Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

I love me some F. Scott Fitzgerald, so I've been anticipating Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby for a while now -- even moreso after seeing the stunning photoshoot star Carey Mulligan recently completed for Vogue. The costumes, people, THE COSTUMES. Never mind that I've pinned all my hopes on Mulligan being the most perfect film realization of Daisy to date.What's that when compared to these CLOTHES?

Images via Vogue/Pinterest. Aren't these GORGEOUS, people?

My Boy Jack revisited

I originally reviewed My Boy Jack back in April 2008 on my old blog when it first aired on Masterpiece. I'm keeping my original review intact with only a few extra comments thrown in. :) This film had a powerful impact on me when I first saw it, and I want to keep that "documented" on this blog, I guess you could say.

I knew I was probably going to cry when watching My Boy Jack last night. War movies tend to have that effect on me. I’d read enough about the story and the Kiplings online to realize that this film wasn’t going to end happily. However, I didn’t expect to respond to the film on the deep, personal, gut-wrenching level I did last night. I didn't expect to weep, tears dripping down my cheeks. I didn't think that somewhere along the line, Jack Kipling would become my friend Christopher, who died a little over four years ago, just shy of 23 (Edit: Make that over six years now...wow, that blows my mind just thinking about the passage of time! Miss you, Chris.). I've been prompted to mull this film over off and on today - I can't "shake it" because it was much more personal and thought-provoking, deserving much better than the label of entertainment. My Boy Jack was much, much more than a war story, or a biographical film – it drove home the unspeakable tragedy of lives gone too soon, cut short by the likes of war, illness, or accident, in a fresh, deeply personal, way.

My Boy Jack is a perfect example of Masterpiece Theatre programming at its finest. The script, direction, and acting are all superb. The film is based on the play MBJ written by David Haigh, who portrayed Rudyard Kipling on stage as well as in the film. I believe the fact that Haigh wrote the source material and adapted his own play for the script helped his passion for the subject matter translate to the screen. He also bears a striking resemblance to Rudyard Kipling himself:

The film definitely renewed my interest in Kipling's writing. I read The Jungle Book back in college as part of my Victorian Children's Lit class cirriculum and loved it. The man was a gifted storyteller and MBJ does a wonderful job of bringing out Kipling's childlike enthusiasm for storytelling and adventure. The juxtaposition of Kipling's enthusiasm for his stories and life make the tension in his family and the pain felt over Jack's loss almost unbearably poignant.

Kim Cattrall as Carrie Kipling was an absolute revelation. I'll admit going into the production that I thought she would be the show's "weakest link." However, I found her performance absolutely riveting and as the show progressed, completely and utterly convincing. Her strength, determination, and grief over Jack's loss is heartbreaking to witness.

Carey Mulligan played Jack's sister Elsie. I think this is her most impressive performance to date (she's previously appeared in Bleak House and Northanger Abbey, to name a few). She doesn't have all that much screen time, but when she's present she leaves an impression. I've said it before but it bears repeating - hers is a career to watch. (Edit: I had no idea how right I'd be about Mulligan's career when I typed that statement in 2008. If you've never seen An Education, check that movie out at the first opportunity. You can read my review here.)

And last but definitely not least, Daniel Radcliffe gives a fantastic turn as Jack Kipling. My Boy Jack is Radcliffe's first television role since his film debut as the young David Copperfield in the 1999 Masterpiece Theatre production. Now that's he's forever linked to his role as Harry Potter, seeing him playing any other character takes a bit of getting used to. However, MBJ proves to be a great vehicle for Radcliffe, and the project and his costars gave him ample opportunity to develop his acting chops. (Edit: Radcliffe has just gotten better and better acting-wise, hasn't he? I thought he did a fantastic job in part one of Deathly Hallows, and once his Potter career closes I look forward to seeing what other projects he pursues - I hope he doesn't rule out further Masterpiece appearances!) He also bears an eerily striking resemblance to John Kipling:

As Jack Kipling, Radcliffe radiates a strength and willpower far beyond his years, but balances that with glimpses of doubt and uncertainty. Jack appears to have been a bright, extraordinarily determined young man, who had multiple opportunities to avoid serving in the army thanks to his cripplingly poor vision. However, he refused to accept any limitations and when his father's influence resulted in a commission in the Irish Guards, Jack worked hard to distinguish himself and earned the respect of his comrades-in-arms. Jack's death is a tragic example of the potential lost when an entire generation of young men were practicually wiped out in the trenches of World War I.

One of the many reasons this film is so extraordinary and thought-provoking is that it doesn't take sides when it comes to the issue of war. Particuarly in these times, and in the hands of the wrong writer or filmmakers, My Boy Jack could have been turned into some sort of propaganda piece. Thankfully, this film doesn't go there - instead, it's a film about family, patriotism, loss, and the horrible, wrenching cost of conflict.

Like Jack Kipling, my friend Chris was an extraordinarily gifted young man whose life still feels like it was cut short far too soon. As I watched My Boy Jack, I found myself grieving anew for Chris and for those who are snatched by death at far too young an age, setting the world upside-down as parents are forced to mourn their children, and uncalculable potential is lost. Rudyard Kipling, filled with self-recrimination after Jack's death, wrote "If any question why we died, tell them, because our fathers lied." There are no easy answers, but I was reminded in a fresh and powerful way that while life is hard, my God is sovereign...and I am thankful I have Him to trust in.

"My Boy Jack"

By Rudyard Kipling

"Have you news of my boy Jack?"

Not this tide.

"When d'you think that he'll come back?"

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Has any one else had word of him?"

Not this tide.

For what is sunk will hardly swim,

Not with this wind blowing and this tide.

"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"

None this tide,

Nor any tide,

Except he didn't shame his kind

Not even with that wind blowing and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,

This tide,

And every tide,

Because he was the son you bore,

And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

Northanger Abbey revisited

Since Northanger Abbey was rebroadcast last week on Masterpiece Classic, I thought it might be time to pull out my DVD and revisit the film and my initial impressions of it. I originally reviewed the film in January 2008, when it aired as part of the Jane Austen season on Masterpiece. So without further ado, here's my original post on the movie:

"Perhaps after all it is possible to read too many novels."— Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey

Time to rehash Northanger Abbey, and no surprise here, but I LOVED it. It's got everything going for it - a smart script (courtesy of the inimitable Andrew Davies), excellent direction and pacing, and a spot-on, practically perfect cast all giving sparkling performances. This is the first film adaptation of this story that I've seen - and while I have nothing to compare it to movie-wise, I have a feeling that it is leaps and bounds better than the previous BBC version.

At the moment I'm feeling too lazy to write a decent summary of the story, so thanks to Kaye for letting me borrow her version.

The daughter of a country clergyman, Catherine Morland has a passion for gothic romance novels and a vivid imagination. She gets the opportunity to go to Bath for the season with family friends. While in Bath, she makes the acquaintance of the Thorpe family, specifically Isabella, who is engaged to Catherine’s brother, and John. Isabella teaches Catherine the fine art of flirtation, and soon John is showing romantic interest in Catherine.

Catherine, however, isn’t interested in the wild John, but in the quiet Henry Tilney. Henry’s father, General Tilney, under the misinformation that Catherine is wealthy, invites Catherine to come spend some time at their ancestral home, Northanger Abbey. The Abbey answers all of Catherine’s gothic imaginings; and as soon as she arrives, the fun begins.

Felicity Jones delivers a wonderful performance as the highly imaginative Catherine. Her wide-eyed ingenue is wholly believable (and, wonder of wonders, I didn't find her annoying...LOL). The scenes where her imagination gets caught up in some outlandish, Gothic romance are hilarious and oh so much fun to watch.

Catherine's friend, the flirtatious Isabella Thorpe, is played by Carey Mulligan - she's an actress to watch IMO. She played Kitty Bennett in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, as well as appearing in Bleak House and the forthcoming My Boy Jack (co-starring Daniel Radcliffe, to air on Masterpiece Theatre later this year). She reminds me a bit of Romola Garai (most recently seen in Atonement), who I tend to like, but occassionally gets on my nerves by coming off as rather vapid. I like Mulligan...she always seems to have a great deal of spunk and sparkle in her performances.

Our hero, the noble Henry Tilney, is played by JJ Feild. I love JJ (yeah we're on a first name basis like that...LOL...in my dreams, I know, I know...) and thought he was perfectly cast for this role. He struck a nice balance between the serious and the teasing as regards his relationship with Catherine. JJ's got a slightly nerdy edge to him, but that just makes him all the more endearing, doesn't it? He's also going to be an actor to watch...he's appeared in The Railway Children (made quite an impression on me even then, LOL!), Poirot: Death on the Nile, The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, and Ruby in the Smoke.

The director, Jon Jones (also directed Mrs. Beeton) is to be applauded for his work - the pacing of the film was excellent. I loved the costumes and sets - the shots of Northanger Abbey were wonderful, with a deliciously creepy feel. The camera work and lighting all succeeded in striking the right balance between Catherine's imagination and reality - the Abbey scenes and just enough of a suspicious feel that Catherine's imaginings don't seen entirely unfounded. And I loved the score & main theme by Charlie Mole - he also scored Mrs. Beeton, as well as An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest. His work succeeds in striking the right balance between suspense and the comic elements of the story.

My one very slight quibble is with the ending...it seemed a tad abrupt. Of course, that's probably due to the restriction of a ninety-minute running time. Also, I would've much rather ended on a picture of Henry and Catherine, instead of old man Tilney, but that's just a personal preference (LOL). Other than that, which I really wouldn't classify as a complaint at all, I thought this film was just about as perfect as can be. It strikes just the right tone and pace in bringing to life Austen's gentle parody of the Gothic fiction so popular in her time.

The DVD of Northanger Abbey is available for purchase here.

***I will say this, my opinion of Romola Garai as an actress has improved somewhat since I wrote this post back in 2008! ;-)

An Education

Fall is here, which means it's the best time of year for Oscar-bait films and - drumroll, please - foreign indie films! Woo-hoo! ;-) After Lori brought this movie to my attention several weeks ago, An Education FINALLY opened in my area today (have I mentioned lately how much I HATE limited release schedules?!). I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, exactly - after all, this May-December romance had the potential to end very badly for our heroine. But based on the cast, strong reviews, and the almost complete & utter lack of anything that I think is worthwhile actually paying to see in the theater, I knew this would be a must-see for me.

The verdict? I was incredibly impressed and thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Carey Mulligan, a Masterpiece veteran from productions ranging from Bleak House, Northanger Abbey, and My Boy Jack to one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever ("Blink"), wows with tour-de-force turn as Jenny. If she's not a serious contender for a Best Actress Oscar, I will be completely shocked & disappointed. I've enjoyed her past work, but this performance was a revelation - I didn't know she had it in her to so convincingly play an innocent yet incredibly saavy and worldly-wise teenager on the cusp of adulthood. Mulligan fits into the 1960s time period perfectly, and more than once channeled Audrey Hepburn quite convincingly with her delicate balance of innocence and maturity.

Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour (I totally didn't recognize Seymour from her turn as Gillian in You've Got Mail until I looked her up on the IMDB) are perfectly cast as Jenny's parents. Molina especially was fantastic in this movie - he was funny and sincere and touching, all rolled into one. Jenny's parents are an interesting couple to watch - kind of caught in the middle of the traditions of their parents and the feminist movement - they push Jenny to meet her potential, create a future for herself by going to college - but it's a future that will be easily set aside the second suitable husband material comes along. I wouldn't be at all displeased to see Molina get a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in An Education - he had this tendancy to steal his scenes. :)

Peter Sarsgaard plays David, the December to Jenny's May, and oh is he a smooth operator. He positively oozes charm and it's easy to see why Jenny would fall for him. And when he plays her parents - those scenes were priceless! I thought the evolution of his performance was interesting to watch - he begins so smoothly, so confidently, and then that confidence begins to crack a bit as he realizes he doesn't want to let Jenny go. Only when a certain secret comes to light does the worldly facade crumble and you see David as he truly is - a shallow, selfish little boy who never quite grew up character-wise.

Also worth mentioning are the other two members of David's "fast" set - Helen, played by the always lovely Rosamund Pike (a.k.a. Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice 2005), and Danny played by the brooding, dangerous-looking Dominic Cooper (a.k.a. Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility 2008). Pike fits this era perfectly - the clothes, the mannerisms, are all pitch-perfect. I had no idea she could play vapid and empty-headed so well, or come across as so funny! Likewise Cooper fit the role of David's friend and co-conspirator well. This wasn't a role that really stretched his repetoire IMO, but I like him well enough and I have to say, he looked good in the suits. ;-) I should also probably call out Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams' appearances. If this movie is any indication Thompson is a lock to play Margaret Thatcher in any upcoming biopics. ;-) While I have to call Thompson out because she's one of my favorite actresses, Olivia Williams definitely plays the more interesting and critical role in my view. If you look at her IMDB page, she's had quite a varied career, but I have to say that her turn as Jenny's teacher is one of her most striking and memorable. She's definitely channeling "average" here - and it's interesting to see how driven she is, perhaps because she hopes to see some of her unfulfilled dreams live out in her most capable pupil? Thoughts to ponder...

I HAVE to mention the look of the film - the sets and costumes are simply gorgeous! Each frame of film is chock-full of glorious period detail and authenticity. The scenes in Paris, where Jenny sports the fantastic gown seen in the above poster, are like something straight out of Roman Holiday or Sabrina. Those associations only reinforce any Audrey Hepburn/Cary Mulligan comparisons too. And the music - the music was just fantastic. I love it in period dramas like this when the music, whether it's score or songs, is an ideal partner to the action on-screen. The songs - from classics by Mel Torme and Brenda Lee to new recordings by Beth Rowley and Melody Gardot - are sublime. The whole pop/jazz sound of the movie is tailor-made to appeal to my musical sensibilities (Thank you, smart filmmakers! LOL!).

Jenny's story is actually told quite powerfully, and the hope in this story is an element I wasn't quite expecting. Let's face it, Jenny's "education" by the much older David could have ended very badly for her. But she's a girl who doesn't have it in her to simply give up and accept a situation. She's blessed with really supportive, very understanding parents, but what I liked best was how she had to choose to pull herself up by the bootstraps, so to speak, and to use the time she spent with David & his friends to make her stronger. Things could have ended very unpleasantly, or bitterly, but Jenny is a character who makes the conscious choice to learn from all experiences and mistakes - and while that certainly doesn't negate the pain the life throws one's way, it just struck me as a great reminder of the power of choice.

Just a note on the rating - for a coming-of-age film made in today's Hollywood, I thought An Education showed some surprising restraint as far as the intimate side of Jenny and David's relationship goes (a fact I appreciated - you know what happens, but this isn't a gratuitous or exploitive film in that regard).

An Education is a smartly scripted, fast-paced, funny, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking little film - I'm so glad I FINALLY got the chance to check it out.