SABRINA (1995), starring Harrison Ford & Julia Ormond. Written by Barbara Benedeck & David Rayfiel. Directed by Sydney Pollack.
TIM SAYS:
Well, this version of the movie doesn't include Humphrey Bogart, Harrison Ford is not playing either Han Solo or Indiana Jones and it's not in black-and-white. All these things should be unforgiveable. But, though the 1995 film does not hold up very well when compared to the 1955 original, it is (as one critic wrote) "a pleasant diversion."
Aside from what I mentioned above, the movie has a few other points against it. It's 20 minutes longer than the original (and seems to be a little longer) without needing to be. And it depends too much on drama while dropping much of the comedy that gave the original its charm.
But the cast does their jobs well and the movie's big denoument scene (in which Linus is forced to admit he loves Sabrina and follows her to Paris) is arguably done a little better. And the part of David's fiance is more fleshed out here and more important to the plot than in the original.
All this allows it to make up a few points, but the original is definitely the superior film. If only Harrison Ford had been allowed to use a blaster or a bull whip at some point. That would have saved it for sure.
ANGELA SAYS:
I’m torn on this one. I like things about both versions of the movie so it’s hard to pick a true winner.
Original
PROS
1. Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart – need I say more?
2. The script does a better job of showing Sabrina’s teenage, over the top, despair at David’s inattention
3. Hepburn’s fashion display is much more “Paris”
CONS
1. Hepburn doesn’t look frumpy at the beginning – just younger. I don’t know if it’s the studio’s aversion to making their stars ugly, but I didn’t see much transformation between the New York and Paris Sabrina’s
2. Elizabeth Tyson is just a place holder, with no personality or development to make us really believe she’s enough to reform David Larrabee
3. The “take charge” David in the dénouement doesn’t feel believable
4. Bogart (53 to Hepburn’s 24), just looks too old to be accepted as a valid love interest. Although the black and white film somewhat softens the extremes.
Remake
PROS
1. Ormand is much more believable as the frumpy ugly duckling who transforms into a swan. The makeup and costuming at the beginning makes the transformation much more believable.
2. David Larrabee is a more fleshed out character than the original. I can believe Elizabeth Tyson is capable of reining in David’s excesses, and she won’t put up with his playboy ways
3. This version of David is much more believable in the dénouement;I can accept he’s secretly kept up with the business. Even though he isn’t likely to be up to the day to day running of the company; he seems able to fill in, with the help of his mother and the rest of the staff. I can believe that the two brother’s will have a much better relationship when Linus returns
CONS
1. Ford and Ormand just aren’t the same as Hepburn and Bogey.
2. The extended Paris scenes where Sabrina “finds” herself are too long and unnecessary. It slows the pace of the movie and doesn’t have the charm of cooking school Sabrina in the original.
3. The age difference between Ford (53) and Ormand (30) isn’t quite as wide, but it still looks “off” on screen.
4. And, for Tim, there isn’t a bullwhip or blaster in sight.
Overall, I’d say the original 1954 film edges out the remake, but only just. There is a lighthearted, ethereal charm to it that is missing in the later one. I don’t know if it’s the black and white aspect, but it just has more of a fairy tale feel. I can see it beginning “once upon a time…….. and see Cinderella set in modern times.
No comments:
Post a Comment