It is always strange to see yourself on screen and this time was no different. Aside from always wanting a sip of the champagne they gave me whenever my character appeared, I think I can say a few balanced things about the film
From the start, the producer and director have treated the story with care and dignity. The opening credits are elegant and apt and lead us into the extraordinary world of Li Cunxin. And, wonder of wonders, they found someone in Chi Cao who could act like a dream and dance as well. It was always in our minds as it was being made that if the leading man failed in either of those roles, there was no film. Well, he didn't.
I know for a fact that Chi had to get up and start his work day at 4am to keep himself fit enough to dance as well as he had to. Considering his work day could end around 7 or 8pm, month after month, it was a marathon.
Added to this the insight of a master director in Bruce Beresford and the Camera skills of Peter James, Music by Chris Gordon and Graham Murphy's Choreography, it is a hymn to perseverance and achievement.The tricky politics are beautifully negotiated so that the stormy seas both China and America sailed during that time are treated with care.
I hope this sets off a tidal wave of interest in Ballet again. To watch these exquisite beings whirl around the sets had something of a dream about it and, hours after I had seen this film I was still in raptures about the blissful movements. The last dance is worth waiting for and it is the sum of all its parts.
To see the Trailer of 'Mao's Last Dancer', click here:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Infant Victoria
Australia's history was once described as like 'the most fabulous lies' and that is often true of real life. It can be so incredible that you cannot put it into drama for fear of being thought unrealistic. Strange but true.
Any life lived the way the royal families in Europe lived is very different to our life today but do we really need to have it mushed up and sweetened so that it barely resembles the original? Here is Victoria stomping around and using modern idioms and sexuality that seems very contemporary to me.
The costumes are magical, the sets and settings superb and they could not have better actors or better performances but I felt spoken down to. I saw a documentary about the early life of the young queen which was so much more interesting that I wish they had stuck to the original. The final insult comes with a chatty little pop song about 'true hearts' at the end.
BUT, and its a BIG one, the performances are fab. Both Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend are fabulous as the Queen and Prince Albert and they have a wonderful supporting cast including Miranda Richardson, Harriet Walter and Jim Broadbent. Emily Blunt keeps that lustrous balance between an imperious woman and a young girl in love to a tee and all power to her.
It is a great romance told romantically and at the very least it should stir some historical curiosity about the closeness of the European royals. Here is a scene in which the young queen tries to assert her authority over her husband which I like not only because Emily Blunt plays it so beautifully but because I wish I had the authority of a queen too some times. Even so, I wouldn't be using cockney terms like 'sorted' for all the tea in China.
To see a scene from 'Young Victoria', click here:
Any life lived the way the royal families in Europe lived is very different to our life today but do we really need to have it mushed up and sweetened so that it barely resembles the original? Here is Victoria stomping around and using modern idioms and sexuality that seems very contemporary to me.
The costumes are magical, the sets and settings superb and they could not have better actors or better performances but I felt spoken down to. I saw a documentary about the early life of the young queen which was so much more interesting that I wish they had stuck to the original. The final insult comes with a chatty little pop song about 'true hearts' at the end.
BUT, and its a BIG one, the performances are fab. Both Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend are fabulous as the Queen and Prince Albert and they have a wonderful supporting cast including Miranda Richardson, Harriet Walter and Jim Broadbent. Emily Blunt keeps that lustrous balance between an imperious woman and a young girl in love to a tee and all power to her.
It is a great romance told romantically and at the very least it should stir some historical curiosity about the closeness of the European royals. Here is a scene in which the young queen tries to assert her authority over her husband which I like not only because Emily Blunt plays it so beautifully but because I wish I had the authority of a queen too some times. Even so, I wouldn't be using cockney terms like 'sorted' for all the tea in China.
To see a scene from 'Young Victoria', click here:
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Gently Does It
I started off at a disadvantage with this new series because my reaction to Martin Shaw in Judge John Deed was a bit low key. I like him as an actor but the persistent 'Dear old Chappiness' of the show was underwhelming to me. There is nothing worse than well bred film making and I thought it had that in spades. Not that I object to it in Midsomer Murders but...to each their own.
It seemed to me that Shaw's character as the Judge might be a favourite for him and it would be served up again in the new series. My heart sank when the opening shot had him in his boots in the middle of a river doing a 'spot of fishing'. Not to worry, here's a real actor and so Shaw gives us a quite gentle Gently with a touch of a northern accent, the same doggedness his face always suggests and surprise, surprise - humility. His sidekick is a bumptious annoyance who is redeemed by his youthful insight and glaring character flaws - all calmly pointed out by Gently.
I think it is set in the early 1960's so, as with Mad Men, we have the opportunity to thank our lucky stars that we are in the 21ist century. All the smoking, chauvinist piggery and class structures are carefully folded into the stories - each of which so far, have been surprising and beautifully fitting for the time as I remember it.
Most wonderful is the shooting style. I watched a lot of TV at that time and the producers and cinematographers have captured the 'feel' of the films and drama of the era. There is a sharpness and artistry about the lighting of the actors and the way the camera follows them. Took me back to the marvelous black and white movies of long ago - 'Whistle down the Wind' etc. and the fast paced and curiously well costumed series like 'Danger Man' and 'The Avengers'.
It's great and watch how they include mysteries only just now coming to light - such as the recently discovered Jersey Children's Home scandal which formed the spine of the last episode. And here are Smoking Actors again. In 'The Tree' which we are filming now, the lead actors smoke and the director was smitten with anxiety about it. I must say, it can be a hard habit to kick after a production.
To watch a trailer for the ABC 1 series 'George Gently', click here:
It seemed to me that Shaw's character as the Judge might be a favourite for him and it would be served up again in the new series. My heart sank when the opening shot had him in his boots in the middle of a river doing a 'spot of fishing'. Not to worry, here's a real actor and so Shaw gives us a quite gentle Gently with a touch of a northern accent, the same doggedness his face always suggests and surprise, surprise - humility. His sidekick is a bumptious annoyance who is redeemed by his youthful insight and glaring character flaws - all calmly pointed out by Gently.
I think it is set in the early 1960's so, as with Mad Men, we have the opportunity to thank our lucky stars that we are in the 21ist century. All the smoking, chauvinist piggery and class structures are carefully folded into the stories - each of which so far, have been surprising and beautifully fitting for the time as I remember it.
Most wonderful is the shooting style. I watched a lot of TV at that time and the producers and cinematographers have captured the 'feel' of the films and drama of the era. There is a sharpness and artistry about the lighting of the actors and the way the camera follows them. Took me back to the marvelous black and white movies of long ago - 'Whistle down the Wind' etc. and the fast paced and curiously well costumed series like 'Danger Man' and 'The Avengers'.
It's great and watch how they include mysteries only just now coming to light - such as the recently discovered Jersey Children's Home scandal which formed the spine of the last episode. And here are Smoking Actors again. In 'The Tree' which we are filming now, the lead actors smoke and the director was smitten with anxiety about it. I must say, it can be a hard habit to kick after a production.
To watch a trailer for the ABC 1 series 'George Gently', click here:
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