Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 284

Alex · 02-18-2008, 10:58 PM

Yes, that, perhaps with too much subtlety, was my point. The movie had nothing much to recommend it so just get a Piaf CD and listen to that.

Though all of the singing wasn't Edith Piaf, not everything existed in recorded form that could be used in the movie. One of the NPR shows had an interview with Jil Aigrot the French woman who four songs in the movie. She has a successful career in France doing Piaf tribute shows (here's some of it on YouTube).

And it certainly isn't her fault that it is a timeworn story. But that doesn't make it any more interesting to see it for the fourth or fifth time in a couple years.

innerSpaceman · 02-18-2008, 11:10 PM

Oooh, i want to see the Glenda Jackson version.

I love Judi Dench as Older Liz in Shakespear in Love. I also love the casting irony of that movie, made within a year of Elizabeth, I think. Both films share Elizabeth as a character, and Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Feines as actors.

I think Cate was better as younger Liz (and duly nominated for an Oscar and catapulted to stardom for that portrayal). But I don't find her turn as older Elizabeth as poor by any stretch. I also don't think the dance number in the orignal was over the top, and it has a wonderfully romantic echo in the recent sequel (the one moment where they use a tiny bit of footage from the earlier film).

Haha ... i also love that JWBear has switched his male hottie avatar to Clive Owen as Walter Raleigh from Elizabeth TGA. (but i'll really miss his last hottie, whom I found a blisteringly hot hottie.)

Gemini Cricket · 02-18-2008, 11:17 PM

I don't know, the dance scene seemed too revealing of a relationship that was in the closet. There would be no doubt in anyone's mind that they were intimate if they danced like that in front of everyone.

But I will agree that it's smolder-y.

Another thing I remembered:
The treachery and the fact that the people around her wanted her dead often was portrayed well in the GJ version. Her life and reign was not glamorous and fanciful, it was quite the opposite.

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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What about Bette?

What about Jenny Runacre?

innerSpaceman · 02-19-2008, 09:01 AM

Yes she was. I instantly thought Oscar after seeing her performance, and I hope she wins on Sunday.

Ah, Elizabeth. Let's have a marathon and watch Bette, Glenda, Cate, Helen and Judi till our eyes pop out.

All that them took liberties with history. Oh, like we can ever really know what the true history was of 50 years ago, much less 500.

But in Elizabeth, her relationship with Dudley was hardly in the closet at all. It was out out out there. I don't think the dance was out of place in that context. Maybe historically incorrect (or maybe not), but certainly in keeping with the film ... where they carried on in public in 15 or 20 scenes.

I don't recall the Helen version as well. Was she secretive about Jeremy Irons? Ugh, who could be???

02-18-2008, 10:58 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Yes, that, perhaps with too much subtlety, was my point. The movie had nothing much to recommend it so just get a Piaf CD and listen to that. Though all of the singing wasn't Edith Piaf, not everything existed in recorded form that could be used in the movie. One of the NPR shows had an interview with Jil Aigrot the French woman who four songs in the movie. She has a successful career in France doing Piaf tribute shows (here's some of it on YouTube). And it certainly isn't her fault that it is a timeworn story. But that doesn't make it any more interesting to see it for the fourth or fifth time in a couple years.
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02-18-2008, 11:10 PM	#2
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Oooh, i want to see the Glenda Jackson version. I love Judi Dench as Older Liz in Shakespear in Love. I also love the casting irony of that movie, made within a year of Elizabeth, I think. Both films share Elizabeth as a character, and Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Feines as actors. I think Cate was better as younger Liz (and duly nominated for an Oscar and catapulted to stardom for that portrayal). But I don't find her turn as older Elizabeth as poor by any stretch. I also don't think the dance number in the orignal was over the top, and it has a wonderfully romantic echo in the recent sequel (the one moment where they use a tiny bit of footage from the earlier film). Haha ... i also love that JWBear has switched his male hottie avatar to Clive Owen as Walter Raleigh from Elizabeth TGA. (but i'll really miss his last hottie, whom I found a blisteringly hot hottie.)
	Submit to Quotes

02-18-2008, 11:17 PM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I don't know, the dance scene seemed too revealing of a relationship that was in the closet. There would be no doubt in anyone's mind that they were intimate if they danced like that in front of everyone. But I will agree that it's smolder-y. Another thing I remembered: The treachery and the fact that the people around her wanted her dead often was portrayed well in the GJ version. Her life and reign was not glamorous and fanciful, it was quite the opposite.
	Submit to Quotes

02-18-2008, 11:15 PM	#4
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	What about Bette?
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02-19-2008, 08:19 AM	#6
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	#8
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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02-19-2008, 09:01 AM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Yes she was. I instantly thought Oscar after seeing her performance, and I hope she wins on Sunday. Ah, Elizabeth. Let's have a marathon and watch Bette, Glenda, Cate, Helen and Judi till our eyes pop out. All that them took liberties with history. Oh, like we can ever really know what the true history was of 50 years ago, much less 500. But in Elizabeth, her relationship with Dudley was hardly in the closet at all. It was out out out there. I don't think the dance was out of place in that context. Maybe historically incorrect (or maybe not), but certainly in keeping with the film ... where they carried on in public in 15 or 20 scenes. I don't recall the Helen version as well. Was she secretive about Jeremy Irons? Ugh, who could be???
	Submit to Quotes