By SETH HYNES
Grace of Monaco
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth, Frank Langella, Parker Posey
Rated PG for mild themes, sexual references and infrequent coarse language
GRACE Of Monaco is about living with your choices.
The film is a historical drama about the life of Grace Kelly, golden age Hollywood star and princess of Monaco. When Alfred Hitchcock (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) offers her a role in his latest film, Kelly (played by Nicole Kidman) grapples with her identity and duty to the people of Monaco as the country faces French invasion.
Monaco’s royal family expressed disapproval at the film’s moderately fictionalised take on Grace Kelly’s life. Grace Of Monaco does present an idealised portrayal of Kelly, but it’s still a reverent depiction of a person who has achieved a certain legendary status, and Nicole Kidman plays this role magnificently.
Kidman superbly conveys Kelly’s incredible elegance and nobility but also her character’s uncertainty and feelings of entrapment in her marriage to Prince Rainier III (Tim Roth).
The film has wonderful cinematography, elegant music and solid performances. The pacing is a little slow and erratic, but the engaging emotional journey is more important, and the plot eventually comes together to show Kelly adapting to her situation.
It is thoroughly satisfying to see Kelly use her acting skills (with Kidman impressively playing an actress who, in turn, acts in politics) to help in Monaco’s preservation.
Nicole Kidman’s entrancing performance is by far the film’s biggest draw, but Grace Of Monaco is also a beautiful and emotionally deep experience.
