The Invisible Woman has all the brooding of a Jane Austen adaptation without any of the spark. The film tells the story of Nelly, an actress who so intrigues Charles Dickens that he risks his reputation and leaves his marriage to make her his mistress. Felicity Jones and Ralph Fiennes deliver lovely leading performances against the gloomy backdrop of Victorian England, but the story was not fully captivating and relied heavily on literary allusions you may not remember from Brit Lit class. Rather than building emotional intensity, the very slow pacing sapped some of the film’s momentum.

Should You See It? Save it for movie rental night. —R.K.
Viewed at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema