[Review] Rosemary’s Baby (2014)

actors: Zoe Saldana, Jason Isaacs, Patrick J. Adams, Carole Bouquet, Christina Cole

director: Agnieska Holland

“He has his father’s eyes”

Every time a classic suffers the remake treatment there’s the everlasting hope it will not be a flop – let’s face it, lately every-time we hear about a remake we simply ask ourselves “why”. Polanski’s classic is given a revamp but nothing helps Holland four hours marathon from being flat and unsavory although some of the actors deliver some good performances.

This Rosemary is taken from New York and shipped in Paris with Saldana making up as she goes on how to balance the old with the new. (Some of)the problems she faces come from the choice of a co-star. Patrick J. Adams as Guy Woodhouse forces himself in every scene to appear the dotting husband, then the estranged husband, the mysterious husband up until the ”revelation” of what a husband he is – in the case you have no idee who is Rosemary’s baby daddy. Wait here is where NBC actually pulled a clever stunt.

If Saldana tries and succeeds from time to time here is where the fun starts. Jason Isaacs is the best choice for a revamped “Rosemary’s Baby” although his smirk up to his look in the trailer made us realize Roman Castevet is not a dear benefactor but a suave villain together with his sensual, posh wife, Margaux (Carole Bouquet). Isaacs knows how to play a villain (let’s recall his performances in “The Patriot”, “Hook” and “Harry Potter” together with his presences in various TV shows such as “Highlander”, “Brothehood” or “Dangerous Lady”) and here he was the chance to play a villain who wins. Roman is no Lucius Malfoy who has fallen from grace and tries to get a shoot back at the top. Roman is the leading figure in this miniseries up to the point where you might think a TV series that carries on from the epilogue of the show might not be such a bad idea. The thing is many hoped for an almost faithful adaptation of “Rosemary’s Baby” and let’s face it, the Castevet’s are one Hell of a sexy couple – emphasizing on the sexy part.

Another inkling of who the baby daddy might be – cause sure as Hell is not Guy – came from adding Christina Cole in the cast as the dear friend of Rosemary. Let’s remember one of Cole’s early roles in “Hex” – hell Azazeal. Julie’s part is shallow and simply adds another notch in the book of “I know what’s going on” attached to this remake.

The over the top comes from Carole Bouquet. Sensual and sophisticated just like her husband, Margaux hits on both Rosemary and Guy and fails to add more to the character but the thin lair of dutiful wife/follower. A few more touches to her story would have been welcomed and could have been added if the team hadn’t considered to add to the mix the character of a police detective – cause even a bunch of Devil  worshipers  need to a good old detective trying to crack the case.

NBC’s Rosemary’s Baby fails because it takes no risks and simply gives a revamp to the characters. Saldana and Isaacs do their work and because of their performance and giving a good thought over the shouts of blasphemy and abomination that might come, the two actors should be considered if there is a chance of a follow up. We do want to know what happened to that dear blue-eyed baby and the television scene is ready of a devil-baby TV series, after all we have a string of show dealing with witches, witchcraft and demons, why not a baby devil.

Although flat and not too challenging, Agnieska Holland’s mini series is saved as much as possible by Zoe Saldana and Jason Isaacs and clearly leaves room for a possible follow-up of TV-series if and only if a good script is penned.

Edge and Back: 6/10