Disney's
live-action
film
"Cinderella",
crafted
with
pomp
and
splendour
as
a
typically
traditional
fairytale
by
director
Kenneth
Branagh,
reiterates
the
oft
heard
story
of
how
an
orphan
girl,
harassed
by
her
cruel
step-mother
and
equally
harsh
step-sisters,
marries
a
Prince.
Laced
with
life-lessons
for
everybody,
this
film
is
more
than
just
a
sweet
fantasy
romance
drama.
The
tone
of
the
narration
is
laid
at
the
very
beginning,
when
little
Ella
(Eloise
Webb)
tells
her
mother,
"I
believe
in
everything".
And,
as
the
story
unravels,
you
are
aware
of
what
to
expect
and
yet,
wonder
how
the
film
got
its
name
Cinderella,
when
the
protagonist
is
called
Ella.
The
telling
has
all
the
elements
like
a
caring
father,
a
nasty
step-mother
Lady
Tremaine
and
her
daughters
Drisella
and
Anastasia,
Prince
Charming,
Fairy
Godmother,
the
Pumpkin
turning
into
a
carriage,
the
mice
into
horses,
lizards
as
footmen,
the
goose
as
the
carriage
rider
and
the
glass
shoes.
They
make
you
nostalgic.
As
the
story
moves
at
a
brisk
pace
with
a
few
distinctively
funny
and
emotional
moments,
you
are
glued
to
the
screen.
You
simply
become
aware
of
the
freshness
of
the
approach
and
the
simple,
yet
minute,
logical
stances
that
the
director
takes.
And
where
it
deviates
and
expands
upon,
it
does
so
in
ways
that
add
nuance
and
depth.
These
help
not
only
to
make
the
tale
credible,
but
likeable
also.
The
film
belongs
to
television
actress
Lily
James
who
plays
the
grown-up
Cinderella.
Her
sweet
demeanour
is
reflected
by
her
"kindness
and
courage".
And
physically,
her
transformation
from
a
housemaid
to
"the
beautiful
princess
to
be" is
mesmerising.
Aptly
paired
opposite
her
is
Richard
Madden,
the
charming
Prince
who
she
fondly
refers
to
as
"Mr.
Kits".
The
onscreen
chemistry
between
them
is
palpable
and
that
makes
their
romance
believable.
Ben
Chaplin
and
Hayley
Atwell
as
Cinderella's
loving
and
caring
biological
parents
are
functional.
Their
scenes
with
Cinderella
are
synthetically
sweet.
Their
equation
seems
tailored
to
heighten
the
contrast
delivered
by
the
antagonists.
Cate
Blanchett
as
Mrs.
Tremaine,
Sophie
McShera
as
Drisella,
Holliday
Grainger
as
Anastasia
and
Helena
Bonham
Carter
as
the
Fairy
Godmother
make
their
presence
felt
with
dramatic
overtures.
Their
scenes
are
theatrical
and
engaging.
The
dialogues
are
characteristically
a
Disney
product
--
very
crisp,
chirpy
and
intermittently
spiked
with
tasteful
and
elegant
humour.
Visually,
the
elaborate
earthy
and
picturesque
sets
by
production
designer
Dante
Ferrett,
period
costumes
by
Sandy
Powell
and
fine
performances
by
the
actors
are
brilliantly
captured
by
cinematographer
Haris
Zambarloukos.
With
smooth
camera
movements,
his
wide
angle
shots,
especially
the
colourful
ballroom
scene
and
the
last
mastershot,
are
compelling.
The
computer
generated
images
are
of
fine
quality
and
captivating.
The
dancing
butterflies,
the
digitally
rendered
animals
and
their
magical
transformation
along
with
Cinderella's
makeover,
mesh
smoothly
into
the
live-action
drama.
Cinderella's
race
against
time
when
she
has
to
return
home
before
the
last
stroke
of
midnight
is
thrilling,
as
well
as
fascinating.
In
modern
times
and
with
a
questioning
audience,
the
only
issue
this
timeless
classic
faces
is
its
oversight
to
justify
how
could
Cinderella
have
a
laidback
attitude
and
wait
for
destiny
to
play
its
part?
And
the
uncalled
for,
deliberate
low-neck
gowns
that
the
ladies
wore
at
the
ball
gave
the
scene
a
vulgar
tinge.
Nevertheless,
this
"Cinderella" with
"her
courage,
kindness
and
a
little
bit
of
magic"
is
worth
a
watch.