The Lion In Winter

I am pretty sure it doesn’t get any better than this… Anthony Hopkins, Peter O’Tool, and Timothy Dalton make up one of the best ensemble casts I have ever seen. Kate plays the irresistibly evil Eleanor of Aquitaine who is ruthlessly plotting against the equally unscrupulous Henry II played by O’Tool. These two make an incredible pair.

With all Eleanor's hateful bitterness Kate is still able to highlight her obvious love of Richard (Hopkins) the son she raised and loves above the other two. We learn he is her last hope of winning the battle of wits against Henry II (O’Tool) and with it her freedom. Kate is at her absolute best in this gem of a period pick. Which makes picking a favorite scene is difficult. Although she has several memorable scenes with O’Tool and Hopkins, her best can arguably be the monologue she has. A whole range of emotion is beautifully highlighted and we see her softer more vulnerable side of her character.  

It's an amazing film and one I have seen many times and expect to see again many more. The true test of an actor is how well they can articulate the complex web of emotions the character is feeling at any moment. And Eleanor is nothing if not deeply conflicted. Throughout the film O'Tool's Henry is constantly setting up scenarios that test Kate's loyalty and resolve and each time the pair end up in a stalemate. With all the angst and anger it brings. The two characters have major hatred and lust for each other and the result is positively electric. 

Another thing that I appreciate about this film is its straight forward feel, the production design isn't trying to make a statement or bring in clever references to the present. The film is set in 1100's Europe so it looks like 1100's Europe. They shot the film on location, the castle is dark and gloomy there are sparse furnishings and the king wears a plain brown outfit. In short its realistic. Now don't get me wrong I am the first to applaud beautiful costumes and well dressed sets when the story calls for it but in this case the choices made only improve the film. The costumes and set are not the center of the film the acting and story are. Which really makes a difference.

Suddenly Last Summer

Yay for tandem blogging! My great friend Phil came over to watch this film with me.  In honor of Elizabeth Taylor we decided to watch "Suddenly Last Summer".

  Kate is a widow attempting to clear the name of her deceased son Sebastian, she attempts to bribe a young doctor with a massive donation to his crumbling state hospital. He in turn is expected to perform a frontal lobotomy on Kate's niece Elizabeth Taylor (Catherine) who incidentally does not need to be cured of anything. It's very interesting to hear Tennessee Williams's dialogue, which is at time too witty to be real. Coupled with the melodramatic music it somehow works. Kate gets to say things like "Sebastian saw the face of God", "Madness is the most horrible doom their is on this earth".

Although Kate is Brilliant is this role the real stand out is Elizabeth Taylor. Her dramatic range as well as her impossibly tiny waistline are highlighted throughout the film. But the best Kate moment is a tie between her coming down in her little elevator and her snarkey comments to her relatives. The only complaint I can come up with (really not one as it could very easily be converted into a party game) is the frequent mention of the movies name “Suddenly Last Summer” … A bit overly dramatic yes but entertaining none the less.Very entertaining film and a must see for fans of Kate or Liz. By the by I am looking forward to seeing these two gems of the golden age of film together again when I watch Little Women. Stay tuned...