Tag: Movies

Movie reviews

Two Films (w/ “North & South” actors)

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The Glass Virgin (1995)

What qualities makes one a “gentleman” or “lady?”  Is one’s identity determined from birth, or can it change?  These are the questions at the core of Catherine Cookson’s The Glass Virgin.  As a child in 1870s England, Annabelle LeGrange is sheltered by her mother and servants.  One day, her curiosity leads her to see something long kept hidden. 

During a trip into town, Annabelle is rescued from a runaway coach by a young outsider, Miguel Mendoza (Brendan Coyle).  Seeing his strength, Mr. LaGrange offers him a job.  Miguel, who is actually Irish, says he’ll only work w/ horses.  In time, he teaches Annabelle to ride, and they become good friends.       

The 17 y.o. Annabelle (a young Emily Mortimer) flees from her life of upper-middle class comfort when her true parentage in revealed and her “father” arranges a marriage to be rid of her.  Annabelle’s only ally is Miguel, who insists on traveling w/ her to find another life.  The pair find work on a small farm, then a bigger one run by a good-hearted, fair-minded family.  They say they are cousins and live as such, never as a couple.   

Over the course of one tough, life-changing year, Annabelle learns and matures into her own person.  She teaches Miguel to read, and says that he has a lot of potential.  He falls in love w/ her, but keeps it hidden, as her station in life was so above his.  Can Annabelle marry a working-class man?  What will she do when called back to her mother and old way of life?

     

 

 

 

 

This film is not very well-made and had a low budget; it was a TV miniseries.  There are no frills, some bad (wooden) acting from supporting players, and weird transitions.   Most of the dialogue is very simple.  (Honestly, I watched it just b/c Brendan Coyle was in it.  He does a great job, as usual!)  Emily Mortimer, who was a newcomer to film then, takes some time to grow into her role.

Some viewers thought it was weird that an older friend from childhood became a love interest.  (But wait, what about Emma and Mr. Knightley?  He was 16 yrs older than her.)  Those who read the novel noted that Miguel was only 10 yrs older than Annabelle.  I had a Renaissance Lit prof who said that “we shouldn’t put the values from our modern world onto the past.”            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Impressionists (2008)

This is one of the most gorgeous films I’ve ever seen!  (It ranks up there w/ A Walk in the Clouds, which Rogert Ebert praised as the “type of movie you’d want to live in.”)  It’s actually a 3-part miniseries, has a strong ensemble cast, and is a true story. 

The elderly Claude Monet (Julian Glover) talks about his life, and that of his fellow Impressionist painters, to a reporter.  The younger Monet (Richard Armitage) left home, served in the army, then went to Paris to study.  At the school, he met the wealthy/jovial Renoir (Charlie Condou) and doctor-in-training- Bazille (James Lance).  They chafed against their “old school” teacher’s methods and eventually went off by themselves to paint.  As we know, Monet was inspired by the outdoors (nature) and always sought to “capture the light.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The young artists deal w/ money troubles, various romances, government art critics (that seek to protect the image of “good art”), and their own frustrations.  There are stories about quirky painters, such as Cezanne- a hermit who’s actually from a wealthy family.  There are interesting tales behind famous paintings.  Did you know that the woman in the green dress became Monet’s first wife?  He approached her in the marketplace and asked to paint her portrait. 

Monet’s second wife (played by Amanda Root) was the former wife of his benefactor.  At first, she didn’t see what was the big deal about his work- LOL!  One reason that I liked this film was that two of my fave actors were playing a couple.  (Below is an Impressionistic promo pic w/ RA and Root.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t yet, watch RA and Coyle together in the 2004 BBC miniseries North & South!  Here is a short clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM0gsBnbfrc

You can watch the entire film here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN58WAmuuqI

 

Atonement (2008)

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Ah, young love!  There’s nothing like it if it’s done well (in film), but it doesn’t always end happily.  I went to see this film in the theater when it first came out; it stayed on my mind for some time.  I saw it again recently, and gained more appreciation for it.

Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) are two young people in their early 20s who are spending a hot summer day on a gorgeous estate.  She is the old man’s daughter; he is the housekeeper’s son.  They both attended Cambridge- he w/ the money and blessings of Mr. Tallis.  Soon, Robbie plans to go to med school.  Cecilia is restless- waiting for something to happen.

The film starts slow, but it doesn’t take too long to see that Robbie and Cecilia are suppressing their intense attraction to each other.  Cecilia’s precocious 12 y.o. sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), has a huge crush on Robbie.  In the past, she has written many stories, bound them in leather, and presented them to Robbie as gifts.  He looks on Briony as a good friend, calling her “pal.”  (Briony is the central character in the story; she’s also the storyteller.)

Briony misunderstands several events througout the day and evening.  In no time, everything is shattered for the couple.  Being a sheltered and judgmental child, Briony doesn’t realize the impact of her words/actions.  Robbie is yanked off to jail; Cecilia leaves the family.  In time, he’s sent to fight in France; she becomes a nurse.

The first section of this film is particularly appealing to the eye.  We see beautiful flowers, streams, and lots of sunlight.  At dinner, Cecilia is a vision in a flowing green gown.  Director Joe Wright refers to this portion as “the time before the fall” (before WWII, before the lovers are separated).

This film really sets a mood.  At times, it may seem a bit too slow to some viewers.  There was great chemistry between Keira and James, and they look amazing together!  I enjoyed how Romola Garai (who plays the young adult Briony) did a lot w/ very little dialogue.  The supporting characters all fit their parts; Benedict Cumberbatch was creepy (in a subtle way) as the chocolate millionaire, Paul Marshall.

The adult Briony (played by Vanessa Redgrave) atones for her terrible mistake by giving the lovers a happy ending in her novel.  She creates an almost too good hero in Robbie.  Atonement made me think of all the young people (from many nations) who died b/c of the events of WWII. They never got the chance to fulfill their potential, have relationships, and grow old.

“Anna Karenina” (BBC – 2000)

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Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Sometimes fine actors just don’t have chemistry w/ each other!  This is the main problem in the 2000 BBC miniseries based on Leo Tolstoy’s well-known, tragic love story.  Helen McCrory (in the title role) and Kevin McKidd (who plays Count Vronsky) don’t generate much heat, which is a crucial part of the story.  She is an especially good actor w/ a great voice and onscreen presence.  Her few scenes w/ the little boy who played her son were touching.

In the 1997 version (w/ Sean Bean and Sophie Marceau), the leads not only look good together, but actually look like they are in love.  Though that film has its own flaws, it has much more passion in it.

The director in the miniseries made some odd choices.  Sometimes a handheld camera is not needed, but it’s used anyway.  There are too many close-ups and not enough light.  In the ’97 version, when Anna and Vronsky first meet, you can see their mutual attraction.  But in this version, the crucial moment becomes ho-hum.  Anna just looks at Vronsky for a moment through her veil- a lost opportunity for the director.  Their first dance is much more romantic/dramatic in the’97 version.  (It reminded me of Scarlett and Rhett’s first dance in Gone with the Wind.)

The actors who rise to the occasion in the miniseries are Douglas Henshall (Constantine Levin) and Paloma Baeza (Princess Kitty).  Henshall, whose real Scottish accent pops out in a few scenes, is the long-haired/bearded gentleman farmer w/ a past.  He thinks too much and worries if he’ll ever win over Kitty, who is innocent and young.  Baeza’s character starts out as a silly girl w/ a crush on the dashing Vronsky.  In time, Kitty learns about love and blossoms into a mature/sensitive wife.

 No one may build their happiness on another’s pain.

Anna’s philandering brother Stiva (played by Mark Strong) and his wife Dolly(played by Amanda Root) both get some nice lines.  “I love him, but I don’t respect him,” Dolly admits toward the end of the film.  She tolerates her husband’s affairs (just as many Russian nobles did at that time).

Anna and Vronsky’s love affair is atypical for their circle.  They truly are in love, not just fooling around b/c of lust or boredom.  Stephen Dillane (who plays Karenin) won’t give Anna a divorce, so she and Vronsky can’t marry.  Anna is forbidden to see her 8 y.o. son and becomes a social outcast.  Vronsky can’t give his baby daughter his name w/o that divorce.

Every time I tried to display my innermost desires – a wish to be morally good – I met with contempt and scorn, and as soon as I gave in to base desires I was praised and encouraged.  –Leo Tolstoy wrote two years after publication of Anna Karenina

After Levin meets Anna, he tell her brother that he liked her b/c “she’s so honest.”  Anna eventually spirals downward, turning to alcohol and opium.  She accuses Vronsky of betraying her w/ a younger woman.  Vronsky goes off to take care of some business for his mother.  But Anna is so paranoid and desperate by this point that she throws herself under a train.

Some recent views

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Witness for the Prosecution

This 1957 courtroom-drama, based on an Agatha Christie story, starts out slow, but really packs a punch!  The stars are Tyrone Power (playing against type), Marlene Dietrich (very compelling), and Charles Laughton (providing most of the humor).  There is a lot of dialogue, but it’s very well-crafted.  Famed London lawyer Sir Wilfrid (Laughton) takes on the case of Leonard Vole (Power) mainly because he’s intrigued by Vole’s German wife, Christine (Dietrich).  Leonard, charming yet jobless, is the prime suspect in the murder of a wealthy widow he befriended.  Christine, who is cold and clever, doesn’t act like the typical worried wife.  Sir Wilfrid tells Christine that a woman w/ her personality won’t be seen sympathetically by the jury.  I don’t want to give too much away, so check out this film for yourself.          

 

The Fifteen Streets

Some dreams do come true in Catherine Cookson (1906-1998) novels, but not w/o hardship and loss.  This TV movie, based on her most popular novel, was filmed on location and looks very authentic.  If you want to read the book, it’s suitable for both young adults (junior high age) and grown-ups.  Since Cookson herself grew up in a working-class/Catholic/Northern community, she truly knows her characters.  Despite being born illegitimate and poor, Cookson pulled herself up into middle-class respectability- becoming a teacher, novelist, and eventually- dame of the British Empire.    

At the turn of the 20th century, hard-working dockworker John O’Brien (Owen Teale) meets independent-minded Mary Llewellyn (Clare Holman), the teacher of his little sister Katie.  John and Mary are both concerned about young Katie’s future; she’s a bright/curious child who dreams of being a teacher.  John fears the family will not have enough money to pay for such training.  

John’s younger brother Dominic (Sean Bean) causes a lot of trouble in the family and community.  While John is sober and fair-minded, Dominic loves drinking and fighting.  Mr. O’Brien also likes to drink; he’s angered by the fact that he’s getting old and not being chosen for work as much.  Mrs. O’Brien is pregnant at the start of the story w/ her sixth child. 

Love doesn’t come smoothly for John and Mary.  The Llewellyns live in a middle-class house with fine furnishings; the O’Brien’s live in a small rowhouse near the docks.  However, they both share a love of words and a deep physical attraction.  They meet secretly, knowling that their courtship is out of the norm in their community.     

 Clarissa

 

Sean Bean plays the villain Sir Robert Lovelace in this 1991 TV miniseries based on a Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) novel.  The daughter of an 18th century (recently) wealthy family, Clarissa Harlowe (Saskia Wickham), is known for her piety, obedience, and beauty.  But unlike most young women, she wants to remain single, quite satisfied w/ her books and female friends for company.  In time, her family plans to marry her off to Mr. Soames, a man she finds repellant b/c of his looks and manners.  Clarissa, feeling desperate and friendless, runs off with Lovelace, the handsome/ill-reputed nobleman who’d been sending her secret letters.     

 

Lovelace, a known womanizer, pretends to seek redemption by reading the Bible and spending time w/ Clarissa.  His real goal is to wear down her virtue.  He comments to his best friend that he’s “never known a virtuous maid to hold out more than a month.”  But Clarissa won’t be had so easily!  Lovelace also wants to take revenge on James, Clarissa’s cold-hearted older brother.  

Though  James, as well as his sister Arabella, are rather one-dimensional villains, Clarissa’s best friend Anne is a n interesting character.  She’s a smart and sarcastic woman w/ a steady beau, but she doesn’t respect or love him.  She keeps him waiting, wondering if marriage is the right choice.   

 

 

“Wuthering Heights” (PBS – 1998)

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Robert Cavanah said: …It occurred to me that he was simply a man made of the simplest drives and needs and wants, and they were all summed up in three words – love of Cathy.  I never played him as a villain, just a man of enormous capacity for love, who had it all slapped back in his face.

This version of Wuthering Heights was made for British TV, then shown on Masterpiece Theatre (PBS) in the US.  The Northern accent used by the actors suits the story.  Unfortunately, the Earnshaw home is a humble cottage, not a gothic house.  This was no doubt due to budget limitations.  As several others mentioned, this film gives us chunks of dialogue straight from the novel.  Very cool!

The anti-hero protagonist, Heathcliff, is played by Scottish character actor Robert Cavanagh.  He’s not handsome, but has a great voice and strong screen  presence.   There are a couple of scenes where he gets very rough with wife Isabella Linton, but overall, this Heathcliff is not a complete monster.  He’s very much a product of his difficult past.

The actor who does justice to Heathcliff’s vulnerable/confused side is Ralph Fiennes.  Great acting is in the eyes, as Barbara Stanwyck said, and it’s all there w/ Fiennes!  He’s accessible in some ways, but still mysterious.  Olivier was very strong in the 1939 version, but a bit too much of a gentleman in some scenes.

My 20s were torture. I found men terrifying. I didn’t know how to relate to them and, because of that, there was no way I could have stood on a stage and asked people to look at me. I just wasn’t comfortable in my skin.  -Orla Brady

I really liked this Cathy, who is played by Irish actress Orla Brady.  Her unusually beautiful face doesn’t detract from her fine acting.  I was especially impressed when she showed Cathy’s strong/willful side.  Of course, no one can top La Binoche in the 1992 version!

The love between the doomed pair is portrayed in a more earthy (perhaps lustful) manner, not all pie in the sky.  Some viewers seemed to like it; others wanted more innocence/romance.  Speaking of innocence…  The younger generation are portrayed very well by Sarah Smart and Matthew Macfadyen.  (Yes, that’s a youthful Matthew as Hareton Earnshaw.  And he’s holding a puppy.  Awww…)

I think it would be awesome to have another version of this story w/ age-appropriate actors.  (This was done successfully by Franco Zeffirelli in the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet.)  The younger Heathcliff and Cathy would have to be around 6-8 y.o. and the older ones 16-18 y.o.  If the lovers are teens, things will make more sense to viewers.  After all, it’s a odd to see 25-35 y.o. actors running through the moors, crying all night, and becoming furious at the slightest matter.

The latest BBC version was quite good, thanks mostly to Tom Hardy, who is a very intriguing actor.  He has a mystery about him, like Fiennes.  Heathcliff should be dangerous w/o alienating the audience completely.

Click below to see a cute vid w/ Macfadyen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HNt7S2A0Q