Review of Lolita

The movie (like the book) is an interesting study of obsession and desperation. Jeremy Irons plays his part well, but overall it's not great going, largely because the director doesn't really know where to go take the movie. He opts for the gray and gloomy period piece route and the result is that the film has no urgency and tension. We only get the occasional glimpse into the desperate mind of Humbert while the story meanders along the rest of the time. Could (and should) have been much much better.