The Pale Blue Eye review
Christian Bale and Harry Melling lead the thriller Pale Blue Eye with their impressive performances, even though the mystery at its center starts to feel a little predictable.
In the film, Edgar Allan Poe believes himself to be a detective at West Point during his brief tenure as a military cadet in 1830. To tackle a difficult situation, the higher authorities assign Augustus Landor (Christian Bale) to the US Military Academy. Edgar (Harry Melling) joins him there.
Leroy Fry, a second-year student, was found dead after he committed suicide. Landor, a former New York City police officer known for solving high-profile crimes, appears to be the ideal candidate. Writer-director Scott Cooper created this brooding drama, which is an adaptation of Louis Bayard’s novel of the same name. The story takes place in the Hudson Valley during the harsh winters. The bleak scenery and perfect snow disguised the film’s gory crimes.
When Landor discovers that Leroy’s heart was removed from his body after his death, he begins to look into possible connections to the occult. He accepts the enthusiastic and attractive young man into his group and solicits his assistance as an insider on campus. The movie uses this made-up version of the well-known poet. It also portrays Edgar as a sensitive yet smart young man who is ready to play detective with Landor.
Gillian Anderson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall, and Robert Duvall are just a few of the A-list actors who make up the ensemble group. It was wonderful to witness the 92-year-old veteran Robert in some small capacity as an informed man who supports the probe.
Through the use of long taper candles and roaring fires, cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi provides the film’s interiors with much-needed warmth. The majority of the exteriors are gloomy and grim. The film features apparent allusions to the poet’s work, such as mentions of ravens, hearts, and deft wordplay, but ultimately, it is more focused on Edgar’s character and his moral predicament. Additionally, the big surprise falls a little flat.
Despite a promising start, Scott’s 128-minute feature film struggles to keep up the pace. Only Harry and Christian’s riveting performances in Netflix’s The Pale Blue Eye make it worthwhile.