Judi Dench

Film Review: ‘Skyfall’ is Enjoyable, Transitional James Bond Romp

PatrickMcD — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:30:06 -0500

CHICAGO – James Bond is the world’s most enduring super spy, beginning with Ian Fleming’s classic spy novels, up to a celebration of 50 years in the movies. Daniel Craig returns as Bond, James Bond in the latest film ‘Skyfall,’ which blends familiar 007 actions with psychological transitions.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The transitions are what make the picture different, even slightly odd, as Bond is taken through a series of tests that call into question his relevance. In a way, it is questioning our own reaction to the super spy who came out of the Mad Men era, whether the man who literally fights towards death every day – and never ties himself down to anything or anybody – can still seem real. This complexity is less rich than described, and does stretch out the film to Freudian lengths, but there is enough in “Skyfall” to satisfy the popcorn crowd, who wants their Bond shaken not stirred, and his colleagues to be familiar reminders of who he is.

James Bond (Daniel Craig) opens the proceedings in the midst of a mission in Turkey. A computer drive has been stolen, containing the names of all the British Mi6 agency spies assigned by M (Judi Dench), who are undercover all over the world. After a classic chase, which includes rooftop motorcycling and railroad hopping, Bond is the victim of friendly fire and disappears.

M comes under fire after that incident, and at the same time the agency becomes victimized by a series of terrorist attacks. The danger that London experiences through these attacks puts the agency’s relevance into question, especially from Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), an official from the Prime Minister’s office. When Bond reappears, he is put back into the field to find the terrorist, who turns out to be Silva (Javier Bardem), a computer hacker genius with former ties to Mi6. It’s old school spy techniques versus the modern world. Does James Bond still belong?

“Skyfall” opens everywhere November 9th. Featuring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Albert Finney. Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. Directed by Sam Mendes. Rated “PG-13”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Skyfall”

The Spy Who Came in From the Couch: Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Skyfall’
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Skyfall”

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 Pairs of Passes to New Bond Film ‘Skyfall’ With Daniel Craig

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:34:44 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 20 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new Bond film “Skyfall” starring Daniel Craig (which we’ve already given five stars)!

“Skyfall,” which opens on Nov. 9, 2012 in Chicago and is rated “PG-13,” also stars Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Ola Rapace, Helen McCrory, Nicholas Woodeson, Bill Buckhurst, Elize du Toit and Ian Bonar from director Sam Mendes and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

To win your free “Skyfall” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Monday, Nov. 5, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Skyfall”:

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in “Skyfall,” which is the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In “Skyfall,” Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat no matter how personal the cost.

The movie poster for “Skyfall” starring Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem.
Image credit: Columbia Pictures

The movie trailer for “Skyfall” can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 20 admit-two movie tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Skyfall” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since showings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the showing’s scheduled start time. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: James Bond Returns in Stunning, Spectacular ‘Skyfall’

BrianTT — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:00:03 -0400

CHICAGO – “Skyfall” is a gorgeous, action-packed, superbly structured piece of modern filmmaking. It is not only one of the best James Bond movies in the five-decade history of the beloved character but it’s one of the best action movies of the last decade. Sam Mendes’ film is smart, sexy, dangerous, and, most stunningly of all, beautiful. With Oscar-caliber work from cinematographer Roger Deakins, James Bond finally has a film that looks as perfect as his suave style has deserved for half a century. And the new, modern look for Bond is used to tell the deepest story in his film history. “Skyfall” is an absolute success.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

As has become trademark for the Bond franchise, “Skyfall” opens with a bang – a breakneck action sequence that is essentially one long chase scene on foot, by car, on a motorcycle, and even the roof of a train. Bond (Daniel Craig) is chasing someone with a list that MI6 needs desperately. M (Judi Dench) is on a headset speaking to both Bond and another agent named Eve (Naomie Harris), stressing the urgency of not letting the list get away. From the very beginning, the heightened dramatic stakes are clear as Bond passes an agent bleeding to death. Stop the hemorrhaging or get the bad guy? Let a good guy die to stop a bad one? These are the questions that will circle the entire arc of “Skyfall,” easily the darkest Bond movie ever made. There are echoes of “The Dark Knight” in the way the film explores the history of its iconic character and a villain looking to cause chaos.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Skyfall” in our reviews section.

The explosive opening of “Skyfall” ends with 007 being shot and presumed dead after another tough decision by M. As the leader of MI6 is trying to get over the failure of the mission both politically and personally, a superior named Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) threatens her with forced retirement. She vows to clear up the current nightmare – it turns out the list was that of undercover British spies around the world that could now have their covers blown – before heading into the sunset. Bond resurfaces and decides to forgive M long enough to get the job done.

Said job involves help from a new Q (a perfect Ben Whishaw), a stunning new beauty named Severine (Berenice Marlohe), and, of course, a new Bond bad guy. The villain this time is named Silva (Javier Bardem) and he doesn’t appear for so long into the film that I’m hesitant to even offer too much character detail. We know from the beginning that the person tormenting MI6 with a personal grudge against M is someone with a history with the spy business, adding a layer of depth to the bad guy here that’s so often missing from Bond movies. Silva is what James Bond could have become with just a few failed missions and a stronger tendency to vengeance. Much like Batman and The Joker used fear to different ends, Bond and Silva are two sides of the same coin.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Skyfall” review.

“Skyfall” stars Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, and Albert Finney. It was written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan and directed by Sam Mendes. It will be released on November 9, 2012.

Skyfall
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

Film Review: Judi Dench Checks Into ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’

PatrickMcD — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:43:34 -0400

CHICAGO – Seven desperate souls are taking risks to save some part of their world, which describes both “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “The Avengers.” Which will win the box office war? The “heroes” of the Marigold residence include Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Dev Patel.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The slight story relies on often seen clichés in a golden-ager movie mode – man crazy and lonely widows, a horny old man, a used up marriage, a redeemed curmudgeon – but luckily these are filtered through top drawers actors who heighten the stereotypes into something more. This is a film that tries too hard with its message and premise, and is a bit overlong, but has its heart in the right place. It ends up being time well spent with the characters themselves, because of the precise performances in their various journeys.

Seven persons in retirement are at a crossroads, and the signs point in the same direction – a dull remainder of life in cold Britain. Evelyn (Judi Dench) has just lost her husband, Graham (Tom Wilkerson) is a retiring magistrate, Norman (Ronald Pickup) is a randy old goat, Madge (Celia Imrie) is searching for another husband, Muriel (Maggie Smith) is a candidate for a hip replacement and a married couple (Bill Nighy as Douglas and Penelope Wilton as Jean) are finding their golden years are turning to rust. They are decide to “outsource” their retirements, signing up to live at the Marigold Hotel in Udalpur, India.

The hotel turns out to be a dump, a last ditch effort by Sonny (Dev Patel of “Slumdog Millionaire”) to turn his fortunes around. The retirees all have their reasons for being there, and set out to understand what those reasons will give them in their new locale. It works out, for example, that Evelyn gets employed at the same call center as Sonny’s girlfriend Sunaina (Teria Desae), and Graham starts searching for his past, having lived in the teeming city in his youth. All of the “golden souls” will be changed by their stay at the Marigold, whether they want to or not.

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” opens everywhere on May 4th. Featuring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie and Dev Patel. Screenplay adapted by Ol Parker. Directed by John Madden. Rated “PG-13”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Judi Dench (Evelyn), Tom Wilkerson (Graham) and Bill Nighy (Douglas) in ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’
Photo credit: Ishika Mohan for Fox Searchlight Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Blu-ray Review: Middling ‘My Week with Marilyn’ Bolstered by Top-Notch Cast

mattmovieman — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:40:12 -0400

CHICAGO – Last year’s slate of Best Actress Oscar-nominees was among the weakest in recent memory. There was no clear front-runner since there was no picture worthy of the exemplary actress at its core. From Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” to Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs,” 2011 deserves to be remembered as the year of great female performances trapped in subpar material.

Perhaps the most frustrating misuse of talent is contained within TV veteran Simon Curtis’s feature debut, “My Week with Marilyn,” an adaptation of a memoir written by Colin Clark, who served as Third Assistant Director on the set of 1956’s unremarkable romance, “The Prince and the Showgirl.” The film was most famous for teaming up the unlikely duo of Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe, who would subsequently go on to deliver some of the most acclaimed work of their careers.

Blu-ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

The unsatisfactory premise of “Marilyn” seems to be built around the question, “Did Clark’s week-long fling with the infamous platinum blonde have some sort of impact on her life and work?” Clark says yes, but I beg to differ. There wasn’t a second in Curtis’s film where I was convinced by its depiction of Clark (played by Eddie Redmayne), who somehow snags his onset position will little to no difficulty. He’s such a go-getter that he somehow manages to obtain Noel Coward’s number out of thin air (I haven’t seen such miraculous persistence since “The Devil Wears Prada”). Clark also manages to dissect the dynamics and intentions of the surrounding cinematic giants with such insightful detail that it seems as if he were an adult narrator reflecting on his past. Redmayne is a photogenic screen presence, to be sure, but his one-note role limits him to endless awe-struck, longing reaction shots where he stands with his lips parted like a sea bass. He’s the Julie to Monroe’s Julia.

Michelle Williams stars in Simon Curtis’s My Week with Marilyn.
Photo credit: Laurence Cendrowicz/The Weinstein Company

It becomes increasingly infuriating to see Clark’s story repeatedly upstage that of Monroe herself, played to the hilt by Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams, who further solidifies her status as one of the seminal actresses of her generation. Though her features don’t quite match up with Monroe’s trademark voluptuousness, Williams transcends mere impersonation by absorbing Monroe’s behavior and mining the psyche beneath. She nails the rhythms and inflections of Monroe’s voice, belts out a few numbers while oozing sultriness and captures the calculated wide-eyed innocence that the actress used to mask a deep well of insecurity. It’s a remarkable portrayal that makes the film worth seeing regardless of its flaws.

Yet Williams is not the film’s sole strength. As the ambitious and often furious Olivier, Kenneth Branagh delves into the waning titan’s ego with such exuberant zest that he’s a magnetic force of nature whenever he’s onscreen. The subplot in Adrian Hodges’s script that is clearly deserving of feature-length treatment is the combative “Prince and the Showgirl” set where Olivier, desperate for a comeback vehicle, battled to maintain control over his star, who was doted on throughout the production by her method coach Lee Strasberg (Zoë Wanamaker, who could easily star in “The Edith Head Story” without altering her costume). The sequences focusing on the actual shoot are the most entertaining segments in the picture by far, and are further enhanced by Judi Dench’s marvelous turn as Monroe’s onset champion, Dame Sybil Thorndike. It’s also nice to see Emma Watson excel in a throwaway role that is about a hundred miles removed from mousy Hermione Granger. With so much potential on display, why did the filmmakers feel the need to frame the tale through the perspective of its least interesting inhabitant? Perhaps a sentimental and glossy script such as this is more easily pitchable to producers seeking a surefire crowd-pleaser. Thus, we’re forced to see A-list actors contribute their extraordinary efforts to a picture that ultimately amounts to a bouncy trifle.

My Week with Marilyn was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 13, 2012.
Photo credit: Anchor Bay Entertainment

“My Week with Marilyn” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio), accompanied by English and Spanish subtitles and is available in a combo pack featuring Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film. A 19-minute featurette includes an enticing array of archival footage and photos of the actual subjects depicted in the film, but never adequately explores the painstaking preparation undertaken by Williams to prepare for the formidable title role. The actress does reveal her belief that Monroe’s iconic persona was a finely honed act, and explains that her initial connection to the screen legend was more of a girl-to-girl understanding sparked by her childhood picture of a youthful and seemingly carefree Monroe. Dougray Scott says that he was pleased to tackle the role of Arthur Miller, since the playwright was the reason he became an actor in the first place (too bad his role is reduced to a walk-on). The featurette is littered with shameless plugs for other Weinstein Company releases, some of which are more credible than others. Williams’s Oscar-worthy tour-de-force in “Blue Valentine” deserves to be seen by a wider audience, but I’m sure a better example of Dench’s brilliance could be found in something other than “Mrs. Henderson Presents.”

The real treasures on this disc can be found in the director commentary track, where Curtis provides historical context for each moment while rattling off some memorable behind-the-scenes tidbits. Dench’s scenes had to be shot a full two months prior to principal photography, which makes her seamless interactions with Williams especially impressive. After directing Daniel Radcliffe’s film debut in the 1999 BBC production of “David Copperfield,” Curtis seemed particularly eager to cast Hogwarts alumni in his first big-screen feature—not only Watson, Branagh and Wanamaker, but also Geraldine Somerville (best known as Harry’s mum). Curtis made a point of shooting at the locations where the actual events took place, such as Parkside House and Pinewood Studios. Yet even Curtis speculates on whether young Colin Clark was truly as insightful as he comes off in the text. Perhaps Curtis should’ve disposed of Clark altogether and started from scratch.

‘My Week with Marilyn’ is released by Anchor Bay Entertainment and stars Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench, Julia Ormond, Dougray Scott, Emma Watson and Zoë Wanamaker . It was written by Adrian Hodges and directed by Simon Curtis. It was released on March 13, 2012. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
matt@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: Michelle Williams is Luminous in ‘My Week With Marilyn’

PatrickMcD — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:59:38 -0500

CHICAGO – Bringing the popular culture past back to life in a movie is always a tricky proposition. No matter what, there are always inevitable comparisons to the real thing. They don’t come any more really famous than Marilyn Monroe, and Michelle Williams takes on a portrayal that exemplifies, honors and humanizes the iconic star in “My Week with Marilyn.”

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Credit also should be given to director Simon Curtis – working with an adapted screenplay by Adrian Hodges – who establishes an accessible narrative to show all sides of Monroe, at a crucial juncture in her life. Kenneth Branagh also is on his game as Sir Lawrence Olivier, cursed with a crossroads of his own that clashes ironically with the mercurial Marilyn. This is a film that will put a smile on the face of any movie fanatic, but is also fun for the generations not as familiar with the old stars, because it elucidates on a time and place never to come again, with glimpses of the celebrity culture beginnings that now are pervasive in our current society.

The “my” in “My Week with Marilyn” is Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), a privileged Brit who is dying to get into the film industry. With barely an introduction, he is made a go-fer on the set of “The Prince and the Showgirl,” the first film to be made the production company of Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams). Monroe’s male co-star is Sir Lawrence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), who also directs the film. Olivier’s wife at the time was Oscar-winning actress Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond).

Marilyn is in a transitional state, having married the playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Smith). She comes to England with loads of baggage, which includes her acting coach, Paula Strasberg (Zoe Wanamaker). Monroe is constantly late, erratic and insecure on the set, driving Olivier mad. One of her few supporters is Dame Sybil Thorndike (Judi Dench). She begins to cuddle up to Colin, while at the same time her marriage starts to fall apart. The icon and the go-fer begin to spend quality time together during the production, a magical moment with the biggest movie star on earth.

”My Week with Marilyn” opens everywhere on November 23rd. Featuring Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Zoe Wanamaker, Dougray Smith, Emma Watson, Julia Ormond and Judi Dench, Screenplay Adaptation by Adrian Hodges, directed by Simon Curtis. Rated “R”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “My Week with Marilyn”

Power Couple: Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller and Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in ‘My Week with Marilyn’
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “My Week with Marilyn”

Interview: Director Simon Curtis Realizes ‘My Week With Marilyn’

PatrickMcD — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:47:50 -0500

CHICAGO – Marilyn Monroe will never go away. The iconic actress of a long-gone era is the subject of a new film, “My Week with Marilyn,” directed by Simon Curtis. Ms. Monroe is portrayed during a in collaboration with Sir Lawrence Olivier, and their characters are played with sublime grace by Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh.

Director Simon Curtis was tapped to bring these actors – plus Julia Ormond, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson and Dame Judi Dench – to occupy another time and place with the image of Marilyn Monroe. Curtis was able to fully interpret the Adrian Hodges screenplay adaptation, in addition to balancing the public image and private dread of the Monroe essence. Admirers of both Monroe and Olivier will be transported.

She Wants to Loved By You: Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in ‘My Week with Marilyn’
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

British born Simon Curtis has risen through the TV spectrum as a producer and director. He began in 1991, directing John Malkovich, Kate Nelligan and Miranda Richardson in a TV adaptation of a Harold Pinter play, “Old Times,” for the BBC. From there he worked in 1996 directing the “Tracey Takes On…” series with Tracey Ullman, and various other television programs, including as director of the popular show “Cranford,” with Judi Dench, from 2007-2009. “My Week with Marilyn” is his first feature film.

Simon Curtis sat at a roundtable during last month’s Chicago International Film Festival, and answered questions for HollywoodChicago,com and other outlets.

HollywoodChicago: What fascinates you most about the movie star and production system of the mid 1950s and how did you communicate that in this film?

Simon Curtis: My way into this film was reading Colin Clark’s Diaries [he is the “My” in the title] and seeing the detail how a film would be made in 1956. It is a particular moment in cultural history, the clash between the English way of working and the American way of working, and the nuances in all that, which appealed to me.

HollywoodChicago: So much depended on the casting of Marilyn Monroe. Did Michelle Williams exceed your expectations?

Curtis: Yeah! But wait, actually no, because my expectations were high. [laughs] I think she is just super smart, super talented and super brave. She took this on and did everything a human being can do to pull it off – fantastic research and just incredibly talent. This film would be nothing without delivering Marilyn. I feel lucky that A, Michelle Williams did it, and B, she did it so brilliantly.

HollywoodChicago: What element of the Marilyn Monroe character was Michelle William’s most concerned about capturing…the public movie star persona or the personal, conflicted madness?

Curtis: In our film there was the three Marilyns – the public Marilyn, the private Marilyn and the Marilyn playing the part in the film [”The Prince and the Showgirl”] within the film. I think all of them are challenges in a different way.

HollywoodChicago: How did it feel to be directing such talented actors and actresses in your debut film?

Curtis: Well, it felt great. [laughs] I’ve been very lucky in my career to direct the actors I’ve had previously on television, and my wife is an American actress [Elizabeth McGovern] living in London, so it’s a terrain I know a little about. Having said that, there has been nothing more exciting in my career than seeing Marilyn Monroe and Michelle Williams on my set. Judi Dench is a wonderful human being, playing actress Sybil Thorndike, who was also a wonderful human being.

HollywoodChicago: In all the sets you’ve worked on in the past, have you seen the scenario in the film, where an assistant will become enamored with the ‘star,’ not obviously as deep as the movie, but in any other way?

Curtis: There is no specific stories, but there are some curious connections. Often people think, ‘so-and-so did that film, it must be about the star director.’ But that director is so busy, it will be the Assistant Director, the Make-up person or the Dresser that the ‘star’ with which the star spends the most time. That is the weird and wonderful thing about a film set.

HollywoodChicago: What did you note in original ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ that you wanted to make sure was in your making-of-the-movie narrative?

Curtis: It’s a mixed bag, that film, some of it is wonderful and some of it isn’t so wonderful. We gravitated toward the music, because in some ways – as Colin says in the film – it was the great play that became a not-so-great film. Only because these two mega-stars wanted to it, it kind of just happened. Marilyn had become her own producer at this point, and bizarrely chose the exact same part she was trying to get away from, a ditzy showgirl.

Michelle Williams and Simon Curtis On Set in ‘My Week with Marilyn’
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

HollywoodChicago: In your opinion, how did Kenneth Branagh capture the agony and ecstasy of being Sir Lawrence Olivier? Did the comic elements he brought out balance what we know about Marilyn?

Curtis: Well, Kenneth Branagh had been compared to Sir Lawrence for years. It was right that he was the same age when he played the part as Olivier was in 1956, and there was a real empathy there. I been thrilled with the amount of laughter from start to finish, and it’s a poignant film, a sweet film, and the fact that it’s married to that laughter is really pleasing to me.

HollywoodChicago: You used many famous photographs of Marilyn Monroe as a template for the look of your film. What fantasy elements of the ‘movie star’ from the 1950s era fascinated you the most and how did you want to capture it in the film?

Curtis: There has probably never been a film with so much research material out there. Obviously the film itself, the character of Milton Greene – who was a phenomenal photographer – and all the legendary photographers of Monroe. I don’t know how they influenced us, but they certainly did.

HollywoodChicago: So many teenagers had or have a poster of Marilyn Monroe hanging on their wall. What is it about Marilyn that teens have an understanding of or connection to?

Curtis: I think what it is, is that they know the brand…the image, the photographs, more than they know the movies. She was a prototype celebrity since she was a talking point, in a way modern celebrities are, as much as for their private life as for their work.

HollywoodChicago: The character of Colin Clark certainly lived out many fantasies, in the sense he starts at a low level and ends up developing a relationship with Monroe…

Curtis: I like to think of it as a dream first job. [laughs] He was a privileged young man, but I wanted to make the point that it doesn’t matter where you start, success in the end is dependent on doing the job well. Eddie [Redmayne] has a great combination of innocence and emotional intelligence as a man himself.

HollywoodChicago: What was the decision behind having Michelle Williams sing some famous Monroe songs as bookends in the film?

Curtis: We wanted to present, after the timeline of the film, the Marilyn that they think they know, because the film does so much in telling you about the Marilyn you don’t know. We wanted to combine the two. Since it emerged that Michelle has such a gorgeous voice, it was an opportunity we had to take.

Simon Curtis in Chicago, October 13th, 2011
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

HollywoodChicago: What was the process of creating Marilyn Monroe’s particular look for Michelle Williams? Did it come fairly quickly or was there a trial and error period?

Curtis: Again, as with everything having to do with Michelle and her attention to detail, we were so lucky to have Jennie Cooper, the legendary make-up artist. She and Michelle worked hard on it, as well as with costumer Jill Taylor, it was a 360 degree process.

HollywoodChicago: In your opinion, was Marilyn Monroe’s eventual demise due to the elements of the life around her and what was demanded of her as a Hollywood star, or her own unbalanced mental state?

Curtis: I don’t know, when somebody goes like she did there seems to be an inevitability surrounding it, but actually was or not I don’t know. We know she was troubled from a very early age and there were obviously issues, worsened by substance abuse. But we tried to focus on her being a troubled woman doing her best. In 1956, she was really trying to change her life. She left Hollywood, moved to New York City and surrounded herself with the intellectual elite, which she felt would give her credibility. She came to London to work with Olivier, she was a producer and was married to the great Arthur Miller. The story of our film is really those fine aspirations collapsing around her.

HollywoodChicago: What do you hope an audience will take away about Marilyn Monroe, in the context of your film?

Curtis: That she was an intelligent woman who, in Peter Bogdanovich words, ‘she was in bad trouble from the day she was born.’ This was a woman, given that, did phenomenally well in life, and left a legacy very few people have left. Yes, she was troubled, but she was trying to do better. That’s all any of us can do, really.

HollywoodChicago: Did working on this film make you wish you could have worked with Monroe, or did projecting her difficult personality kind of turn you off?

Curtis: It would be good for my career if I had worked with Monroe, I would have become quite a legend. [laughs] That’s my first thought. She wasn’t easy for directors, but I wouldn’t care.

”My Week with Marilyn” opens everywhere on November 23rd. Featuring Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson, Julia Ormond and Judi Dench, Screenplay Adaptation by Adrian Hodges, directed by Simon Curtis. Rated “R”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: Leonardo DiCaprio Embodies the G-Man in ‘J. Edgar’

PatrickMcD — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:07:44 -0500

CHICAGO – Much of history is determined by the petty quirks and strange psychosis of “great leaders.” J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director for 48 years, worked hard to hide his very nature by squelching the nature of others – enemies, friends and perceived enemies. Leonardo DiCaprio is Hoover in “J. Edgar.”

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This is director Clint Eastwood’s history of J. Edgar Hoover the man, and Hoover as the director of a shadow government of the United States through the FBI. Using U.S. tax dollars, Hoover built an impenetrable wall of power, based on his concept of law and order, with no repercussions toward himself, despite a closeted life of vague sexuality. Leonardo DiCaprio captures all the duality, hypocrisy and fear that Hoover possessed, in a performance that unabashedly communicates the multi-faceted megalomaniac.

The film begins with an older J. Edgar Hoover (DiCaprio, in all ages), around the time of the John F. Kennedy administration. He feels the grip of the Kennedys on his office, including Attorney General Robert (Jeffrey Donovan). To counteract this pressure, he begins to dictate his memoirs. This is the basis for the story, as the history jumps around from an old to young Hoover, Director of the FBI under a succession of U.S. Presidents, from Calvin Coolidge to Richard Nixon.

Hoover’s history includes his mother (Judi Dench), a firm matriarch who took a boy with a speech impediment and forced him into manhood. Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts), is Hoover’s loyal secretary, a co-conspirator on the maintenance of his power, keeping secret files on his detractors. Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) is Hoover’s second-in-command, a constant companion and presence in his life, a relationship that has been viewed in many ways through the prism of history. From his takeover of the Bureau in 1924, to his death in 1972, J. Edgar Hoover was a life as a contradiction in terms.

“J. Edgar” opens everywhere on November 3rd. Featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Hamilton, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Armie Hammer, Josh Lucas and Jeffrey Donovan. Screenplay by Dustin Lance Black. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Rated “R”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “J. Edgar”

On the Case: Leonardo DiCaprio as Hoover and Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson in ‘J. Edgar’
Photo credit: Keith Bernstein for Warner Bros. Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “J. Edgar”

Film News: Next Bond Film Officially Titled ‘Skyfall,’ Cast Revealed

TimBMartens — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:28:14 -0400

CHICAGO – The next installment in the Bond films, the twenty-third installment to be accurate, has finally had its title revealed. Known as Bond 23 for months, the new film will officially be called “Skyfall.” The title was revealed this morning at a press conference by the producers of the film.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the film will once again star Daniel Craig as James Bond, his third time portraying the famous secret agent. Also, many of the casting rumors that have surrounded the new 007 film for months have turned out to be true. The biggest confirmation: Javier Bardem will definitely be playing the villain in the new film.

Other casting confirmations included: Naomie Harris as a field agent named Eve, Dame Judi Dench will once again play M, and Berenice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, and Albert Finney will all have roles in the film.

The next Bond film will be directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”). Mendes who confirmed that “Skyfall” will be shot in Scotland, Istanbul, and Shanghai, said “There’s lots of surprises,” and that “[Skyfall] is its own story. It doesn’t connect with the last two movies.”

“Skyfall” officially began filming today in London and has already been scheduled for a November 9, 2012 release date.

By TIM MARTENS
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
tim@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Mia Wasikowska in Stellar Adaptation of ‘Jane Eyre’

BrianTT — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:06:37 -0400

CHICAGO – “Jane Eyre” is a story that has been adapted multiple times but rarely with the grace, dignity, and level of quality as Cary Joji Fukunaga’s excellent 2011 take on the timeless Charlotte Bronte novel. With impeccable production values that never smother the piece in the musty quality that so often pervades modern period pieces, “Jane Eyre” is an effective, beautiful piece of work. It’s a surprisingly strong drama that deserves a much-wider audience on Blu-ray and DVD.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Synopsis:
“Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) and Academy Award® winner Judi Dench (Shakespeare In Love) star in acclaimed director Cary Fukunaga’s daring new adaptation of the timeless romance. When orphaned governess Jane Eyre (Wasikowska) arrives at imposing Thornfield Hall, she’s intrigued by her brooding wealthy employer, Rochester (Fassbender). His dark moods and the strange occurrences in the house lead her to discover a terrible secret that he had hoped to hide from her forever. Critics proclaim this captivating, sensual film is “Beautiful. A splendid example of how to turn a beloved work of classic literature into a movie.” (A.O. Scott, The New York Times)”

Jane Eyre was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 16th, 2011
Photo credit: Universal

The reason that “Jane Eyre” has supporting multiple interpretations is simple — it is a source material rich with storytelling possibilities. It is a romance that emphasizes a strong female heroine and doesn’t shy away from social issues of the day. Bronte even threw in gothic and supernatural elements. It has a little bit of everything and that has allowed different filmmakers to offer their own takes on the classic story. This is one of the best adaptations yet.

With remarkable restraint in the melodrama department, “Jane Eyre” is a film that I would call “lovely” and not mean it in the slightest bit derogatory. Sure, there are dark elements of this story, but it is the fortitude of its title character (Mia Wasikowska) and the happiness she attempts to find with her wealthy employer (Michael Fassbender) that drives the piece. Fassbender and Wasikowska are two of the most interesting actors working today and they hit not one false note as they portray two people from different worlds drawing closer together and facing obstacles along the way. With stellar performances by its two central characters (and excellent supporting work yet again from Dame Judi Dench), “Jane Eyre” is one of the most well-acted films of the year.

But the best performances wouldn’t elevate “Jane Eyre” enough if not for the stellar adaptation by Moira Buffini, subtle direction by Cary Joji Fukunaga, and all-around above-average production values. “Jane Eyre” is riveting drama, the kind of piece that even those who have avoided period pieces for fear that they may be too stuffy or distant should seek out. There’s a reason that “Jane Eyre” has been adapted repeatedly. It’s a fascinating story that was decades ahead of its time. And this version certainly does its canonical source justice.

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o A Look Inside Jane Eyre
o To Score Jane Eyre: Cary Fukunaga and Dario Marianelli Team Up
o The Mysterious Light of Jane Eyre
o Feature Commentary with Director Cary Fukunaga
o BD Live Enabled
o Pocket Blu

“Jane Eyre” stars Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, and Judi Dench. It was adapted by Moira Buffini and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 16th, 2011.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com