Movie Review Movie Stars Dont Die in Liverpool
A Beloved Story
1 of the most disregarded, exquisitely sensitive films of 2017 somehow slipped past all attending to awards. Based on a true story - published by Peter Turner in 1986 - of a tardily in life affair between screen icon Gloria Grahame and young player Peter Turner - this film is radiantly beautiful. The screenplay adaptation is by Matt Greenhalgh and the sensitive management is the work of Paul McGuigan.
The story covers the years 1979 - 1981. In 1979 Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) is in England starring on stage in The Glass Menagerie and flirts with young role player Peter Turner (Jamie Bell), a bisexual immature actor who falls under the spell of the femme fatale and despite the significant historic period divergence they fall in love and begin and matter that is existent, tender, and meaningful to both. As their mismatched romance waxes and wanes over fourth dimension, events conspire to keep them in each other's lives even when it proves hard and demanding. Ultimately, they find that they must each come up to terms with whatever fate they face in the future whether they are together or apart. Grahame has breast cancer, a fact she conceals from Peter, and as she becomes close to Peter's family - mother Bella (Julie Walters), begetter Joe SR (Kenneth Cranham), and brother Joe Jr. (Stephen Graham) - she reveals her disease. On a trip to Los Angeles Gloria and Peter live together in Gloria'south house trailer past the Pacific ocean, and are visited by Gloria's female parent (Vanessa Redgrave) and sister Joy (Frances Barber) before they return to Peter'due south home in Liverpool. Gloria grows weaker and ultimately decides to render to her American physician for chemotherapy, escorted by one of her existent sons Tim (Tom Brittney) from 1 of her four marriages, leaving Peter with love and concern that he care for his own family. The story is an appreciating, moving, and wryly humorous memoir of friendship, love, and stardom.
Oscar worthy performances past Bening, Bong, Walters and the entire cast make this moving-picture show luminous - 1 that needs to exist seen more than once to fully appreciate all the fine qualities - interim, photography, musical score, and direction. Highly recommended
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Film quality hasn't died
With such a groovy cast (Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Graham, Vanessa Redgrave and Frances Barber) and a fascinating subject thing detailing a passionate true-life romance concerning film noir icon Gloria Grahame and jobbing actor Peter Turner, 'Motion-picture show Stars Don't Die in Liverpool' intrigued me.
On the virtually office, while not perfect, 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool' did not disappoint and did its subject area justice. At that place wasn't much to criticise for me actually, though the quality of the product values left me torn. On one hand, at that place's lovely costumes and very handsome photography. On the other, some of the sets are garish and lack authenticity and some of the wigs are a fright. Specially Stephen Graham'southward that looked like it came from an onetime comedy sketch on loan.
'Picture show Stars Don't Die in Liverpool' nonetheless is anchored past Bening at her most fearless and vulnerable and her passionate chemistry with Bell giving the most mature work of his career.
Walters, Cranham and Graham are equally expected offset class back up, particularly Walters. Redgrave and Barber have a terrific scene. Paul McGuigan directs with class.
The elegiac music score adds enormously. The nostalgic temper is evoked beautifully, and the story, while slight, was easy to get backside thanks to the performances, the romance having the passion it does and the emotional resonance of when Grahame's career and health ails. Tin can't fault the script either, which is full of wit and poignancy.
In short, very intriguing and well washed. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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a gentle tribute to a one-time starlet
Greetings once again from the darkness. Onetime Hollywood glamour is simply something we read nigh or reminisce near these days. Part of the reason is that nosotros are most every bit likely to run into a favorite star on TV as in a new movie, and a bigger cause is that we but know too much well-nigh them every bit people ... the mystique has been replaced past (too many) personal details and divisive political influence.
Classic movie lovers always accept favorite performers, and in that location were certainly some not bad ones in the Aureate Era: Bogart, Gable, Hepburn, Davis, etc; however, I've e'er felt there was one actress who fourth dimension seems to have forgotten. Gloria Grahame never seemed to choose the easy road (either on screen or real life), and she turned in some terrific performances in the 1940'south and 50's. You might only know her as Violet in IT'South A WONDERFUL LIFE, but she was also an Oscar winner for THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952), and had standout roles in OKLAHOMA! (1955), THE BIG Rut (1953), and IN A Solitary Identify (1950). Her talent allowed her to fit likewise for a musical or family unit film, equally in the Noir Thrillers for which she seemed to thrive.
And so why all the background on a generally forgotten actress from a bygone era? Because Annette Bening magically channels the late actress in her role as Ms. Grahame in the terminal stages of her life. Managing director Paul McGuigan's film is based on the memoir of Peter Turner, a young man who had a relationship with the actress in her afterwards years. Turner is played here past Jamie Bell (Billy ELLIOT) and he and Ms. Bening are and so conceivable, that nosotros are fully drawn in by their characters and their touching story.
Opening with the actress in her dressing room prepping for a dinner theatre version of "The Drinking glass Menagerie", the picture show conveys much in these few minutes. Clearly, this is an extra far removed from the Hollywood spotlight. We also sense her immense pride is still nowadays, and the glass of milk is for relief from her discomfort ... later self-diagnosed as "gas".
Nosotros start in 1981 and flashback to 1979. Creative transitions between scenes and times add a stylish element to a story that is ultimately about human relationships, aging and loneliness. The demand to be cared for when sick is equally crucial equally the importance of being a undecayed caregiver for loved ones. The film'south script from Matt Greenhalgh allows for an empathetic await at these topics through the optics of people nosotros quickly intendance about.
Julie Walters (Bell's dance teacher in Billy ELLOT) is exceptional as Turner'south mother and Ms. Grahame's caregiver. Other supporting roles include Kenneth Cranham as Turner's dad, Stephen Graham equally his fiery brother, and Vanessa Redgrave as Ms. Grahame's mother. We never get the back story on why Ms. Grahame feels so connected to the Turner family - only that the 28 yr age difference between herself and Peter didn't much matter to either of them.
There is a sexually-charged disco trip the light fantastic with Ms. Grahame and Peter in her hotel room that makes articulate why whatever young human being might autumn for her, but it'southward really in the quieter moments where the film and Ms. Bening and Mr. Bong shine. The emotions and pain are palpable, and yet neither her spirit nor his devotion volition quit. The music from Jose Feliciano and Elvis Costello is terrific and comfortably fits a story of love and aging and illness, while as well reminding the states ... once a starlet, ever a starlet, even when the star has faded.
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Annette Bening robbed past the Oscars still Once more
"Motion-picture show Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" (2017 release; 107 min.) is a movie about the last years in the life of actress Gloria Grahame. Every bit the movie opens (and Elton John's "Vocal For Guy" plays in the groundwork), we are told it'south "Liverpool, England, 1981" and we see Gloria applying make-upwardly and getting ready for a theater operation. But she falls ill. She reaches out to Peter Turner in nearby Liverpool and asks if she can come up stay at his mum's house. Peter agrees. We then go back in time to "Primrose Colina, London, 1979", and we come across Peter running into Gloria for the first time. At this betoken we are 10 min. into the moving-picture show, but to tell you more than of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll merely have to meet for yourself how information technology all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is latest from Scottish manager Paul McGuigan, best known for "Victor Frankenstein". Here he brings the real life memoir of Peter Turner to the big screen. Turner met faded picture star in the late 70s when he was 28 and she was twice that age. i shan't say more (biting my lips). Let's exist very clear about one thing: leading actress Annette Bening is absolutely fantastic in this movie. Yous might think that, having been criminally disregarded in last year's Oscar nominations for he outstanding work in "20th Century Women", the University would be a bit more careful this fourth dimension effectually. Only no. Bening is once again robbed by the Academy, which instead one time once again lazily gave another nomination to Meryl Streep for her ok (merely past no ways outstanding) work in the very medicore "The Mail service" (an "All President's Men" wanna-be that is nowhere shut to that gold standard). Jamie Bell is every bit upwards to the task, but has nowhere nearly the stature or screen presence of Bening. Vanessa Redgrave announced in one scene. The movie'due south prepare product (recreating the late 70s/early 80s) is immaculate. Last but non least there is a lot f great music in the film, both as to the score and the song placements.
"Moving picture Stars Don't Dice in Liverpool" has been gradually expanding over the terminal ii months, and it finally opened last weekend at my local art house theater here in Cincinnati. The Lord's day early evening screening where I saw this at was attended okay (almost 15 people or and so). Other than the very bones premise of an older woman's relationship with a younger guy, I knew nothing almost the movie beforehand, and I ended up enjoying this quite a chip more than than I had expected. But information technology the finish, this film is really nigh Annette Bening'due south outstanding functioning, and that alone is worth checking this out, be information technology in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.
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a 2017 hidden gem
"Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" (R, one:45) is a romantic drama based on a couple of years in the life of Gloria Grahame, an Oscar winner and veteran of such archetype films as "It'southward a Wonderful Life" and "Oklahoma". Multiple Oscar-nominee Annette Bening plays Grahame, more often than not during her time in Liverpool, England, where she met, had an thing with and was ultimately nursed through a serious affliction past much younger human (and local Liverpool histrion), Peter Turner (BAFTA Award winner Jamie Bong).
Peter meets Gloria when she moves into his apartment building. They quickly go from being neighbors to friends to lovers. Peter doesn't seem bothered past their historic period difference and Gloria seems to cherish it, but it inevitably leads to hurt feelings and conflict between them. However, they work through the rough patches and Gloria becomes very friendly with Peter's family. When Gloria returns to Liverpool afterward living in New York for awhile and she is patently ill, she reaches out to Peter and ends up staying with his family, who all pitch in to take care of the ailing actress. Equally Gloria's illness progresses and she begs Peter not to have her to any doctors or notify her adult children in the U.S., Peter and his family unit struggle to find the best way to help Gloria... while Peter deals with his lingering feelings for her.
"Moving picture Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" is a sweet and sorry story of star-crossed lovers in an especially unusual May-Dec relationship. It's terrifically acted and creatively shot and edited. It'due south a wonder why this subconscious gem didn't garner more accolades during the 2017-2018 movie awards season. "A-"
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A moving true story
Warning: Spoilers
In the tardily 1970s, Academy Award-winning American extra Gloria Grahame - four times married and securely troubled - struck upward an unusual relationship with an actor from Liverpool called Peter Turner who was some three decades younger than her. This British movie is based on Turner's business relationship of their life together and is ably directed past Scottish Paul McGuigan. The director eschews the classic jump flash-back in favour of a series of more than subtle slides from ane period to another. Notwithstanding, the American scenes are clearly staged in the studio in the interests of a small budget.
The part of GG (Glo to her beau) is terrific for Annette Bening who brings real star quality and a nuanced performance to the part. Jamie Bell - who has come up a long way since "Baton Elliot" 17 years ago - does well in the company of such star power and, amid the well-cast minor roles, we have the inestimable Julie Walters who guided Billy Elliot all those years ago.
There are some memorable scenes: Grahame and Turner dancing together when they first encounter, a recital of "Romeo And Juliet" in an empty theatre (where the existent Turner has a tiny role), a clever echo of the aforementioned scene viewed from the dissimilar perspectives of the two principals, and of class the farewell deviation. As well the attending to flow particular is noticeable: that terrible flowered wallpaper, the punch telephone in the hallway, and Elton John'south "Song For Guy" (I remember information technology all).
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Touching
A middle-aged American actress (Annette Benning) turns to her immature ex-lover (Jamie Bong) and his family in Liverpool when her health problems take a turn for the worse. Oh and by the mode, the extra is screen fable Gloria Grahame, and the film is based on the real-life memoir of her lover, Peter Turner.
Told in flashbacks and memories, director Paul McGuigan keeps the pace of the film up, which helps offset the depressing aspects of the story, which of course involves the inevitable decay to the torso, fifty-fifty with those immortalized every bit such brilliant stars in the universe of movies. The scene of an argument the pair have, shown first from his perspective and then later from hers, is excellent. It reminds us to consider that there may be all sorts of things in some other person'southward thoughts that may explicate their actions which nosotros don't understand. The scene where the pair proceed the stage of an old empty theater to recite from 'Romeo and Juliet' is very touching. It reminds us that the romance and feelings of one's middle don't disappear, even if the skin wrinkles and looks fade.
Benning received accolades for her operation and is certainly solid, displaying a lot of range and honesty, merely I'm not sure if she quite captures Gloria Grahame. Bell is fine too, specially in scenes with his family unit, where we see the moral strength of his parents (Julie Walters and Kenneth Cranham), too as his wonderfully combative brother (Stephen Graham). The film is non meant every bit a consummate biography by any ways, focusing on these last few years of her life and her relationship with this young thespian, merely at the same time, it would take been nice to see more than clips from her films, fifty-fifty if they had been just interspersed with the credits rolling. All in all though, information technology'south a touching flick whether you know Gloria Grahame or not.
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A love story with a kick in the gut , anyone?
Warning: Spoilers
Bluntly, I was upset when Annette Bening did such great work in 20th Century Women, which a few of you saw, and wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Once upon a time in movies, people related to 1 another in funny, sad and flawed man ways. That was 20th Century Women and Ms. Bening was pushed out at Oscar time by that beloved picture show icon nominated for yowling and singing painfully off key. A travesty. Booray for Hollywood. Assessing no arraign to our nameless dear scenery chewer because she can't help getting nominated for merely belching, with or without an accent. Now, having been swept away by Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool, I'm not upset anymore. Ms Bening and Jamie Bell had me at "How do I look?" Tough cookie 50'due south film star Gloria Grahame stumbled through her life without much dearest or tenderness. With Jamie Bell's character Peter Turner, she not simply found them but allowed them for a little while. I wanted to be there for every moment Gloria and much younger Peter were together. Throw in Julie Walters as Peter's mum, Vanessa Redgrave equally Gloria's mom, and, no-slouch-she Frances Hairdresser as Gloria's jealous toxic sister, and you've got a gem of a movie that may or may not become the recognition it deserves. But I've got my memories of the nifty Julie Walters, as Peter's Mum, crushing me simply saying "time to allow go of her, son," and Gloria with her life scars and Peter trying to make it all ameliorate for her. And he does. Hollywood tin't hurt me or Gloria anymore. She has passed on and my illusions most talent and fine piece of work being rewarded are gone. It could happen though that Ms. Bening, like Elizabeth Taylor before her, gets her Oscar i twelvemonth and one film later. This time, if it happens, information technology will be given for this year'due south all-time functioning by an actress. Because. trust me, it is.
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Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)
The bulk of Academy season hopefuls take come and gone but I see one last one with Film Stars Don't Dice in Liverpool. I was immediately interested in what the film was offer. A relationship portrayed by Annete Bening and Jamie Bell? Very interesting. If anything I could see a possible Oscar nomination for Bening. After watching I did savor the film for what it was. Its well acted and adequately emotional.
The pic is based on the real life memoir by Peter Turner (of the same name as the motion picture), where he recollects the human relationship he had with the famous Hollywood actress, Gloria Grahame. He encounters Grahame in the later stages of her life, when she is working at Liverpool in stage plays. Grahame and Turner brainstorm a human relationship which is marred past Grahame's spreading breast cancer, which she eventually succumbs to. From what I've read after the film, the events of the film seem to cover the incidents of real life pretty accurately.
Annette Bening kind of disappears into the role of Gloria Grahame. Its a really adept operation from her. Aforementioned with Jamie Bell. The moving picture is really carried by these two and their wonderful human relationship. The film does have periods that elevate and could have been portrayed in a more than straightforward fashion, but the moving-picture show never really loses its charm which is actually a strong selling bespeak.
I loved Elvis Costello's "You Shouldn't Await at Me That Mode", made specially for this film. Its a gorgeous theme and the parts that were included in romantic moments betwixt Gloria and Peter made their human relationship seem magical. Overall I don't the film is excellent, though the performances and romance and the film get in worth a watch. Yous can't help put feel sad for Gloria and Peter by the end of the film.
7/10
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A wonderful inspiring picture show
We saw this in Wellington at the Brooklyn Penthouse Theatre. They moved it because so many wanted to encounter it, from their pocket-sized thirty seat screening to a much bigger one where there were definitely more people. What a wonderful story. Cheering positive lovable without a hint of saccharine or self-pity and a fascinating script - sympathetic without existence unreal.
I will have to find the book and read it. Annette Bening is fantastic and Jamie Bong enthralling. Well washed all for a crisp enjoyable moving-picture show.
(BTW in typical English style they don't hitting you over the head with the point - you lot get to recall for your self)
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Lack of vision
Annette Bening and Jamie Bong play star-crossed lovers, with the emphasis on 'star'. Ms Bening is, equally ever, excellent, this time playing a real-life Hollywood actress, Gloria Grahame, herself a remarkable and original talent. If this film rekindles interest in Ms Grahame'south formidable back catalogue of performances, that's no bad thing.
Nonetheless, FILM STARS...centres on Peter Turner, a jobbing role player whose life takes an unexpected turn when he falls in love with Ms Grahame. As Turner, Jamie Bell, who has developed into an achieved supporting thespian over the years since BILLY ELLIOT, is promoted to leading man. He'southward splendid. A revelation. Authoritative, sexy, potent, romantic, vulnerable -- you proper noun it, Mr Bell communicates information technology sincerely, without any sense of bamboozlement. A first-rate functioning.
It's a pity that the film is so hand-me-down in other ways. The everlastingly wonderful Julie Walters does everything possible with the stereotypical Liverpool mum that she'south been provided with, just neither she nor other stalwarts -- Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Graham, Frances Hairdresser and even Vanessa Redgrave -- can transcend their characters' functionality. Production values are all over the place (the wigs!), while the decision to utilize dorsum project for the scenes in New York and California seems to me to demonstrate the inconsistency at the middle of the director's arroyo. Rather than expressing the rosy glow of retentiveness, which I suspect was the justification, these scenes merely look cheap. It might take been wiser to ready the whole thing in a studio, as Joe Wright did with his ANNA KARENINA or Baz Lurhmann with his MOULIN ROUGE. Any the flaws of those two movies, the overall artistic vision was equal to the projection in manus. I don't think that'southward the case here, unfortunately.
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Information technology'due south true--film stars don't dice in Liverpool
Picture show Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017) was directed past Paul McGuigan. The star of the flick is Annette Bening, who portrays the actor Gloria Grahame.
Those of us who think Gloria Grahame on the screen remember her just as managing director McGuigan remembers her. She was cute and sexy. Every leading homo desired her, often to their peril. She was an Academy Award winner.
In the movie, Grahame is sick and returns to a house in Liverpool where she had stayed when she was younger. She's no longer a star--but a woman who is able to hang on because some people remember when she was a marquee proper name.
The film is melodramatic, and Liverpool looks night and forlorn. Still, it's worth seeing the motion picture to watch Bening deed. She inhabits the role of Grahame, and I believe Bening could come across the possibility of her own career catastrophe up similar Grahame'due south career.
We saw this motion-picture show at Rochester'south wonderful Little Theatre. It volition piece of work well on the minor screen. The film has a dismal vi.9 IMDb rating. It's better than that. See it and determine for yourself.
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fame may refuse, merely memories will concluding
Information technology's practically a given that when a Hollywood actress reaches a certain age range, Hollywood no longer wants her, and she has to pursue other endeavors. This is 1 element of Paul McGuigan's "Picture Stars Don't Die in Liverpool", well-nigh Gloria Grahame's romance with a young Englishman while she was performing on the phase in the port town towards the cease of her life. An Oscar-winner in her heyday, Grahame had all only disappeared from the screen and was now contesting breast cancer.
Annette Bening puts all her energy into the role of the beleaguered Grahame, while Jamie Bell (Baton Elliott, King Kong, The Adventures of Tintin) is quite fine every bit her immature lover. I gauge that a person withal needs to experience continued at any age, particularly after getting treated as "past her prime". I recommend the movie.
As well starring Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters (Educating Rita) and Stephen Cranham.
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Film stars don't die in Liverpool
Oscar winner Gloria Graeme, no longer an in demand Hollywood star, spends her final years actualization in plays in the United kingdom where she falls in love with a young Liverpudlian.
Very deplorable, moving motion picture nearly beloved and expiry with a fine functioning past Bell. It is though Bening's pic, who is absolutely on height form. Not getting an Oscar nod was very foreign, specially given some of the nominees in 2018.
Worth seeing if yous're up for information technology - simply be warned, not a lot of laughs.
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Annette Bening deserves her Oscar
The fact that Bening was never awarded an Oscar stands as a clear proof of the unfairness of the Hollywood arrangement. Bening is one of the most talented actresses ever and she proved it many times. In this pic she is absolutely amazing, delivering - mayhap - her best operation ever.
I am a sucker for film noir, so I obviously knew Gloria Grahame merely I had no idea she had such a turbulent life. The movie is about her last three years and her affair with Peter, a much younger English man, whom she met while touring England. The script is based on the book Peter wrote and it is drenched in melancholy, with some sparkles of joy.
Bening is believable equally Grahame, even if the resemblance is never pushed and the picture could be about whatever fading film star. The story outset with Gloria getting ready for a theatre performance and falling sick. This is 1981 and we are soon taken back a couple of years before, by the first of a few flashbacks.
In 1979, during another bout in London, Gloria met Peter, a struggling actor from Liverpool. The ii struck an unlikely friendship, with Gloria flirting with the young guy from the outset and asking him to exist her "dancing partner".
Gloria and Peter first scene together is brilliant. The immature, unsophisticated Peter is totally fascinate by the mature Gloria and starts shaking effectually and stripping in an uncontrolled way, while Gloria watches, amused. The Gloria-Peter love story is seen just in flashbacks, while the main action takes place in 1981, with Gloria ill and lodging in Peter's working course habitation in Liverpool.
The ii leads have excellent chemistry and their emotions are totally believable: Gloria does not want to drag Peter into what she knows is the final chapter of her life and Peter is totally fascinated by the exotic, ambitious, unconventional American woman.
Towards the cease, the scene of them playing Juliet and Romeo in an empty theatre is totally heart wrenching.
I found this motion picture most moving and undeservedly ignored at awards time. Maybe because of the melancholy... but then again, that's the manner life is, with hardly any happy ending in sight.
PS and fifty-fifty Grahame got an Oscar....
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Not a pleasant story
Alarm: Spoilers
Annette Benning acts well equally Gloria Graeme in this distressing story about the end of her life. She develops a romance with a younger homo in England when she is doing theatre at that place. Jamie Bell is a good histrion but not exactly romantic lead fabric.
Don't similar the way things had to end. Why didn't she but tell him?
Not a must watch.
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YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED - EXCELLENT IN ALL ASPECTS
Warning: Spoilers
We loved Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. Information technology's a film that tin can be enjoyed more than than one time, and in fact, is even amend the second time around.
The script, adjusted from actor Peter Turner's volume, is based on the truthful story of the final days of Gloria Grahame. Directed like an former-time picture show, Paul McGuigan brings to the screen excellent performances by all actors, with exceptional performances from Annette Bening (every bit usual) and Jamie Bell. This picture show is best enjoyed without any preconceived notions, and then I volition non share anything well-nigh a spoiler. Needless to say, however, equally virtually everyone who checks a rating on this movie already knows, a young Peter Turner fell in love with crumbling Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame, but their time was sadly limited due to Gloria Grahame'due south cancer.
For those who like to know the ground of what they're watching in advance of viewing a picture show, there is plenty of background information bachelor. For my part, I watched the movie first, then did some research, and and so watched it once again. Armed with factual information, it was more meaningful seeing it once more.
While not for the very immature, this is a movie virtually everyone else tin can enjoy. There'south plenty life lessons here to leave you thinking.
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Annette Bening as Gloria Grahame
This is a lovely flick, all the more than wonderful if you are familiar with Gloria Grahame. Otherwise, you can't truly capeesh the amazing performance of Annette Bening. Flawless.
Later she married her stepson, Anthony Ray, Graham'south waning career waned fifty-fifty more than due to the ensuing scandal. (They were married nearly 14 years and had two children.) She continued to work on stage and in television.
We come into the film when Grahame was working in Liverpool and becomes involved with a much younger actor, Peter Turner. The film is based on his book. Turner, now 68 years old, appears in the motion picture (he also cowrote information technology); he went on to take a good career.
The terminally-ill Graham finds peace and comfort not just with Turner but with his entire family unit. What started equally a fling became a deep, caring love.
The film plays with time, seamlessly going from the present to the past. Beautifully directed by Paul McGuigan.
The acting is fantabulous, but the film is carried by Bening. She actually becomes Gloria Grahame and must have studied her for a long time.
Grahame had an apartment in NYC - the apartment in the movie was zip like it, as I know the Manhattan Plaza complex where she lived very well. Tennessee Williams and Angela Lansbury likewise had apartments there.
Highly recommended.
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The distressing end of a legend
I think the offset time I saw Gloria Grahame on screen information technology was in the theater in Oklahoma where she played goodhearted good fourth dimension girl Ado Annie. She played a lot of good fourth dimension girls in more serious films as well. My best memories of her on the screen were in The Large Heat and Not As A Stranger. During her top years in the Fifties Gloria Grahame got the first call when one had to cast a adult female of like shooting fish in a barrel virtue. She won an Oscar for The Bad And The Beautiful for a woman who is led off-target. Usually Gloria did the leading.
Annette Bening did a good job interpreting Gloria Grahame best as she could and she got it three/4 right. There was only one Gloria and she was unqiue. This shows the sad last two years of her life when her career was pretty well over, but she had hopes of a comeback. She was living in the United Kingdom and hardly a big proper name any more.
But whatever she had in the mode of happiness came from a May/December romance with young actor Peter Turner played by Jamie Bong. It wasn't easy at times because Grahame notwithstanding thought of herself as a big star. Lots of Norma Desmond in that adult female.
The ii best scenes in the flick are Gloria's coming together with her mother Vanessa Redgrave and a most jealous sister who tried and didn't take the career Gloria did. The archetype has been versus a never was. The sister is played with real bite by Frances Hairdresser. The 2d is Gloria with her doctor proverb she had rejected chemotherapy because she was afraid of losing her hair and she wanted to exist castable all the same. Offers were not really coming the late 70s.
The ending is like to Frances Farmer'south terminate in Will There Ever Be A Morning, poignant and sad. Won't reveal, you lot have to see it and I defy anyone to accept a dry eye.
A great tribute to a great star.
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Bening great
In 1979 London, Peter Turner (Jamie Bell) is entranced past visiting American actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening). They begin a romantic thing. In 1981 Liverpool, Peter is living at home with his parents. Gloria arrives to reignite the relationship but she's suffering from a devastating affliction.
Bening delivers another great performance. She has a real transformation. Her charisma and screen presence is undeniable. However, the movie doesn't allow the relationship to develop. It's a melodrama thrown at the wall every bit it watches whether anything really sticks. The only thing that truly sticks is Bening. The chemistry is on and off. The structure assumes the chemistry rather than nurtures it. This has its moments and Bening almost carries information technology by her sheer interim power.
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"Are You lot Fix for Your Close-Up, Miss Grahame?"
Warning: Spoilers
In the bonus segment of the DVD of "Film Stars Don't Dice in Liverpool," there is an extended interview with the actors, the manager, and Peter Turner, the writer of the memoir on which the movie is based. At one point in the interview, it is revealed that 98% of the film is true, based on Turner's recollections of his romantic human relationship as a beau with the much older extra Gloria Grahame. Clearly, the film was intended as a biographical portrait of the actress best remembered for "The Bad and the Cute" and "A Lonely Place."
Unfortunately, the film fell flat in developing what was intended as a combination biography, romance, and depiction of a tender human relationship of the aging motion-picture show star and with a young actor from Liverpool. Much of the film sounded "scripted" with references to films and plays.
The one allusion that worked effectively was when Gloria in her belatedly '50s mentioned to Peter that she wanted to audition for Juliet at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Peter corrected her by saying, "Shouldn't you be auditioning for the Nurse?" Of class, that response led to one of their torrid arguments. It also resulted in one of the best emotional moments in the moving-picture show when the Peter and Gloria read the scene of the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet.
The film besides was non served by a structure that skipped around extensively in time. Instead of developing the human relationship of Gloria and Peter in a linear fashion, the audience was jolted in and out of the by. It was especially disruptive equally the drama was toggling between Liverpool, New York, and Los Angeles. This is really not the way to write a screenplay of a biographical romance.
In the bonus segment of the DVD, actress Annette Bening described the life of Gloria Graham as "tempestuous." Bening'southward interpretation was more often than not a one-dimensional version of "tempestuous." The film was besides manipulative of audiences in presenting a crucial scene about the "break-up" of Gloria and Peter in New York. The audience had to endure two rendition of the exact scene with the exact dialogue, before the truth is revealed almost Gloria's visit to her physician. The authors of the script exercise not receive a passing grade in Screenwriting 101.
In the final assay, the film seemed exploitative in its depiction of a securely personal relationship that often came across every bit unflattering. In the extended interview with the performers and the director, information technology was never once mentioned what Gloria Graham might accept felt virtually this cinematic portrayal of her life. In all likelihood, Graham would take preferred to accept been remembered as an Academy Honour-winning film creative person, as opposed to a "has been" with a youthful, bisexual paramour in a film with too many similarities to "Sunset Boulevard."
Are you prepare for your close-up, Miss Grahame?
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Movie Stars Don't Die in Liverpool: An Emotional Love Story.
Warning: Spoilers
Based on a truthful story, this biographical drama follows the romance between a younger man, Peter Turner played by Jamie Bell, and 1950's blackness and white former A-listing Hollywood star, now crumbling actress Gloria Grahame, played by Annette Benning.
Set between 1978 – 1981 in Liverpool and USA. The atomic number 82 actors meet and there is an immediate chemistry, Grahame is diagnosed with cancer and she turns to the Bell family for comfort in Liverpool, where she is welcomed. She wanted to build her strength and recuperate, although the cancer has taken agree and obviously progressed too far.
Their romance only lasts for a few years, we see how this develops into a deep passion through some very clever and well washed flashback sequences.
This is a very emotional love story. Jamie Bell provides a standout, convincing award winning performance.
Highly recommended.
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Annette Bening does amazingly well to advise the American star
I never felt drawn to this and was particularly put off past a rather crass advertizement campaign at the time of release. Still, I do like Gloria Grahame and had originally missed the fact that this is based upon a truthful story involving her last years here in England with a immature Liverpudlian. It is carefully crafted with a fine evocation of the time (tardily 70s) but information technology is rather wearisome. At that place must accept been much item in the original book that was perchance not translatable onto the screen or was more likely repetitive. Either way although there are some fine moments, there is really not enough going on her to concur our attention. Annette Bening does amazingly well to suggest the American star and Julie Walters very capable every bit the lad'due south mother while Vanessa Redgrave is good in a cameo as Gloria'southward mother in the U.s.. Unfortunately Jamie Bell is barely adequate and not at all convincing and it is particularly worrying that the big Romeo and Juliet scene towards the end is so underplayed every bit to have barely been worth the endeavour.
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Electric Stars.
Warning: Spoilers
Late November 2016:
Going on my start big night out with a friend,we walked passed a cinema in Birmingham called The Electric,which had a sign up for beingness the oldest working cinema in the U.k. (it opened in 1909!)
Finding that we had missed all showings,I made a note of the place. Planning to see England is Mine (which past coincidence, is another bio-motion picture) when I went to get together birthday presents for a pal in July 2017,I accidentally left my map at abode,and cheers to running into no ane only clueless locals,was unable to find the place.
Early December 2017:
Weeks earlier setting off to exercise some Christmas shopping in Birmingham, I fabricated all-encompassing notes/directions for places that I wanted to go to accept with me. Despite the poor reviews information technology has got,I decided that I would come across Suburbicon at the Electrical Movie theatre,due to it existence the only screening that would give me plenty of fourth dimension to catch the railroad train home.
Finally arriving at the cinema, I found out that a fault had been made on their site,and that a very interesting- sounding Gloria Grahame bio- pic was existence shown instead,which led to me inbound the screening with an electric atmosphere.
View on the motion-picture show:
Walking downwards the cobbled streets of belatedly 70's/early eighty'south Liverpool, managing director Paul McGuigan (former bass actor with Oasis!) & cinematographer Urszula Pontikos grab handfuls of grit from the British New Wave/ Kitchen Sink works of the era, with bleak browns covering the ascent damp of the Turner household, and thick smog on the streets casting an bawdy drama atmosphere.
Going with Grahame back to Hollywood, McGuigan sharply contrasts the humble time in Liverpool with stylised glamour of fantabulous photographic camera tricks that bring to life a dream factory version of Hollywood-complete with colourful overlaps and fade ins/fade outs,that keep Grahame'southward past of her name upwards on billboards flickering.
The starting time non-Bond movie produced past Eon since 1963's Call Me Bwana, the screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh brilliantly keeps this adaptation of Peter Turner'south book equally far removed from 007 as possible.
Greenhalgh gives the May-December romance between Turner and Grahame a passionate rawness, (cleverly expressed by events being played out twice,from Turner and Grahame's perspectives)where their moments of breezy romance can turn with ease into abrasive doubt. Reunited with a very skillful Julie Walters as his mum Bella, Jamie Bell gives an first-class operation as Peter Turner, lit past Bong taping into the Aroused Beau of the British New Wave, that Bong keeps from condign overpowering,by neatly softening the edges of Turner's frustrations with a romantic warmth.
Bringing the bad and the beautiful sides of the Hollywood icon to Liverpool, Annette Bening gives an incredible performance equally Grahame, thanks to Bening crossing a feisty conclusion over how Grahame wants to alive her life, with a frail affect that makes the romance betwixt her and Turner sparkle,in the place where picture stars don't die.
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Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Warning: Spoilers
Motion picture Stars Don't Dice in Liverpool is a swell title but a generic story of an ill ageing picture star who plant romance with a younger man.
Gloria Grahame plant fame in flick noir and got a all-time supporting actress Oscar.
A young actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bong) teaches disco dancing to American actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) who share the aforementioned boarding house. They begin an affair.
In 1981 Peter is living at abode with his parents in Liverpool. Gloria arrives to stay with them but she is sick with cancer an affliction she has been previously reluctant to disembalm to him and her family.
The movie was produced by EON Production improve know for the James Bond movies. However this is a small scale arthouse product. Yous can tell the American fix scenes were green screened.
The performances from Bening and Bell were good. I had high hopes from director Paul McGuigan who launched the modern twenty-four hour period Sherlock telly films.
Unfortunately the script is flaccid and pedestrian. I would had liked to take known more of the scandalous Grahame the actress and person autonomously from some loose allusions to Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
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Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5711148/reviews
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