Belle's reviews
Media reviews
Entertainment Weekly
Like 'Downton Abbey' but with corsets, culottes, and tricorn hats, 'Belle' subtly skewers the absurd rules and hypocrisies of class. But the real takeaway is Mbatha-Raw. She makes a case for why she ought to be a star.
New York Post
If you were wondering what '12 Years a Slave' might have been like as a two-part episode, you might want to check out this unsatisfying but not uninteresting oddity. It renders another historical story about race with exquisite taste but not much in the way of passion.
The Hollywood Reporter
While the younger actors give performances more or less in keeping with a rather unsubtle script, Wilkinson has a good deal more ground to cover. (...) Though the film's romance needs to employ the Earl as a heavy on occasion, Wilkinson and history make him the most interesting thing onscreen.
Variety
The production is firmly ensconced in the tradition of quality, thanks to Ben Smithard?s picturesque widescreen lensing, Simon Bowles? lavish production design, Anushia Nieradzik?s beautifully detailed costumes, Rachel Portman?s unsubtly emotive score, and a general air of good taste that would seem more stultifying were the material not so intrinsically compelling.
Indiewire
At times, ?Belle? suffers from a lack of subtlety in its storytelling, as well as seeming to inject additional drama into Dido?s already incredible story. However, Asante?s film is entirely successful at what it wants to be and should charm its intended audience (and then some).