Stage Beauty
Full Price Feature
Some stage to screen adaptations flounder under their own
theatricality when projected on the big screen; not so with this film
version of Jeffrey Hatcher's Compleat Female Stage Beauty. Here, the
close-up, naturalistic style of film acting complements the overly
stylized form of artistry that male actors until 1660 used to portray
women on stage.
The story takes place at a pivotal moment for women in the
Restoration under King Charles II (Rupert Everett, delicious): men
have always played women in plays, but as we know, that had to change
sometime. For Claire Danes as Maria that time is now. This plot
idea is interesting enough on its own - but what of the beatiful men
who had always only played women, such as Billy Crudup?
Crudup is simply fantastic as Ned Kyneston, one of the greatest of
these stag actresses. Hi sdresser, Danes, craves both his career and
his love; she can only have one or the other, it seems. Both Crudup
and Danes' names on a marquee read like My So Called 17th Century,
but they are engaging, delightful, amazing in this film, with real
chemistry (that I understand led to an unfortunate breakup by Crudup).
It doesn't hurt that our heroes are supported by the excellent
Everett, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Griffiths, and Ben Chaplin. Every
one of these is elevated to the height of the material(save the
splendid Wilkinson, who had no need for elevation) - a considerable
journey for some.
The script is witty, funny, moving, insightful, well-paced. We all
wanted a copy immediately. It's a joy just to let the words wash
over you. I tried to note favorite quotes and failed, there were so
many and I did not want to miss a word.
I loved Danes' journey into eerie parallels with Hollywood with her
character's story. Crudup also follows the fickle tail of fame, but
he also must find himself, as well as happiness. Watching him try to
find who he truly is, try to prove he is as great an actor as he is
an actress, is fantastic.
I wondered if there would be any fuss over some of the romantic and
sexual elements of the film - not from the increasingly Puritan
Right, but from the gay community. My defense of the film, if anyone
out there feels betrayed by certain scenes, is that sexual ambiguity
has been an acknowledged way of life for centuries (only losing
stride with the aforementioned Puritans). Its frank portrayal here
is more historical than not, and hopefully will be viewed in its
proper emotional and societal context. In short: it's a movie, just
watch it!
Director Richard Eyre has crafted his two leads (despite their
character's protestations to the contrary) into actors who truly own
these roles. Danes is playing Maria like a smart Gwyneth Paltrow
without the chilliness. Crudup feels like an old friend by the end
of the film, even as his journey is so different and arduous and
personal.
It's lovely, funny, sweet, interesting, it's great - go see it!
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These reviews (c) 2004 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to
forward but credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks. You can
check out previous reviews at:
http://www.cinerina.com and http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com - the
Online Film Critics Society
http://www.hsbr.net/reviews/karina/listing.hsbr - Hollywood Stock
Exchange Brokerage Resource
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