Grace of Monaco was the hope of Nicole Kidman’s return to
the box office after a series of unsuccessful movies; some went as far as
hoping a movie as enthralling as ‘Moulin Rouge”,” Cold Mountain”, “The Others”,
“Rabbit Hole” and others of her well
known movies.
However, the movie falls beyond all expectations.
If you are expecting to watch a princess/actress biography,
spare your money and go try the new pizzeria in town instead.
The movie has no mention of Grace Kelly’s childhood, growing
up or death which would have been smart to include as it would have made an
interesting scene (She died on September 14, 1982, after suffering a stroke the
previous day while driving, which caused her to lose control of her automobile
and crash (I wonder what’s the relation between car accidents and princesses)).
Her daughter, Princess Stéphanie, was in the car with her and survived the
accident.)
The movie starts with about two-minute introduction to
Grace’s Hollywood life and news of her affair with the Prince of Monaco
“Rainier III” during Cannes festival, then abruptly, and in an awkward
suddenness, the scene moves to several years later with director Alfred
Hitchcock (Roger Ashton-Griffiths)
proposing Grace Kelly- a depressed princess - a return to her Hollywood life; a
role in his new movie.
What happened before that dilemma? Was it really a love
story (as one may wonder)? How did the prince fall in love with the Hollywood
actress? What was the nature of love that bonded them? These are gaps that
leave a huge impact on the movie to an extent that the viewer doesn’t get
involved with the characters or the human emotions due to the lack of any
visible evidence of how the relationship evolved.
Regardless of that, the director clearly shows that the
princess, and after having two children and living several years as a princess,
knew nothing of her royal manners (she stoops down in front of an audience to
bring something she dropped) and showed no interest in learning her country’s language,
which kind of doesn’t make sense or it shows to which degree Grace was not
interested in her new life.
The Princess of Monaco sees the proposal to be an actress
again as a window of hope to return to her old life and enjoy her previous
career. The prince agrees on one condition: complete secrecy; as this would
affect her image as a princess.
Rumors spread throughout the country and threatens Monaco’s
relationship with the French President, Charles De Gaulle, which was already on
stake. This ends by Kelly’s choice of refusing her return to Hollywood after an
argument with her husband.
The conversation here takes an aggressive tone between the
prince and sharp-tongued princess, and Kidman shows her acting powers, which is
the one of the things you enjoy in the movie.
These events mentioned above occupy a major part of the
movie’s duration, which leaves us pretty bored and demanding a change,
something which could flare up the scenes a bit; a turning point.
The part I mostly enjoyed is how the character evolves to
being more mature, that is when the Princess decides to actually become a
princess, learning how to walk like one, talk in French and become closer to
her people. Not to mention Grace’s smartness in how to resolve the issue
between France and Monaco.
It seems that the best thing about the movie is the customs
and jewelry; the dresses, sun glasses, the hats, the diamonds and the precious
stones.
The movie ends by a deep speech uttered by Kidman, emotional
and full of sensations, and weirdly this is the only moment you realize how
much the prince and she love each other, you don’t feel it however.
To wrap it up, this was a great disappointment, especially
after the long wait and anticipation. In fact, were it not for Nicole Kidman as
a leading actress, I don’t think this movie would have been able to make the
fuss all around it; for Kidman acts a character full of emotions and inner
battles; obviously felt by the viewer.
Rating: 2.5/5
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