W.E.

"Where I come from we say what we mean and we mean what we say," American divorcée Wallis Simpson tells a smitten prince, who later as Edward VIII, king of the United Kingdom, abdicated the throne in choosing to be with Simpson. Indeed, Simpson was a bold woman—and had the couture outfits and jewelry to match her gregarious personality. Boldness is also associated with Madonna, the pop singer, cultural provocateur, and now director and co-writer of "W.E.," a film examining one of the most famous love stories of the 20th century. Likewise, the film is often bold, from its opulent visuals to its storytelling devices to its strong female perspectives.

"W.E." uses the fictional story of Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), a troubled New York housewife of modern day, to delve into the private lives of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (as Wallis and Edward were called upon marrying in 1937). Wally is fascinated with the legacy of Wallis, and when the opportunity arises to attend the pre-auction and auction of the duke and duchess' estate, she relishes the experience, spending days admiring and studying the artifacts of her idol. Using objects as triggers to delve into the past—a martini shaker, a tablecloth, a nightgown, a necklace—the story jumps back in time to reveal key moments in Wallis' relationship with Edward and to show how Wally has more in common with Wallis than she realizes.

British actor Andrea Riseborough is outstanding in the role of Wallis and embodies her colorful, fascinating character to the fullest. If only the same could be said about Aussie thesp Abbie Cornish, who plays Wally. Cornish comes off as self-conscious and remote, leaving the audience cold and unsympathetic toward Wally. In short, she doesn't hold a candle to Riseborough. Oscar Isaac, last seen in "Drive," is a bright spot in Wally's story line as Evgeni, a Sotheby's security guard who has a crush on her. James D'Arcy gives a sensitive performance as Edward, and there is nice chemistry between him and Riseborough. Richard Coyle, as Wally's scoundrel husband William, plays it too over-the-top. In fact, many of the emotional scenes in the film come off as melodrama, which works fine for moments taking place in the past but not as well for those depicting the present.

Madonna took a gamble by not making "W.E." a traditional biopic. The problem with her choice is that Wally and her rather dull and dreary story are never nearly as compelling as Wallis, her wonderful wardrobe, and her tantalizing real-life tale. Besides Riseborough, the real stars of the film are the production values, namely the production design, sets, costumes, and hair and makeup. Madonna is clearly passionate about her subject matter, and she's equally attentive to the movie's visuals.

Genre: Drama
Written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian
Directed by Madonna
Starring Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy, Oscar Isaac, Richard Coyle