Jane Campion's direction is as refined as her screenplay, and she gets the most out of her cast -- especially Abbie Cornish -- in this understated period drama. Read critic reviews
What to know
You might also like
See More
An Education
Coco Before Chanel
Jane Eyre
Séraphine
Rachel Getting Married
Rate And Review
-
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
-
Fandango
-
AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
-
Cinemark Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Regal Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Theater box office or somewhere else
Bright Star Photos
Movie Info
In 1818, high-spirited young Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) finds herself increasingly intrigued by the handsome but aloof poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw), who lives next door to her family friends the Dilkes. After reading a book of his poetry, she finds herself even more drawn to the taciturn Keats. Although he agrees to teach her about poetry, Keats cannot act on his reciprocated feelings for Fanny, since as a struggling poet he has no money to support a wife.
-
Rating: PG (Incidental Smoking|Brief Language|Some Sensuality|Thematic Elements)
-
Genre: Drama, Romance
-
Original Language: English
-
Director: Jane Campion
-
Producer: Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt
-
Writer: Jane Campion
-
Release Date (Theaters): limited
-
Release Date (Streaming):
-
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4M
-
Runtime:
-
Distributor: Apparition
-
Production Co: Australian Film Finance Corporation, BBC Films, Hopscotch Productions, Screen Australia, Jan Chapman Pictures, Pathé Renn Productions, UK Film Council, New South Wales Film & Television Office
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Bright Star
Critic Reviews for Bright Star
Audience Reviews for Bright Star
-
This falls into the category of period films that I don't like. Nothing to jump out to make me want to love it but with acting that is hard to criticize. I suppose if you like this sort of thing..
-
Another masterful work from Campion, and featuring a heart-breaking performance from Cornish which successfully put her on my radar, this film shines like the title suggests, dripping with artistic merit and featuring a lyricality among its prose that is beyond comprehension.
-
Beautiful. And I'm not just talking about Ben Whishaw whose degradation tugs at the heartstrings, the relationship is lovingly portrayed and the cinematography is a delight to behold. However the beauty is in how Campion manages to stray away from sentimentality, the utter tragedy of the story and overusing the glorious poetry. I also loved Schneider as Brown whose brash personality is a perfect foil to the quiet dignity of Keats. An utter joy to watch and the one tear that slowly made its way down my cheek at the end sums up the understated beauty of this film more than any flood of weeping ever could.
-
"Bright Star" is a beautifully made film and I suppose it's true to the romantic spirit of John Keats' poetry, but the script's drippy, melodramatic qualities produce quite a few eyerolls. And then, as if to apologize for all the overwrought tears and chest-heaving elsewhere, there is Keats' best friend Charles Armitage Brown, who's such an amazing jerk that his close relationship with Keats seems wholly implausible. Paul Schneider is fine in the role -- I never would have guessed he is American -- but his part is just grossly one-dimensional. If you're looking for a Jane Campion film about a vulnerable writer, you're much better off reaching for "An Angel at My Table."
eric b Super Reviewer
Verified