Ammonite

I don’t even think I need to tell anyone that the performances from the leads are incredible. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan are two of the most lauded and respected actresses in the world. So naturally, the chemistry between the two of them is believable and even a little intoxicating. Winslet plays a very serious woman, while Ronan plays a more whimsical person. They bring out the best in each other, and it’s great to see.

The supporting roles are also well-performed. I already mentioned Fiona Shaw, who, in my opinion, can do no wrong. Gemma Jones, who plays Mary’s mother, and Alec Secareanu as the town doctor, as well as the aforementioned James McArdle, add necessary flavor to a movie that is sometimes too quiet for my tastes. That is really my only complaint, and it’s not even really a complaint, it’s a matter of me enjoying a more dialogue-heavy film. The subtleties in Ammonite are part of what makes it great. Don’t get that confused with the film being boring, as there are bursts of shocking action (particularly of the bedroom kind) that break up the beautiful silences.

“…the chemistry between [Ronan and Winslet] is believable and even a little intoxicating.”

Francis Lee does a wonderful job with Ammonite, and I will be shocked if there are no Oscar nominations given to the film, especially since Soarsie Ronan is the Academy’s golden child of the past few years. Cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine captures all the beauty of Lyme Regis and in the actor’s faces with equal care. The movie is set up to pull the heartstrings, and it’s very effective at doing so. You care for the characters and what happens to them, and you leave the film wanting to know more.

I think it’s a wonderful story using real people, and I will now forever be wondering if Charlotte Murchison and Mary Anning actually “did it,” because they definitely do in the movie. Anyway, you probably don’t need me to tell you to see this masterpiece of cinema, but I’m going to do it anyway: watch Ammonite!