled cow pasture of a film that left me looking for greener cinematic pastures.
Review of Tamara Drewe
