Miscellaneous Movie Musings

Not Afraid · 02-18-2008, 11:15 PM

What about Bette?

Snowflake · 02-19-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What about Bette?

Oh, now GC, Bette Davis AND Joan Collins? Hootfest of the highest order!

Bette in the Warner's Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex is wonderful classic Hollywood and one would never expect it to be historically accurate. Errol Flynn is so incredibly handsome as the roguish Essex and Bette is very mannered as Elizabeth (with all the usual Bette ticks), that said, it's a fun watch. Gorgeous costuming, beautiful lighting, tech-NI-color, great Korngold score. It's never dull, it is what it is. Besides, imagine what it would have been like if Ginger Rogers had gotten the part, she lobbied hard for it and did a test (which does not exist, so I understand). That would have been painful in 1939 and a camp hootfest today.

I loved Mirren's Elizabeth. I will see Golden Age this week once it hits the mailbox.

Snowflake · 02-19-2008, 08:19 AM

Alex, I disagree with you about Cotilard merely lip synching. I thought she was riveting as Piaf. Make up helped a good deal - those last years Piaf looked like more than a train wreck and there were moments when I kept thinking that Cotilard was Piaf, the body language, etc. was dead on.

My complaint was that too much time was spent on her terrible childhood and early years, then it was a whirlwind of "instant" success and then the inevitable and speedy downfall. Thye cut far more out of Piaf's life than they used in the film. It was much a Cliff Notes version. But I thought Cotilard was a standout.

Alex · 02-19-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Alex, I disagree with you about Cotilard merely lip synching.

I didn't say she was merely lip-synching. Cotilard was fine, I was just bored with everything that didn't involve singing (all of which was lip synched, whether to Piaf or Aigrot).

Currently I've seen four of the five nominees for Best Actress (and if I have time I will see Julie Christie in Away from Her tonight) and I'd put her as the best among the other nominees, that's just not a terribly high bar this year. Laura Linney was fine but there was nothing special about The Savages; Ellen Page was good in Juno; maybe Blanchett was good in Queen Elizabeth and just tainted by the overall stink of the movie so I'm not seeing it.

Snowflake · 02-19-2008, 10:15 AM

Alex, I stand corrected, sorry bout that.

I'd love to see Cotilard win, I think she truly deserves it. It was, for what it was, a tour de force performance.

Julie Christie has my sentimental vote.

Gemini Cricket · 02-20-2008, 12:15 AM

I saw Bourne Ultimatum the other night. I highly recommend it.
It's a wonderful action film. One of the best I've seen in awhile.
The editing is so fierce, I can't believe how many cuts this film has.
And I can't believe the locations that they shot in. There's a huge scene in the middle of the busiest tube station in London and then there's a huge chase scene in Tangiers that is wonderful. There's one jump that the Bourne character takes that is tremendous.
I definitely want to watch all 3 back to back sometime.
Interesting that Matt Damon is now the golden boy and Ben Affleck is nowhere to be found. Interesting.

Spoiler:

Strangler Lewis · 02-19-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What about Bette?

What about Jenny Runacre?

02-18-2008, 11:15 PM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	What about Bette?
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02-19-2008, 08:19 AM	#3
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	La Vie en Rose Alex, I disagree with you about Cotilard merely lip synching. I thought she was riveting as Piaf. Make up helped a good deal - those last years Piaf looked like more than a train wreck and there were moments when I kept thinking that Cotilard was Piaf, the body language, etc. was dead on. My complaint was that too much time was spent on her terrible childhood and early years, then it was a whirlwind of "instant" success and then the inevitable and speedy downfall. Thye cut far more out of Piaf's life than they used in the film. It was much a Cliff Notes version. But I thought Cotilard was a standout. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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02-19-2008, 10:15 AM	#5
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Alex, I stand corrected, sorry bout that. I'd love to see Cotilard win, I think she truly deserves it. It was, for what it was, a tour de force performance. Julie Christie has my sentimental vote.
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02-20-2008, 12:15 AM	#6
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I saw Bourne Ultimatum the other night. I highly recommend it. It's a wonderful action film. One of the best I've seen in awhile. The editing is so fierce, I can't believe how many cuts this film has. And I can't believe the locations that they shot in. There's a huge scene in the middle of the busiest tube station in London and then there's a huge chase scene in Tangiers that is wonderful. There's one jump that the Bourne character takes that is tremendous. I definitely want to watch all 3 back to back sometime. Interesting that Matt Damon is now the golden boy and Ben Affleck is nowhere to be found. Interesting. Spoiler: An interesting thing I found out is that casting can sometimes give away some of the plot. Or at least it can direct you in a way as a viewer. I saw in the credits that Albert Finney was cast in the film. And seeing 3/4 of it and not seeing him yet, I figured out that he was going to explain the whole Bourne secret. Why else would he take the part if it wasn't a significant role? And his scene would have to be a major one if he had not a single piece of dialogue 3/4 of the way in. I think they should have hidden the fact that Finney was in it and surprised us with his appearance and his revelation. That was also a big giveaway for me when I saw Appointment with Death. I thought to myself, why on earth would Lauren Bacall be in this film? She's a heavy hitter. She wouldn't do this film unless... Yes, it could have been John Gielgud but I just knew it was her. And it was.
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