Search - Age of Innocence

In Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 novel, romance between an upper-class gentleman and an ostracized lady is doomed by 19th century New York society. Shortly after his engagement to blandly genteel May Welland (Winona Ryder), Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is reacquainted with May's scandalous cousin Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). As the head of an esteemed family, Archer initially uses his standing to try to rehabilitate Ellen's reputation, but he finds himself increasingly drawn to her disregard for the codes of New York manners. Bound by ingrained society mores and his peers' insinuations, Newland tries to dodge his growing passion by rushing his marriage to May, but he cannot keep himself from confessing his love to Ellen. Recognizing that Newland could never abandon his sense of honor and be happy, Ellen pushes Newland to May and leaves town. The marriage proceeds as dictated, but when Newland unexpectedly sees Ellen again, he yearns for the affair to come to fruition. However, he underestimates not only what May knows but also her ability to uphold the rules of propriety. Sumptuously shot by Michael Ballhaus, the film offers meticulously designed costumes and settings that evoke a culture as seductively beautiful in its surfaces as it is stifling in its rituals. Unspoken emotions are expressed through such details as yellow roses or a clipped cigar, a fade to red or a single camera move. Using Wharton's original prose to comment on the setting's hypocrisies, Joanne Woodward's voiceover narration suggests how much decisive power is buried beneath dainty femininity. The Age of Innocence received five Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Ryder and Best Screenplay for Scorsese and Jay Cocks, and a win for Best Costumes. Although The Age of Innocence seemed like a departure from Scorsese's prior work, Newland is as much at the mercy of his circle's Byzantine structure (and his own conscience) as are Scorsese's more familiar mobsters; Newland's persecutors just wear white tie and tails. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

Daniel Day-Lewis - Newland Archer
Michelle Pfeiffer - Ellen Olenska
Winona Ryder - May Welland
Miriam Margolyes - Mrs. Mingott
Richard E. Grant - Larry Lefferts
Alec McCowen - Sillerton Jackson

1993	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	British Academy of Film and Television	Miriam Margolyes
1993	Best Supporting Actress (nominee)	British Academy of Film and Television	Winona Ryder
1994	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	British Academy of Film and Television	Miriam Margolyes
1993	Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominee)	Golden Globe	Michelle Pfeiffer
1993	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Golden Globe	Winona Ryder
1993	Best Director (nominee)	Golden Globe	Martin Scorsese
1993	Best Director (nominee)	Directors Guild of America	Martin Scorsese
1993	Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Jay Cocks
1993	Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Martin Scorsese
1993	Best Art Direction (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Dante Ferretti
1993	Best Costume Design (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Gabriella Pescucci
1993	Best Score (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Elmer Bernstein
1993	Best Supporting Actress (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Winona Ryder
1993	Best Director (winner)	National Board of Review	Martin Scorsese
1993	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	National Board of Review	Winona Ryder

Martin Scorsese's beautifully detailed costume drama, adapted from Edith Wharton's award-winning novel, makes a splendid DVD, though one that is unfortunately lacking in the extras department. The widescreen presentation (2.35:1), anamorphically enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs, is clean and sharp throughout. There are plenty of saturated colors, especially yellow and red, and they do cause some blooming and bleeding in some scenes. But overall, the picture is excellent and stable. The Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack is great, as is the two-channel surround option. There is also a French surround track as well. The disc also has multiple subtitle options, the original theatrical trailer (as well as others), production notes, and filmographies. The Columbia-TriStar disc also includes informative liner notes inside the keep case. It's a disc well-worth owning, though hopefully there will be a more complete special edition to come in the future. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of Age of Innocence...
1	A Nos Amours [Criterion Collection]
S	Sweet Bird of Youth (NR)
15	The Remains of the Day (PG)
1	Kimagure Orange Road: The Movie (13 & Up)
2	Mala Noche [Criterion Collection]
1	Speaking Parts
4	Danielle Steel's Changes (NR)
These movies have the subject or theme of Age of Innocence...
S	4 by Agnes Varda [Criterion Collection]
S	Effi Briest [Subtitled] (NR)
2	Lady Caroline Lamb
S	Body Chemistry (R)
1	Criss Cross (NR)
S	Melo
1	Surviving Desire (NR)
1	A Handful of Dust (PG)
These movies share cast/crew with Age of Innocence...
8	The King of Comedy (PG)
8	Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (PG)
19	Raging Bull (R)
2	Who's That Knocking at My Door (R)
2	A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (NR)
9	Mean Streets (R)
4	New York, New York [Special Edition] (PG)
3	Boxcar Bertha (R)
5	Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (PG-13)
21	The Color of Money (R)
1	Round Midnight (R)
6	New York Stories (PG)
9	The Unbearable Lightness of Being [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection] (R)
8	The Last Temptation of Christ [Widescreen] [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection] (R)
62	Dead Poets Society (PG)
80	GoodFellas (R)
32	Taxi Driver (R)
94	Bram Stoker's Dracula [Fullscreen/Widescreen] (R)
8	Guilty by Suspicion (PG-13)
1	The Doctor and the Devils (R)
These movies cover the same subjects as Age of Innocence...
5	The Buccaneers
102	Gangs of New York (R)
These movies were ripped-off by Age of Innocence...
S	The Earrings of Madame De... [Criterion Collection]
These movies are similar to Age of Innocence...
2	The Bostonians (PG)
38	Dangerous Liaisons (R)
2	Ethan Frome (PG)
1	The Europeans
6	The Heiress (NR)
16	Howards End (PG)
S	L' Innocente (NR)
15	The Remains of the Day (PG)
4	The Portrait of a Lady (PG-13)
5	The Wings of the Dove (R)
19	Mansfield Park (PG-13)
1	Onegin (R)
5	The Golden Bowl (R)
6	The House of Mirth (PG)
24	Far From Heaven (PG-13)
129	Brokeback Mountain [Widescreen] (R)
1	Children of the Century