W.E.
W.E.
R | 03 February 2012 (USA)
W.E. Trailers

In 1998, an auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor causes great excitement. For one woman, Wally Winthrop, it has much more meaning. Wally becomes obsessed by their historic love story. As she learns more about the sacrifices involved, Wally gains her own courage to find happiness.

Reviews
ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.
Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.
Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.
Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
blanche-2 I suppose there is the germ of a good idea here, and 2011's "W.E." is not unsuccessful. As a directing effort by Madonna, it's okay. And you have to give her credit since she had to know everyone would be gunning for her.In 1998, the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor goes up for auction. One person particularly interested in it is Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), who is very taken with the love story between Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor, and particularly Wallis' life and other marriages. The film takes us through the courtship and marriage of the Duke and Duchess as well as Wally's disintegrating marriage to William, and then her relationship with the Soviet security guard she meets at the auction house.Personally I've never found anything romantic or sympathetic about Wallis and David. I think Wallis was a great excuse for David to duck responsibility and heap it onto his stammering brother. And neither he nor Wallis thought about what they were going to do once they were married. And what did they do? Roamed the world, showing up at a location when it was in season, and making friends who would write books about them after they died. By the time the couple realized what they had done, it was too late. No breaking up the great romance.Nevertheless, as many times as their story has been told, it's still fascinating, and much more interesting than the marriage of Wally Winthrop and her husband. Not to mention, there is a fantastic performance by Andrea Risborough as Wallis. As Edward, James D'Arcy is incredibly dashing and attractive. It's really the stronger story, and Madonna might have been better off just telling their tale, using a different point of view than others have in the past.The moral seems to be to take a risk and go for happiness. It's a fine moral; I'm just not sure I would use the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as inspiration. Was theirs a great love story? I'm sure it was, and no doubt the Duke's death hit the Duchess very hard. But they were human beings who undoubtedly fought, took one another for granted, and had some misgivings. And that's the big problem with idealizing any romance - in the end, the people we idealize are too much like us.
EvelinaDim On a winter Saturday evening with tea in hand one wants to watch a nice story, a romance perhaps. Browsing through the film options on that genre W.E would perhaps feature under the apprehension, guilty pleasures not high expectations category and with Madonna under the directorship comes with a condescending feeling of poor cine plot quality and a mainstream story line. Curiosity, a good cast and movie was rented...Two hours later the deceiving nature or preconceptions was confirmed...The storyline based on Wallis Simpson and King Edward's relationship, excluding the public and royal element, is another one of an affair, however of a great romance and the uncompromising need of a man and a woman to share their lives. Hardly and innovation. However, the palindromic movement between past and present and the similarities in the female nature for mending, preserving, enduring well acted by Abbie Cornish as Wally, a contemporary woman trapped in a dysfunctional relationship and Andrea Riseborough (Wallis) a historic figure but mostly a woman in '30s being bigger than the mediocrity of her marriage. Madonna, delivered a fairly satisfactory result following the historical facts of the relationship, however the angle of which the relationship was viewed from is more important than the historical accuracy.The film explores the different ways the two women deal with their quest for true love, and the power in trusting their instincts. Wally's need for escapism, identity and a point of reference to relate to, lead to an infatuation with the tales of Wallis Simpsom. Abbie Cornish gives a good performance portraying the journey from sadness, insecurity and self depreciation through the train of hope to a place of contentment and that collarbone of most movies of such genre that always something happens that enlightens you and you know what the right thing to do is. She is transformed from the wife hidden behind plain dark outfits to a confident woman in tailored Diors.The photography is very eye pleasing and smooth; combined with the sharp and couture costume designs appropriate to the strength of the characters of the leading figures, make a strong screen visual outcome.Maddona delivered a good movie, one for many women to see themselves in, to relate to and be inspired, to trust their wants, and persevere for what they believe is right which may not be in agreement with the society's consensus. Overall, a very promising directorial debut and one to watch.
Rusty Fondleberg ya it sucks....... don't watch it.. I could talk about it. but I won't. it's late. and this movie was bad. Madonna is just annoying anyway. Like where did that accent come from? shes from Detroit. Do you hear her now? like all of a sudden shes English? what the hell is that about? ridiculous if you ask me. Like i know the category it was nominated for was pointless. but just the fact Modonna can claim she directed an Oscar nominated film is annoying. This story isn't even interesting. Do I have enough lines yet? i'm not sure. I gotta be close. I mean 1 on 10 is probably a little harsh.. I've seen worse movies. But still. just don't watch it. */10
Peter Carlsson This is the story of a man who gave up the kingdom for a woman and a woman who gave up everything for the man. Still there are absolutely no chemistry between them whatsoever. The movie totally misses it's mark. No passion, no sex, no feelings - nothing. You missed out on this one Madonna. I a movie are to show us how true passion is bigger than everything - yes, there has to be passion involved. And another thing - spoiler coming - in the contemporary story a woman are married to a cheating husband, who also abuses her - still SHE ask HIM: "Why won't you have sex with me". Come on... please! Why would she be stupid enough to want to have sex with a cheating and abusing husband? This movie really sucks and i would not recommend it to anybody.
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