Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Page 3

The performances in this film are outstanding. Tom Felton, as Draco Malfoy, has grown as an actor through the course of the Harry Potter films. His character has evolved beyond the one-dimensional, entitled, pureblood brat who acts as an antagonistic foil for the heroic Harry. Here, Felton delivers a layered performance full of the contradictions of emotions that Draco is feeling as the terrible chosen instrument of Voldemort at Hogwarts, and as an adolescent poised on the edge of manhood and facing life-altering choices. In a brief but brilliant scene in a boys’ lavatory, we can see Draco’s fear and anguish over the deeds that he has been chosen to do.

Academy Award-winner Jim Broadbent is also brilliant in his role as Horace Slughorn, the old potions professor who has altered the memory of his days teaching Tom Riddle before he became Voldemort. Broadbent delivers in his portrayal of Slughorn as an old man who, having never achieved greatness of his own, thrives on attaching himself to those wizards who have attained the power and glory that he can only dream of. Harry of course, would be the ultimate prize in his circle of friends. But beneath Slughorn’s boorish boasting and endless name-dropping, lies a pathetic and lonely old man who hides a shameful secret. We are able to feel the weight of Slughorn’s shame through Broadbent’s performance and can almost pity him after looking in his tear filled eyes after Harry convinces him to finally divulge the truth.

Other notable performances in this film are Michael Gambon as the maddeningly mysterious Albus Dumbledore and Alan Rickman, whose role as Professor Snape is expanded in this film. Snape is the master at playing both sides of the coin, so we are kept off guard as to where his true allegiances lie. Helena Bonham Carter also delivers as the criminally insane Bellatrix Lestrange. Her maniacal laughter and ghoulish demeanor give the Death Eaters a chilling sense of the macabre. And joining her little group of fiends wrecking havoc throughout the film is Dave Legeno as the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, a frightening presence who terrorizes Harry and Ginny in one of the film’s outstanding moments of pure suspense.

For once, I enjoyed watching the Quidditch matches in the film. It was nice to see the athleticism of the tryouts as displayed by Cormac, and it was really nice to have Ron have his chance to shine. What stood out is that for once, the outcome did not hinge on Harry catching the snitch, and we barely saw him throughout the game.

Article Author: CindyC

Cindy's interests include books, music, charitable work, musical theater, the arts, Hugh Laurie, and House. She is now a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.

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