1920s, Los Angeles. A hospital.
Roy (Lee Pace) is a bed-bound patient, injured from a movie stunt. Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is a little girl with a broken arm. When they meet, Roy starts telling her a story of epic proportions. Roy is a fine story-teller, Alexandria has a wonderful imagination and director Tarsem takes us through a wonderfully bizarre journey with amazing visuals. Bandits, Indians, Charles Darwin, a wicked governor and other colorful characters are all parts of this tale. Reality and fantasy are impressively inter-wined and they are both very good.
I dare not say more about the plot because each detail is so important, I just don’t want to take away from the movie.
This film is just magical. It does get a bit slow at some parts but the climax more than makes up for it. I found out it is based on a 1981 Bulgarian film called Yo ho ho. I was a little disappointed because I had thought the story was so original. But it doesn’t matter. It may not be original but it is damn good. The acting is lovely and it really grabs you.
You have to see it. 7.9 on imdb. 8.0 and up from me.
Other Posts on Lee Pace
Possession starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Pace and Michael Landes
Soldier’s Girl: A Haunting True Story starring Lee Pace and Troy Garity
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams, Frances McDormand and Lee Pace
When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. feat. Lee Pace
The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie & Lee Pace
Although it might not seem like there is a very limited use of computer graphics in this movie. The real surprise is just our planet, fabulous scenarios that really exists and which have been unearthed by the director after years of research. Tarsem (the director) is another of those underestimated creatures (as our hero Lee Pace). He made just another film that had a deplorable screenplay (The Cell) but had the unmistakable stamp of his visual imagination. Well as being a genius Tarsem had to produce the film by himself and the distribution was really ridiculous! Just think that in Italy (as in many other countries I suppose), the film never arrived. May like it or not but without doubt it’s an absolutely unique work and as such should be seen. Should be seen for the colors and the infinite child imaginary. Should be seen for the incredible costumes by Eiko Ishioka. Should be seen for the incredible acting of the female protagonist (Catinca Untaru), an adult dwarf dressed as a girl as I call her, because it’s impressive to see a child play with such skill. The co-star is Lee Pace that despite the small and blinding star succeeds in breaking (and it was not easy) and gives us a touching drama, especially in scenes where the story returns to reality. His desperate face to face with the child are memorable.
You are spot on with the adult dwarf thing. She is indeed amazing. As Lee stated in the interview, she was just reacting and everything about her was so natural. Tarsem really has a magnificient imagination but he is also great at spotting talent because he only wanted Lee to play the part, no one else.
I love the rich blend of emotions, color, imagination, great acting, costume design, music and script writing as well. When you are in the story, you want to stay with the bandit and his team. When we are back in the hospital room, I can’t get enough of the face-to-face interactions between Roy and Alexandra. I am also fond of the twists and turns and what Roy actually intended to do with her and what really happened. Emotional and entertaining as hell.
I am glad you love it too. I can’t wait to dicuss Possession.
Damn you! I’ve just read my mind! Tarsem is a truffle dog (don’t know if in English you can say so), in sense that he has an incredible eye for choosing the actors. Who, being sane, could be fixed with a sensual and effeminate young man and make him a bandit?! And yet, who could take a girl who didn’t know a word of English and expect her to learn it because she was the character and no other? Applause to Tarsem!
Yeah. Well,in Tarsem’s defense, he did actually want to make sure Lee had a dick. Lee’s words, not mine:) And then after that role, Roy did let his eyebrows grow. And with those eyebrows and voice and built, it just sounds impossible that he played such a feminine character. And yet, when I was watching Soldier’s Girl, Lee so could move and dance. Remember how he handled dancing to Fever? Man, he would make Elvis proud:)
Ahahahaha yes, I saw that interview. Lee actually said that and it seemed so strange (and kind of relief) to hear from his mouth 🙂
Yes, eyebrows, voice, built, yes but after….before, when Tarsem saw him, he was an angel, thin, delicate, sinuous angel…I mean how could he imagine that this ephebe could have a role like that in The Fall? Only a madman like Tarsem and he saw along.
Lee definitely knows how to dance. To me the part that struck me most in Soldier’s Girl is when Lee performs with Consequences of Falling. I literally went crazy when there’s that long shot where he dances with thong coming out of his skirt, his arms raised and looking down… what he does with his hips… GOD… many women could not do the same. It’s insane how seductive Lee is in that scene. And again in that scene when Lee suddenly sees Troy, freezes for a moment, forgetting to sing, and then makes the most enchanting smile I’ve ever seen…
Even now when I think… eyes clouded with tears… for the beauty, infinite beauty of that movie.
P.S. In my reply of 28 April I meant to write “Damn you!You’ve just read my mind!…”
Yeah, I got that:)
He can move. Tarsem is definitely very perceptive- perceptive enough to make Patrick Jane from The Mentalist proud even:) Lee’s transformation is so strong even he couldn’t get out of it during the interview. Maybe he didn’t want. But among all the boys (actors he could kiss), Troy Garity was pretty OK. I love the simplictiy and genuinity of the character Barry. I have so many favorite lines from that movie but I like Barry’s “Does that make me a freak? Being in love with a freak..?” It was right after Carpernia said she didn’t want to be a freak anymore.
I also love the scene where he suddenly bursts and cries. I love the innocence and desperation in his reaction. Very well acted movie, on both accounts. I wonder if these two actors are friends in real life…That kind of role might have brought them close. I don’t know.
And after that singing scene, Barry does find himself in the room- it was magnetic. So cool.
Oh God yes…I can talk about this movie forever. “Does that make me a freak? Being in love with a freak..?” …Barry…
That boy must have been really so pure and brave as described in the movie. One can only try to imagine Barry’s private hell during the last days of his life. Private hell of which has hardly said a word even to Calpernia. Intrigued by the people involved in this story (unfortunately the human mind is morbid) I went to inquire about Calpernia. What I seem to understand is that she has never really recovered from that horrible story. Barry was a person out of the ordinary. A young man who has fought and won his demons, going against obtuseness and hatred, embracing the love he felt. Don’t forget that this guy was only 22 years old. Calpernia for him was simply a woman, the woman he loved. In an interview Calpernia mentions that she never found again someone who loved her that way. And this is one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard because that senseless act of hate has not killed only Barry.
P.S. Troy and Lee shared an intimate and devastating experience together, frightening for anyone, because the subject is a taboo, because is something really happened, because if they had not done a good job would have offended the memory of a slain soldier and his family, because they even made love 🙂 So yes, I think they are now friends.
It is terribly tragic. I guess what she can only do is to console herself with the lyrics of a Poison song called I won’t forget you. “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”. At least people took notice and made a movie out of it. And I think real Calpernia must have appreciated Lee’s portrayal. I have seen her pictures with Lee and Troy and she does look equally feminine and fragile.
Let’s hope Lee gets more lead roles. As much as Possession might not be his best, it certainly beats seeing him for 58 seconds;)))
How do you like Miss Pettigrew lives for a day? I think it’s an adorable movie.
Yeah, I hope so- It was some experience and they are both really talented actors so I hope they are friends. I was wondering because of Brokeback Mountain- I don’t really like that movie but Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal became best buds after that. Hell, Jake is Heath’s daugther’s godfather! 🙂
Zoey I certainly agree with you. Anything is better than the damn 58 seconds! I enjoyed Possession… the close ups and looks and views over the whole height and curled down overalls and the chest and frailty and madness and kisses and embraced awakenings (gosh.. a demented teenager). I pray to see him again in a leading role because the talent, when it’s so blatant and adorned with such great incarnation, it’s a pure pleasure for eyes and soul.
I hate to tell you that but in one scene in particular it jumped in my mind the belief that Lee is gay. I know it’s absolutely unnecessary to touch this topic but I wanted to have your own opinion. The scene is when he breaks wood immediately after teasing Sarah Michelle Gellar for her small stature. The way Lee chops wood and walks to put it in place has nothing masculine. And if an actor as good as he wasn’t able to conceal a behavior means that it’s just part of his nature. What do you think?
Well, if I didn’t find anything gay about that scene or the movie, actually. He might be gay but it wouldn’t be that scene that would put something in my mind like that. I think it is more awkward than gay. Remember as tough as Roman is, he is trying to pose as someone very gentle, thoughtful and most probably OK with his feminine side. Remember how romantic the brother was? He probably was just trying to hide any hints that could make her suspicious.
And if at one point you doubt him, just watch the sex scene- either with Sarah Michelle Gellar or the scene where he comes to the surfer girl’s apartment and just puts her against the wall;)
ok ok…I have to say that in the scenes that you’ve mentioned there’s really nothing gay. I still got them in my mind. And actually I needed this kind of response from you:)
I can assure you anytime:) Possession is where Lee’s masculinity peaks. That’s why we love the movie, remember?:)
I adore Lee also in Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day.
Follow the link..
https://pinartarhan.com/blog/miss-pettigrew-lives-for-a-day/
I followed the link, and commented back.
grazie;)