Martin Scorsese gets pigeon-holed as a macho, tough-guy director – so would it shock you to discover he directed a period costume drama adapted from a 1920 novel by Edith Wharton?
In 1993, Scorsese tried his hand at directing The Age of Innocence, and the result was a gorgeous, tragic romance set in the early 1900s, about a love triangle between a wealthy lawyer, a good-natured socialite and her outcast cousin.
But the story is set to get an update – Netflix recently announced the cast of its forthcoming limited series based on the classic novel.
As Scorsese’s version is leaving Netflix next month, there’s no better time to check it out. Watch With Us breaks down why The Age of Innocence should be at the top of your watchlist.
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It’s a Model of Peak Yearning Cinema
Some might say there’s a lack of yearning in cinema these days, but there actually might be too much yearning in The Age of Innocence. The story follows Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), who is betrothed to May Welland (Winona Ryder). And while the couple’s courtship seems perfectly matched on the surface, Archer discovers his burgeoning affections for May’s estranged cousin, Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Ellen has been made into a pariah by high society, making a marriage to her akin to social suicide. But Archer’s passion for her is unmistakable, and he finds himself stuck in a classic scenario, caught between two worlds: acceptability versus true love. The two can only pursue a riveting, emotional affair as they attempt to keep their love a secret. The aching unspoken desires only give way to disappointment and missed chances. Keep the tissue box handy.
It Stars 3 of the Best and Most Beautiful Actors of All Time
In a love triangle between Ryder, Day-Lewis, and Pfeiffer – three A-List stars at the top of their game in the 1990s – you really can’t lose. At the time, Ryder was seeing her career skyrocket with a string of hits, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Heathers, Edward Scissorhands, and Beetlejuice. Meanwhile, Day-Lewis and his long hair had stolen hearts in The Last of the Mohicans, and Pfeiffer had just become a comic book icon as Catwoman in Batman Returns.
With three talented, beautiful actors in the prime of their careers, The Age of Innocence is one not to miss from sheer star power alone. It doesn’t hurt that the trio has fantastic chemistry as well, particularly between Pfeiffer and Day-Lewis, who sell the anguish of their tragic romance with aplomb.
It Proves Scorsese is More Than Just a Gangster Movie Director
The Scorsese naysayers will need to eat crow after watching this one from the Taxi Driver and The Wolf of Wall Street director. Say what you will about Scorsese and the type of films he tends to direct, the living legend loves to subvert expectations from time to time – from a quirky comedy like After Hours to a family-friendly adventure film like Hugo. But The Age of Innocence might just be his greatest subversion of his career.
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Scorsese helms the adaptation of Wharton’s novel with tenderness and a steady hand, yet that ever-present energy that suffuses all of the director’s work is undeniable. It creates a film that is both elegant and refined, yet sumptuous and enthralling. The Age of Innocence proves that Scorsese’s filmmaking talents can be handily transposed across different genres.
Watch The Age of Innocence now on Netflix.
