Cate Blanchett lords over this dramatic interpretation of real events where plots upon plots show how uneasy rests the head that wears the crown. The Spanish armada attempts to attack England and finds them thwarted by the sea and Sir Walter Raleigh. Look for Clive Owen in that role. He also makes eyes at the queen.
The costuming pushed it into being a better film than I think the acting and writing made it. The color, texture and sounds of the dresses were enough to make a designer fall in love.
They should have stuck to a more clearly defined aspect of the monarch without all the convoluted extras. Make references to the attempts on her life but keep us in the exciting bits. Save the other stuff for a sequel or something. I got bored. I shouldn't get bored watching a film about one of the greatest monarchs ever to live. Oh, wait, this IS a sequel. UGH.
Library: Bandon, Coos Bay, North Bend & SWOCC.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/
Amazon: Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition)
Hugh Grant went to the 'be yourself only not' school of acting and nothing about this film changed that, but it's quite a nice little two hours of quirk. A pair of surveyors go into a little village and determine that a local mountain sits just a few short feat below that designation.
When the townsfolk hear of the findings they get together and decide to "add" to the mound and make it a mountain again. Grant falls in love with a girl and the community and helps and stays to resurvey. Truly a story of the little town that could. It'll inspire you to make a mountain.
Library: VHS; Bandon & North Bend. DVD; Myrtle Point.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112966/
Amazon: The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
Two precocious little girl cousins take photographs of fairies in order to cheer up their parents. Buoyed by the images, the adults consult with people interested in the occult and the images make their way to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle played by Peter O'Toole. He shows them to his friend magician Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) who tries to disprove the story but in this film does not.
I read that Doyle considered himself duped by the photograph, but the story isn't really about them. They even seem an afterthought. The family dynamics dominate the film. It's quite sweet and intended to ask us all about the nature of belief.
I once saw four different rainbows during a trip to Scotland. How can I NOT believe in fairies!
Library: Bandon.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119095/
Amazon: Fairy Tale - A True Story
No comments:
Post a Comment