The Age of Innocence

If you like Scorsese's direction (which can be distinctive even in a costume historical drama) and can appreciate the performances of Daniel-Day Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer, you'll be pleased. After all, The Age of Innocence is no highbrow Scorsese, but rather a slow-moving tale from the "better class of society" about transcending the social conventions of the time. The period atmosphere of New York in the second half of the 19th century is of course excellent, but that's kind of what we expect from Martin Scorsese. And yet even despite a fairly linear story, it's still a very watchable affair, and that's mainly because of the acting, the period sets, and the excellent soundtrack. (07/01/2019)

"The Age of Innocence" is a film about a man who already has his place in society certain, he is popular and respected. Partly, it is because of where and when he was born. He lives in a society where a woman is the one who is in charge of the household, or she is the one who is obedient and, as a good Christian, gets married soon and stays in that marriage. However, the main character, Newland Archer (played convincingly by Daniel Day-Lewis), has slightly different views on society and, unlike other men, sees women as equals. Perhaps that's why Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer) impresses him. She has divorced, after all. So here we have another woman who stands against fate, against society, but this time it is the man we focus on. He is actually the weak one, he is the one who submits to society. Even though he loves another woman, he made a promise to someone else and will marry her, even though she will never be loved as she deserves. This time it is the man who is the weak hero, he is the one who can be considered - feminized. In this direction, Scorsese shows how society has changed, how roles intertwine and are quite unstable. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/03/vek-nevinnosti-1993-80.html (09/04/2013)

A historical costume melodrama about the unfulfilled love of two members of New York's high society in the second half of the 19th century. Although there are objections in the comments regarding its length and "emptiness and dullness," I personally don't think that the weakness of the film lies in the quality of the screenplay and its execution. In fact, such careful psychological characterization and well-thought-out story structure are certainly not often seen. Thanks to the budget and Scorsese's directorial skills, The Age of Innocence is a truly impressive depiction of the life of the bourgeois elite, starting with the ladies' wardrobe and ending with the grandeur of bourgeois residences. Yes, this film does not rush anywhere, and you must look for adventure, eroticism, or tension in other genres and titles. But this is not Scorsese's or his team's fault. My detachment and more modest evaluation are rather of an "ideological" nature. I simply don't feel well among those chatty snobs, hypocrites, and manipulators. I have no sympathy for the central couple either, who ultimately decided their own fate. If you decide to sell yourself for a noble title and meet the expectations of your family and social conventions, you must also sacrifice something, at least personal freedom and emotional fulfillment. They both had a choice, no doubt about it, but they couldn't overcome the limits of their social class. They sold themselves, and it apparently didn't hurt Newland much. Scorsese looks at his calculating bourgeois characters with a kind understanding rather than stabbing and biting, as social-critical authors would. In his interpretation, it is more of a romantic story of unhappy love than a social drama about period-class morality. I would gladly watch this story again but in the style of Guy de Maupassant... Overall impression: 65%. (15/01/2014)

In terms of craftsmanship and aesthetics, this film is top-notch. The camera work is excellent, and the sets and locations are amazing. The story, however, is peculiar at least. The first half in particular is slow and incredibly tedious. I really liked the storytelling style, but the pace really needed to be faster. Nevertheless, the depiction of the lifestyle of that time is precise. (12/03/2004)

Formally precise, but reprehensibly shallow and uninteresting in content. Lewis and Pfeiffer have a lot of feeling, as do masters Scorsese and Bernstein, but due to its emotional coldness and excessive runtime, I unfortunately can't view the film as anything other than an educational glimpse into the lives of the social elite of the 18th century. And the fact that it is a very believable and visually impressive glimpse doesn't change that. Not even the best director could have saved this romance. 65% (10/01/2014)