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Bernard and Doris: Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon

Posted on February 11, 2010 Written by ripitup

Bernard and Doris with Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon. Charming and fun all over...

Half-based on the life of Doris Duke- one of the richest people of her time.

Doris Duke (Susan Sarandon) is an interesting, smart and demanding woman who loves her fun; especially in the form of booze and young men. Her inherited fortune has multiplied because of her sharp business mind.

Bernard (Ralph Fiennes) is a shy, nice and polite butler that starts working for her.

At first she treats her like the rest of her staff but slowly they develop a strong bond and friendship.

Now, what’s interesting about this movie is how Doris allows (gay) Bernard to express himself and takes him out of his shell. Of course people working for Doris finds their friendship weird but then again it is not like our colorful duo care. Sure just like every movie some conflicts will arise here too…

Ralph Fiennes is so adorably cute in Bernard. It was refreshing to see him as a first plain, than an increasingly flamboyant homosexual. He and Susan make a wonderful onscreen couple and their performances make the movie. It is fun, charming and relaxing.

Strongly recommended for every Susan and Ralph fan.

More on Ralph Fiennes:

Strange Days

The English Patient: When adultery is OK

The Painted Veil with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton

Posted on February 7, 2010 Written by ripitup

Just beautiful. Nothing is over the top. One of the best emotional journeys on cinema. A Painted Veil with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.

1920s. Kitty (Naomi Watts) and Walter (Edward Norton) have absolutely nothing in common. Walter is a shy, smart, and awkward bacteriologist who falls in love with Kitty at first sight at a party.

Kitty is the ultimate social girl: she loves going out, playing the piano and being the center of attention.

She probably wouldn’t even consider marrying Walter if she hadn’t been dying to escape her dreadful mother; who was already announcing news of engagement even when Kitty wasn’t remotely interested in Walter. So she finds herself in China, bored to death with her nerdy husband. That’s when she finds herself having an affair with and falling for the charming but married diplomat Charlie Townsend (played by Naomi’s real life partner Liev Schreiber).

When Walter finds out, he gives her two options: he can divorce her right away or she has to go to the cholera struck region of China with him. She has overestimated Charlie both as a man and a lover. He refuses to divorce his wife, just as Walter predicts.

This is the perfect punishment for an unfaithful wife: isolated in a country with only one native English speaker as neighbor. The marriage isn’t a happy one for Walter either, but he is mostly busy with his patients. As Kitty makes an effort to redeem herself and mingle with people of the church, the couple begins to see each other for they really are and the coldness is eventually replaced with love and respect.

The Painted Veil with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton — Kitty and Walter, Belatedly in love

The Painted Veil is absolutely beautiful. It is delicate and sincere. The scenery is amazing and the acting is top notch. But then again, I wasn’t expecting any less from Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. I have been an admirer of Norton’s ever since I saw him in Primal Fear. Still, it was the first time I saw him as a romantic lead in a romantic period drama and he is just excellent at this. I also like it more if the movie is produced by the leading actors so they have more say in scenes and Watts and Norton have made brilliant choices.

The movie was directed by John Curran in 2006. Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham.

This is one of those movies that if a guy doesn’t like it, you can rightfully dismiss him as heartless. Well, kidding aside, it would be a very shallow attempt to label this one as a chick flick. It is a multi-dimensional story with multi-dimensional characters. Don’t miss out on it, regardless of your genre preference and gender.

Chéri starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend

Posted on February 5, 2010 Written by ripitup

Chéri with Michelle Pfeiffer. She is good. The movie? Not so much.

I didn’t like this movie. Bye.

Kidding. Well, only about the second part. I really didn’t like this movie.

I like period pieces and romantic/sexy stories. I love Michelle Pfeiffer. Director Stephen Fears made Dangerous Liaisons in 1988, starring John Malkovich Glenn Close and Michelle, a movie I adored. So I was expecting something spectacular from Stephen again. Well, the magic is just isn’t here. Of course that cast included the-ever-amazing John Malkovich. Here, we have Rupert Friend. I had previously seen him in Pride and Prejudice in a small role and he had done alright. Now, even “alright” would be overstatement.

The story:
Michelle plays Lea- a glorified prostitute who is near her retirement age. I am saying glorified, because we are talking about times where some prostitutes had power, money and more style and grace than any other woman in society. She is the godmother of Chéri and this young man has started to concern his mother Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates), an ex-prostitute herself. Chéri’s life consists of sex and booze and she’d rather have him mature under the wings of her old friend Lea. But this maturing period lasts longer than they all expected. After 6 years, they are still together. But according to Madame, it is time for his son to get married. She finds the girl and makes all the arrangements. Chéri still would like to have an affair, but Lea doesn’t want to be him after he is married. So they break up, which sends both lovers to different types of depression. They try to get on with their lives, but 6 years of passion and love are not easily forgotten…

chéri with rupert friend and michelle pfeiffer — Chéri with Rupert Friend and Michelle Pfeiffer

Not a story we aren’t used to but hey, it will do. The costumes are fine and Michelle Pfeiffer is still very pretty. But the movie doesn’t work. I easily got tired of Kathy Bates’ over the top character. I was annoyed by almost everything about Rupert Friend’s Chéri. I failed to see what might have been so appealing about him. He has a pretty face I guess, in a weird way but I half-expected him to announce he was actually gay throughout the movie. He walks, talks and acts funny. He has this weird fascination of pearls and if a guy isn’t gay, his wanting to borrow pink pearls can’t be endearing. I failed to recognize the slightest level of testosterone from him. His personality? There was nothing good or charming. So how am I supposed to believe a “love” story when the guy has nothing to offer? Youth can not be the answer, she has seen many of young men before. I guess we can explain that as shit happens. But surely, a girl finding Chéri as annoying, spoilt and gay is not a good sign?

And the ending is disappointing too. I am not saying it is happy or sad. I didn’t really care either way but it was just a pointless ending to a pointless story.

I watched it because as I said: 1) Michelle Pfeiffer

2) Stephen Frears

Don’t watch it unless you love period pieces no matter what the story and find Rupert Friend cute.

Also with Michelle Pfeiffer:

Wolf

Tequila Sunrise

With Kathy Bates

My Sister’s Keeper

P.S. I love you – plays Gerard Butler’s mother-in-law

White Palace – plays James Spader’s boss

Elizabeth: The Golden Age starring Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush and Abbie Cornish

Posted on February 4, 2010 Written by ripitup

Elizabeth The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish and Geoffrey Rush. Co-starring Samantha Morton and Tom Hollander.

Elizabeth The Golden Age is truly a feast for a person who enjoys epic period pieces. It is glorious in all aspects. The fact that Cate Blanchett didn’ t win the Oscar for best actress isn’t something I can’t bring my head around. But it is not just her. Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Abby Cornish and Samantha Morton are all great. This is the second Elizabeth movie with Cate, the first movie – Elizabeth- was made in 1998, with Cate in the title role. I haven’t seen it but I am seriously tempted. But I am wondering if Joseph Fiennes was as good as Clive Owen?

Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age — Cate Blanchett as the Queen in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. This is it. I am officially a Cate Blancett fan. What can I say? I love portraits of powerful and impressive women.

Elizabeth is loved by her people. She is strong and open-minded. She cares about her people. She refuses to marry any man just to have a heir. She loves her power, country and values her freedom. Of course she has enemies. Spain wants her gone and their king is making plans with Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Stuart, who is under house arrest in Scotland.

The Queen’s right hand Sir Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) is very worried and doing the best he can to protect Elizabeth from any possible threats.

Clive Owen as Walter Raleigh. He takes The Queen's breath away. And Bess's. What? Can you blame them? Walter also is big on his principles and principles; only two of the attributes that attract Elizabeth. I am guessing him being gorgeous plays a part too.

Things get even more complicated for Elizabeth when she meets and falls for Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). He is a free-spirited sailor who respects his queen and is a fine captain who has pissed off many Spanish during his fruitful cruises. Elizabeth can’t exactly have a normal relationship with a man who has and wants nothing to do with royalty, can she? And although Walter seems to be romantically interested in his queen, his attention is also fixed on one of the Queen’s maids- Bess (Abby Cornish)…

Abby Cornish as Bess in Elizabeth: The Golden Age — Abby Cornish as Bess. She is just so beautiful.

It has it all: Betrayal, love, romance, passion, friendship, war, strategy, loyalty and conflicts. It has action and drama. The costumes, art direction and the lighting add to the fairy tale feel of the film. The complex relationship between Walter, Bess and Elizabeth only make the plot much more interesting. There is nothing typical about the Queen’s character and Cate Blanchett does a great job in making the movie spectacular.

Shortly, I loved everything about the movie. If you like your epic, see Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

And since I have covered many Clive Owen movies on my blog (although there are more to come), I think a poll on your favorite Clive movie is in order. Vote away.

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If you want more of Clive Owen’s movies, click the name of the movie to go the reviews/trailers.