TRISTAN & ISOLDE — ** — James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell; rated PG-13 (violence, sex, gore, brief drugs, vulgarity).
James Franco's performances to date have been equal parts swagger and petulance, which is why he's been so convincing as James Dean in a made-for-television movie, as a malcontent high school student in TV's "Freaks and Geeks" and as a spoiled industrialist's son in the "Spider-Man" movies.
However, he's not even remotely believable as a British warrior in "Tristan & Isolde."
This contemporary, very American actor looks downright ridiculous in this sort of European historical tale.
On the other hand, handsome scenery (in Ireland and the Czech Republic) ensures that this soapy romantic fantasy isn't unwatchable.
"Tristan & Isolde" is based on the British legend about ill-fated lovers, which also served as the inspiration for the Wagner opera.
Franco stars as Tristan, an orphan raised by a warrior leader, Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell). But when Tristan is wounded in battle with marauding Irish forces, he's given up for dead.
Fortunately, he's rescued and nursed back to health by Isolde (Sophia Myles), the beautiful but strong-willed daughter of Irish King Donnchadh (David O'Hara).
Eventually, Tristan has to return to his people, though by then the two have fallen in love. But he has no idea she's an Irish princess and instead thinks she's a chambermaid, so he plans to return to Ireland to marry her.
Fate has different plans, however, as Isolde's father offers her up as a prize to the British lord who can unite the various warring territories. So she is betrothed to Lord Marke, whom Tristan has come to regard as his father.
Unlike the opera, this version of the tale features no mystical elements and comes off as horribly contrived. What's more, director Kevin Reynolds' sluggish pacing makes the film feels twice as long as it really is.
Most of the cast struggles with affected speech, but none are worse than Franco's English accent, which sounds different from scene to scene. O'Hara's increasingly over-the-top turn is almost laughable, but Myles ("Underworld") does have some presence. And Sewell is considerably more restrained than he was in "The Legend of Zorro."
"Tristan & Isolde" is rated PG-13 for strong scenes of violence (sword fighting, arrow fire, hand-to-hand combat and beheadings), simulated sex, some gore, some brief drug content (use of herbal medicine and poisons), and some sexually suggestive talk (including innuendo). Running time: 125 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com