Once again, Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, the writing/directing team that brought us The Last of Robin Hood, find delight in giving audiences a biographical glimpse into the lives of a publicly scandalous pair — in this case, ghostwriter, androgynous fashion plate, and all-around feminist icon Colette (Keira Knightley) and her willfully puffed up husband Willy (Dominic West). To paraphrase the arrogant blighter, “Bad cinema is like dentistry; you have to stay in your seat until the damn thing is over.” Happily, there’s no pain to be gained from watching this sumptuously designed and mounted romance. Cinematographer Giles Nuttgens’ use of highly-reflective surfaces is a revelation, and Thomas Adès’ lush score hits a melodramatic high note. The level of wit being what it is, an accidental fart in front of his bride gets punctuated by Willy’s declaration, “Intimacy in all its savage abandon, my darling!” Look upon this as a reward to those who suffered through The Wife. (2018) — Scott Marks
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