1/19/2016 - The Danish Girl (2015) - 5/10

The quintessential Oscar bait film that doesn't quite make the grade. Fine enough, but felt a bit inert for all the import it deserved and the emotion it needed.

Keenly shot and capably directed, it did look quite good. Vikander was wonderful, flourishing with both broad displays and subtle heart. She was the best part of the film. Redmayne...I'm not so sure about. Sometimes it was smooth and touching, but there were plenty of moments of melodrama and mannered artifice. Not my favorite of his performances.

I suppose the biggest problem with the film was, on top of the twists and turns of the difficult questioning life story, it was just a bit overlong and dull. I had a hard time connecting to the story and the characters, and as it dragged on, it felt tedious instead of dramatically fulfilling.

It was still a fairly average/decent film. Just not where it could have been.... But Vikander makes it worth the watch.