MIRROR, MIRROR

US, 2012, 106 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Sean Bean, Michael Lerner.
Directed by Tarsem Singh.

‘Mirror, mirror’ is one of those phrases that most people can say, ‘The Queen in Snow White’. Here she is played with wry humour by Julia Roberts who seems to be enjoying herself. Whether she is the best choice for the role is another question, but here she is.

Because we all know Snow White from Disney’s first animated feature film in 1937, we have ideas of what Snow White, the Prince, the Queen and, of course, the seven dwarfs are like. Can they be portrayed by live actors. Here is the opportunity to judge.

While Julia Roberts and her sardonic remarks and vanity cruelty are central to the first part of this film, attention goes to Snow White and the dwarfs in the second part. Snow White is Lily Collins, a strong character who is attracted to the Prince (Armie Hammer) who is presented as handsome but a bit of a foolhardy hero (especially when the Queen puts him under a spell and he becomes her pet puppy). The Dwarfs have chips on their shoulders because they have been shunned by the townspeople. Their new career is waylaying coaches and stealing. While Snow White puts an end to this, they teach her some fighting and duelling tactics which come in handy when they attack the prince for the third time.

Nathan Lane is also at court as the Queen’s fawning lackey. He plays it like a Nathan Lane self-deprecating but surviving performance.

Director Tarsem Singh, with his Indian background, is not averse to flamboyant action, lavish sets and colour, and a spectacular array of costumes.

There is no major reason for seeing Mirror, Mirror, except to while away some time pleasantly enough or to see what the 21st century can make of a Grimm’s Fairy Tale.
1. Audiences and their knowledge of Snow White? From the Disney film? From Grimms’ fairy tales? The impact of a live action version?

2. The production appeal, the kingdom, the cliff and the castle, winter and the snow, the interiors of the palace, the town and its drabness, the woods, the house of the dwarfs?

3. The special effects, the mirror, Julia Roberts’ mirror image? Transforming Brighton into a cockroach? The impact of the beast? The action sequences, the training, the fights?

4. The costumes, lavish? Sets and decor? Musical score?

5. The narrative, the queen telling her story? Julia Roberts as the queen, in the mirror, her vanity, the story of the king, his rule, Snow White’s birth, his wife’s death? The animation style of this sequence? The king and his care for his daughter, meeting the queen, the decision to marry, his going into the forest and disappearing?

6. The character of the queen, her madness, her vanity, her lavish style, costumes, makeup and preparations (and demanding that the staff not laugh at her)? Brighton and his fawning on her? Anti-Snow? White? The sardonic remarks? The encounter with the prince, her plan for marriage? Her ordering the ball, more taxes? Her anger at the ball, talking to Snow White, wanting to kill her? Brighton and his commission, his bringing back the bag of the remnants? The prince, his leaving, his being robbed again, the return? The queen casting a spell over him, his behaving like a dog? Agreeing to marry the queen? The preparations for her wedding, the vanity of her dress and waistline? Going to the wedding, discovering the mishap for the guests? Going to the mirror image, the penalty for using magic? The potion for the prince? Letting loose the beast against Snow White? Watching in the mirror? The emblem, the transformation, the king’s reappearance? Her ageing, coming into the wedding, offering the apple – eating it and disappearing?

7. Snow White, her age, her place in the palace, her friends in the kitchen, their urging her to go into the town, the encounter with the prince and his being robbed by the dwarfs? The ball, her encountering him again, the dance? The confrontation with the queen, going with Brighton in to the woods, his saving her? Running, discovering the house of the dwarfs? Their return, their reaction, talking, her preparing the meal? Their getting the money, her returning it to the people, claiming the dwarfs had brought it back? Their acceptance by the people? The training with the dwarfs, the collage of weapons, stances, clothes? The prince and his entourage coming again, the upset, her fighting with the prince? His leaving, the wedding, the discovery of the spell, the kiss, his waking? Snow White locking them in the house, the prince leaving, fighting with her, the beast and the struggle, the emblem, the appearance of the king? His love for his daughter? The wedding? The queen with the apple – and Snow White giving her the piece to eat?

8. The prince, the far country, his assistant, the initial robbery by the dwarfs? Arrival without a shirt in the presence of the queen? His embarrassment? Going to the ball, as a rabbit? The queen and her attentions? His leaving again, being robbed again? The return, the spell and the potion, the preparations for the wedding? His being taken, the dwarfs having him in their house? Their attempts to break the spell, the kiss?

9. The dwarfs, their characters, the story about their being rejected from the town, their home, with Snow White, accepting her, robbing Brighton, Snow White and her principles, returning the cash to the people in the town? Their training Snow White? Trying to break the spell? The beast?

10. Brighton, his serving the queen, her humiliating him, his sardonic remarks, freeing Snow White? The taxes – and pocketing some?

11. The baron, the royalty in the kingdom? Their reaction to the queen?

12. The castle staff, Baker Margaret and her friendship with Snow White? The flirtation with Brighton at the end?

13. The townspeople, the money, their poverty, the taxes, the magistrate, the money returned? Their joy at the wedding?

14. The happy ending – and the music video style of the song during the final credits?