Far From The Madding Crowd

Fine performances from an ensemble cast, a classic love story taking place in the 1870's, and exquisite cinematography (Charlotte Bruss Christensen) of the British countryside make this movie well worth a trip to the BS. It's the first "love quadrangle" I have ever seen. Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan)'s parents died when she was very young. She is well-educated, but not well-off.  She is spending the summer on her aunt's farm in Dorset. A sheep herder on the neighboring farm, Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), meets her, is immediately smitten, and proposes to her on their second encounter. She declines, valuing her independence too highly "to become someone's property." Bathsheba inherits her wealthy uncle's large farm (different farm from her aunt's farm) after he dies, and a tragedy on Gabriel's sheep farm results in Gabriel working for Bathsheba on her new farm.  She is now too high above his station to make him a realistic marriage possibility. Gabriel still loves her and tries to look after her welfare. Bathsheba's neighbor is the even wealthier William Baldwood (Michael Sheen) who also falls in love with Bathsheba, but, despite her respect and admiration for him, she doesn't feel any passion and rejects his first proposal too. William is persistent, however, and won't take no for an answer. Bathsheba then meets a dashing and charismatic soldier, Sergeant Troy (Tom Sturridge), and gets caught up in passion's undertow. How will this love quadrangle eventually play out?  Will Bathsheba wind up living happily ever after with the right man?  You will have to see it (or read the book) to find out.  It's a period piece, so I don't think there will be a "madding crowd" on the movie line. Mulligan does a good job, but Robin and I thought the three male leads were even better.