Far from the Madding Crowd
In the time of Victorian England Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) finds herself as the head of the household. Family fortune and farm at her disposal Bathsheba rules with a moderately tolerant hand, all the while met with suitors of varying degrees of wealth and social grace, but, separating the wheat from the chaff will mean hard times for Mr. Oak, Sergeant Troy, and Mr. Bolwood (Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge, Michael Sheen). Staying true to herself and keeping the farm afloat will be no easy task, how to make it happen? 
Based on the Thomas Hardy novel, this exercise in abbreviated British literature comes across with solid acting force all round; meanwhile, the faithful and honest directing of Thomas Vinterberg is straightforward and honest with the air of Masterpiece Theatre yet not so totally astringent as to rob the story of it’s driving parts. Furthermore, an interesting feminist angle for Mulligan proves to make for a character well beyond her years historically speaking and a refreshing take on what could otherwise be seen as a stale period in time. Strong for literary buffs and worthy, Far from the Madding Crowd is rated PG-13.