Appleby Film Club, October

I wasn’t particularly keen on seeing this – I’m not a fan of exaggerated historical romance featuring the Kings and Queens of England – but I enjoyed it much more than I expected.

Based on actual events, it was nevertheless a fiction, exaggerated from the known facts by the original novelist, Philippa Gregory.  It told the story of Anne and Mary Boleyn, the former becoming the second wife of Henry VIII after he had an affair with younger sister Mary.  It was beautifully presented, with a glorious use of colour and staging that reflected the motivations of the protagonists.

My favourite part by far was the wonderful David Morrissey with his understated and consequently all the more creepy version of the wicked uncle.  Kristin Scott Thomas was also stand-out as the mother of the eponymous girls.  Of the two girls, I thought Natalie Portman was mis-cast.  I like her as an actress, but she didn’t meet my preconceived notions of Anne Boleyn.  Her more modern, girlish style did not gel alongside Morrisey and Scott Thomas.  Scarlett Johansson fared better IMO as Mary, but came across as unbelievably righteous.  Eric Bana was fairly non-descript as Henry.

The story was well told, beautiful to look at, and entertaining enough to forgive the weaknesses and the historical inaccuracies.  Not on my list of favourite Film Club movies, but a pleasant night out.

Walk the Line provided a great ending to this year’s film season. It was based on Johnny Cash’s authobiography and starred Jaoquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. The film covered Cash’s life from childhood (with the tragic death of his brother and his fraught relationship with his father that was never resolved) but the core was his descent into drug addiction and the way he managed to rebuild his life through his relationship with June. The music was fantastic – and particularly impressive since it was performed by the actors.

The Film Club committee met a week later to consider suggestions for next year’s programme. Look out for the results of their deliberations on the events part of the main Sir John Moore website.

Pedro Almodovar is probably Spain’s most well known and internationally successful film maker, with a distinctive style and always original story lines. I wasn’t sure how his dark humour would go down with the film club members, but the reaction was very positive. The comments I heard from the exiting audience were ‘unusual’ and ‘not what I expected’. It didn’t attract our usual numbers, but I don’t think anyone regretted making the effort despite the sub-titles (which do deter many people).

Volver is a typical Almodovar film – shot in his usual primary colours, with his constant themes of female solidarity, mother-daughter relationships, life in rural Spain, death and continuity and, as always, a quirky and totally original (as far as I can tell) plot. The presence of a Hollywood star (Penelope Cruz) hinted at a more mainstream target, and it has been more successful internationally than many of his films. Despite its star attraction, it was still an ensemble piece, and, I hope, a good example to encourage a more adventurous approach to foreign language films next season.

Just one film left in our current season: Walk the Line in April.  Now that’s more predictable, and we know for sure the music will be great.

Appleby Film Club, 14th February

This film divided opinion among our Film Club members. It’s classed as a ‘romantic comedy drama’ and it is standard mainstream fare. Most people enjoyed it, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I found it funny, light, and worth watching for wonderful performances from Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. Streep’s role, in particular, as the despotic editor in chief of a top fashion magazine, could easily have become an obvious Cruella de Ville-style cliché in the hands of a lesser actor. Streep pulls it off with grace and just the right amount of sympathy to create a real human character. Anne Hathaway plays the main protagonist with much less depth and a very predictable path through to a standard Hollywood ending.

The audience’s main criticism was the lack of surprise in the primary plot. The sub-plots around Tucci and Blunt’s characters were much more interesting. When these two and Streep were off-screen, particularly in the second half of the film, the action dragged.

Next Month: The highly successful and critically acclaimed Volver, directed by Pedro Almodovar. This is another comedy drama but a complete contrast to The Devil Wears Prada. It is R rated for sexual content, and sub-titled. No doubt it will also divide opinion!

Appleby Film Society, 11th January 2008

I liked this film. It’s not a great film, it has many flaws, and it’s absolutely essential that you take it on its own terms. Get hung up on fact versus fiction or historic accuracy and you could find it deeply disturbing, as many reviewers have. It’s a modern take on historical romance that focuses on the themes of Jane Austen’s work, with Jane herself as the main protagonist and incorporating other documented characters from her life. The same idea was used to similar effect in Shakespeare in Love.

The story itself is fanciful, and a bit too unlikely in parts. The Janeite in me enjoyed picking up the references, not just the obvious ones to Pride and Prejudice but to her other work – sense versus sensibility, the attraction of gothic fantasy, and the resonant effect of distant events on everyday life in the 1790s are all present. The acting is almost universally spot on as would be expected from the cast list, including Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith playing the (presumably fictional) inspiration for Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and always-excellent Anna Maxwell Martin as Jane’s sister Cassandra. (Sadly the exception is Anne Hathaway’s wavering accent.) Male lead James McAvoy can, obviously, do no wrong.

The main joy of the film, though (apart from James McAvoy) is the love story. It’s not so much based on Pride and Prejudice but rather presented as Jane’s inspiration for the novel. The tale is delightful, with great chemistry, witty dialogue (no, not up to the book itself), sexual tension, repressed passion, lovely frocks, and great dancing. All the important ingredients for a historical romance, plus James McAvoy.

Next month, Anne Hathaway again, this time in a role more suited to her, playing the ingénue in the world of New York glossy publishing in The Devil Wears Prada. I’ve seen this movie and it’s well worth watching for Meryl Streep playing comedic bitch – a class act.

Appleby Film Club’s Christmas treat was another Aardman Animations film, following last year’s top rated Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Chicken Run was the first ever feature length ‘claymation’ film (that is, animated plasticine) and was a huge achievement. It’s impossible to do the story justice in a few words, and most people will know it by now (the film was released in 2000) but if you haven’t seen it, then do so at the next opportunity. It’s a treat.

Technically brilliant, it’s also very funny, witty, and heart-warming in a very British, not-too-schmaltzy way. Writers, and national treasures, Peter Lord and Nick Park (of Wallace & Gromit fame) packed in plenty of their trade-mark gags (ingenious machines and fast moving chases involving various forms of transport) and nods to (other) classic movies – most obviously The Great Escape. Most of the audience had seen the film before, but as with all Aardman creations, there’s something new to spot with each re-watching. Great fun.

Next up for the Film Club is Becoming Jane, a fictional story based on the life of Jane Austen, suggesting events which became the basis for some of her classic novels. It’s a must-see for fans of Jane Austen, and of James McAvoy who is being lauded, quite justifiably, as one of Britain’s best young actors. Jane is played by Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada).

Don’t forget it’s Folk Night at the Cellar on Friday (21st December). See you there.

The last time I went to the cinema to see a Bond film (as opposed to the ubiquitous TV re-shows) was 40 years ago! But never one to miss culture on my doorstep I went along to see Casino Royale at the Appleby Film Club. We were promised ‘action and character’. I found the long action scenes a bit wearing – less gadgets than usual, but equally implausible escapes against all the odds. But in other respects it was more ‘grown up’ – fewer verbal innuendoes and, most interestingly, a female lead who lasted three-quarters of the film before succumbing to Bond’s charms (and even then with a twist). And things to genuinely care about including a Bond who showed emotions. But what really broke this reviewer’s heart was the sight of a beautiful Venice Palazzo crumbling into the canal!