The Aspern Papers is a mystery period drama based upon the classic story published in the 1800s from the influential literary figure, Henry James. The original story has long been considered one of James’ most acclaimed tales for its ability to generate mounting suspense while also creating complicated, well-developed characters.
With a tale this celebrated and a cast including legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave, The Aspern Papers would appear to be a safe bet; however, none of the same praises can be applied to this dull adaptation from Julien Landais.
A Biographer’s Obsession With The Truth
Just as with the classic story it is based upon, the tale takes place in late 19th century Venice and follows ambitious critic and biographer, Morton Vint (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Vint is shown to have no interest in marriage or settling down but is solely devoted to his obsession with the work of the late poet Jeffrey Aspern (Jon Kortajarena). Desperate to learn the contents of the letters his idol wrote to his former lover Julianna Bordereau (Vanessa Redgrave), Vint arranges to stay at the now much older Bordereau’s estate under the guise of a simple lodger.
The only other resident of the lavish yet battered home is Miss Tina (played by Redgrave’s real life daughter Joely Richardson), Bordereau’s sheltered, spinster niece. Vint quickly attempts to win the favor of Miss Tina in the hope that she will aid him in his feverish quest to learn what secrets the infamous letters might reveal. What ensues is a dramatic triangle as Miss Tina is torn between wanting to honor her overbearing aunt’s wishes to keep the past hidden and appeasing her potential suitor’s thirst for knowledge.
A Mystery Lacking Intrigue
What should by all accounts be a thrillingly mysterious drama is relegated to a dull affair, as one never gets the impression that the contents of the letters are all that dangerous to any of the characters involved. Had it not been for the ominous music blaring throughout to imply the danger lurking beneath, I wouldn’t have even been aware that the story was attempting to be suspenseful. Additionally, the film never properly establishes why the young writer protagonist is so driven to procure these documents in the first place, making the viewer indifferent to his quest.
Matters are made worse as Jonathon Rhys Meyers provides a strange and completely unlikeable portrayal of a protagonist with whom we are meant to empathize with. Morton comes off almost predatory as his attempts at seduction are solely comprised of wide-eyed intense stares and the recitation of overly poetic lines with a questionable American accent that are worlds away from charming. The odd delivery is so cringeworthy that it is hard to believe even someone as sheltered as Miss Tina would be interested and wouldn’t turn tail and run the other way.
What’s more, the conspicuous nature of his manipulations coupled with the character’s smugness is almost comical and makes for an extremely predictable turn of events, as there is no doubt in the viewer’s mind that his iron vice of control will shift by the film’s end.
Venice Has Never Felt So Small
The lack of intrigue from The Aspern Papers also isn’t helped by the undeniably microscopic scope of the story, as the film features just a handful of settings and only bothers to develop three of its characters. This normally wouldn’t be a deal breaker, as there have been many dramas that benefit from a level of intimacy generated from the limited number of players and locations. However, when the main character is completely repugnant, it is hard to focus on anything else in the story.
Despite being abysmal as a suspense-riddled mystery, The Aspern Papers offers some fine performances from the always reliable Vanessa Redgrave as well as from Joely Richardson. I appreciate how ably Redgrave towed the line between her actions being perceived as shrewd and senile, as it led to a level of unpredictability that made Julianna exciting to watch. Likewise, Richardson turns in good work, as her performance elevated the writing at times. I felt a tremendous amount of sympathy for Miss Tina throughout as the spinster who is realizing how much of her life she has allowed herself to miss out on.
Admittedly there are instances where her performance comes off as melodramatic, such as some overemphasized deep sobbing in a memorable exchange; however, I believe this was more a product of poor editing that lingered too long on certain reactions.
The Aspern Papers: Conclusion
Ultimately as the mystery progresses and the contents of the sought-after documents grow less important, The Aspern Papers reveals itself to be a story about the dangerous sense of entitlement that can be born from the obsession of admirers. It is a powerful sentiment about historical figures and their right to privacy that is never driven home in this poorly executed adaptation.
Much like the eponymous letters, this period drama is not worth divulging the contents of and would be better off remaining a secret.
What did you think? Was it a good adaptation of the classic story? Let us know in the comments below!
The Aspern Papers was released in the U.S. on January 11, 2019.
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