Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 8

Day 8 'Alice in Wonderland' (2010)
A sequel to the Disney's cartoon Alice in Wonderland. Alice finds herself back in Wonderland meeting up with the Mad Hatter and friends, battling against The Red Queen and all that good stuff. Alice is very unhappy in the real world, having to decide whether or not to marry for money or to follow her dreams and take over her father's shipping business. But, she sees the White Rabbit from her dreams, was it it a dream? Alice follows the White Rabbit and, well ends up falling down the rabbit hole and in Wonderland on another adventure of a lifetime.

Directed by Tim Burton, it screams like a Tim Burton film. I like Burton so it doesn't bother one bit. I dug this film, I've read complaints but I liked it. Maybe all that complaining was about the 3D, but I saw this on DVD. It's visually amazing. the CGI is incredible, you felt like all the creatures and Wonderland were real. The costumes were unbelievably gorgeous, especially in the beginning of this film. I think Alice had like twelve costume changes. The best part, Lindsey Duncan and Geraldine James were in it. There roles were to short but it was so awesome to see them, especially since I didn't know they were in the film.

I love Helen Bonham Carter, but please Tim Burton, stop putting your wife in all your movies. It's getting old. Johnny Depp was his usual self. I was confused as to his decision to get all Scottish brogue when the Mad Hatter was getting all dark and creepy. WTF was that about?

Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 7

Day 7 'The Magic of Ordinary Days' (2005) (as seen on CBS)
A charming Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Keri Russell and Skeet Ulrich. Based on the novel by Ann Howard Creel, it's the story of Livy Dune who finds herself pregnant and about to marry a man she doesn't know, Ray Singleton.

Set during during the second world war, Livy is a highly educated woman with big plans for her future. But Livy falls in love and ends up with a bun in the oven. Her father, a preacher, is horrified and since she isn't married, arranges a marriage to a farmer, Ray. Livy and Ray don't get along right away. He's a farmer, she's a city girl, they have nothing in common. Ray is a shy homebody and Livy's thoughts are more wordily. While Livy tries to adjust to her new life, she befriends Ray's sister Martha and two Japanese American girls who work on Ray's farm who live in an interment camp. Livy still harbours feelings for her babies father but he's nowhere to be found and ultimately not interested anymore. It's basically a story about two people getting to know each other and falling in love.

I love this movie, it's so sweet, it's a feel good movie. It might be a common story by now, been a ton of books and movies based on this plot but the script is excellent and so is the cast. It's a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, of course it's feel good. Hallmark does a really good job with the costumes, makeup, settings for their period pieces, no exception here. I never feel like I waste my time when I watch this movie. I always love it no matter how many times I see it.

Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 6

Day 6 'Sense and Sensibility' (BBC Miniseries) (1971)
Based on Jane Austen's novel, Sense and Sensibility is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Their troubles, their heart breaks. Wait, everyone should know what this story is about and if you don't, read the book. Bonus geek moment, this production was never seen in the US but it's now available on DVD, so it's extra special, ha.

I've now seen every version of Sense and Sensibility, I believe. (My favorite is still the 1995 film version with Emma Thompson.) This production, having been made in 1971, does look dated today but by no means is it unwatchable or not entertaining. Well acted, some were a tad over dramatic (mostly the male actors), but still a very well acted/written production. One of the reasons I love watching 70's productions from the BBC is that the cast always looks like everybody else. What I mean is there are various looks. Not everyone is a size zero or a beauty (that goes for both women and men), different looks and shapes. Everything today, it's to many people looking the same. Same hair, same look, same everything.

Patricia Routledge portrayed Mrs. Jennings. (Most famous today for playing Hyacinth in Keeping Up Appearances) I have to say it's the most accurate portrayal of Mrs. Jennings on film to date. Routledge shows Jennings silliness, teasing, meddling, good nature and fierce loyalty. In past productions you got the feeling that Mrs. Jennings was a good person, but it never shows the deep friendship that developed with Elinor. Mrs. Jennings refusal to leave and staying with Elinor when Marianne was sick, all the caring and attentiveness to Marianne when she found out the truth about Willoughby. I love Patricia Routledge, she made this production for me.

Frances Cuka was an excellent Lucy Steele. She got all her arrogance and bitchiness perfectly. Joanna David was a good fit for Elinor. Overall, give it a look, it's dated but well worth a watch if you love Jane Austen.

Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 5

Day 5 'The Duchess (2008)
Based on the true life of Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire. She was the 'it' girl of her time. A socialite, a fashionista, a gambler, political at a time when it was frowned upon for women to do so, constantly in the press and always in debt. Seemed to me a somewhat sad life mixed in with a few good moments. (Princess Diana was a descendant of hers, which was shamelessly used in some of the trailers. The Duchess of York, Fergie, is also a relation threw Georgiana's illegitimate daughter.)

Married to the Duke, she has four children (three daughters and one son), countless miscarriages and raises the Duke's illegitimate daughter by a maid. Her best friend, Lady Elizabeth Foster, who she catches her husband having an affair with, spends the next twenty five years living, well the Duke had essentially two wives. Foster has three children from her marriage who also move in, plus bears the Duke two more illegitimate children. Georgiana has an ill fated love affair with Charles Grey, the second Earl of Grey. They have an illegitimate daughter which Georgiana is forced to give to Charles' family to raise. Georgiana visits her in secret for the rest of her life, she also gives her blessings to Elizabeth that after her death she can marry the Duke, for which she does.

I'm not much of a fan of Keira Knightley, but I happen to see most of her films. Well, she has done a lot of costume drama. I have to say that The Duchess is her best work, acting wise, to date. I think she was far more deserving of an Oscar nomination for this than Pride and Prejudice (which sucks). I was shocked when she wasn't nominated. I was floored by how good Knightley was. The cast was good, Ralph Fiennes was fantastic as the Duke. See it alone for him.

Georgiana's life, to me anyway, was sad and she suffered greatly for it in the end. Especially when she had to give up her daughter, that was heart breaking. I wanted to kill Elizabeth, that heffer. But she made up with Georgiana when she helped her with Charles and was with her threw it all with the loss of her daughter.

The costumes were fantastic and I correctly predicated that it would win for best costumes at the Oscars. (Hey I've predicated best costume correctly eleven years in a row.) Actually, this whole movie looked breath talking. The sets, makeup, it was all done with great detail and care. It's a great movie. Well written and well acted by everyone.

Doctor Who - TV Ramblings Part 3

Episode 10 'Vincent and the Doctor'
Amy and the Doctor travel back in time to meet Vincent Van Gogh when the Doctor notices a strange creature in one of his paintings. Once the meet the the very trouble Van Gogh, they discover that he is the only one to see a monster that is terrifying not only Van Gogh but also the town. Van Gogh has deep perception or what not, makes him able to see the creature while others don't. Get it, he's gifted in more ways then just his painting.

There was this touching seen were the Doctor and Amy take Van Gogh to the future to see his paintings and the fame he garnered. In his life Van Gogh was criticised for his paintings and only ever sold one. But I could care less about this episode. The acting was good, it was funny to see the Doctor ruining around with a giant mirror to see the monster. You have Bill Nighy as a guest star and you use in him in two scenes. Seriously.

Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 4

Day 4 'Wallis & Edward' (as seen on ITV/BBCAmerica) (2005)
In this TV movie, Joely Richardson plays Wallis Simpson and Stephen Campbell Moore as Prince of Wales then later King of England Edward VIII. It's about this most famous love story of a man who gave up being king to marry his one true love. The film is entirely threw Wallis' point of view.Prince Edward first meets up with American Wallis Simpson while she's married to her second husband, Ernest Simpson. It all soon leads to an affair and Wallis' enviable but amicable divorce from hubby number two. Their affair is widely known and gossiped about in the papers, but the Prince is a playboy, nobody takes this affair seriously. Most think it's a passing fad. Once the King dies and Edward inherits the throne, that's when everyone demands a stop to it. Especially when Edward wants to marry a twice divorced middle class American woman. Everyone is against it, they say no to the marriage but advise him to keep her on the side as his mistress if that will keep him happy. Edward follows his heart and advocates the throne. In doing so he alienates his friends, his family and stuns a nation.I love this film. It's just a sweet romantic film. It looks beautiful, the costumes, the sets, the whole atmosphere. It's entirely focused on Wallis and her struggle with this relationship, the pros and cons. Now, they really don't get to political with this film or into other scandals like the whole Nazi stuff. It's mainly just a romance film. Richardson does a fantastic job. The scene, all done while on a phone, where she begs Edward to not advocate for her, to not give up his birthright was heart breaking. So was the scene were we see Wallis listening to Edward's speech when he announces to the world his was advocating the throne. Nobody can cry like Joely Richardson. There sad wedding were no one came, just the two of them. Yet hopeful because they did love each other. It's a Sweet movie, it's a love story. I mean who would advocate the throne fr a woman? It really happened, it tugs at those true romantic hippies out there.

The performances, excellent. Richardson is heartbreaking at times. Give it a rent. It's a sweet romance picture, that's all. It's not to long, it's not to short. I think it might be the first time that this story has been told threw Wallis' point of view. It stands on it's own merit.

Costume Drama Whore-A-Thon Day 3

Day 3 'Miss Marie Lloyd - Queen of the Music Hall' (As seen on the BBC) (2007)
I own this movie, on region 2 dvd. To my knowledge it's not available here on dvd in the US. I'm pretty sure it's never aired in the US either but not 100% on that. So, that's out of the way.

This TV movie is about the life of Marie Lloyd, a famous singer who lived during the early 20th century. Back before TV or film there were concert halls, live entertainment. Of course concert halls still existed after movies came out. For the most part people got there entertainment threw these halls were you could see comedy skits, musical numbers, dancing, even raunchy stuff like strip teases. Well, Marie Lloyd became pretty famous by singing songs about everyday life, even raunchy songs. Well, raunchy for the times. Lloyd was constantly in tabloids for her love affairs, what she did out in her public life. Lloyd came from a not so great childhood upbringing to get her start on the stage at 18. She worked incredibly hard and soon became the talk of the town. Threw out her entire career she had people protesting her due to her more racy songs, her appearance on stage, whatever they could complain about. Her songs were popular on the radio. She had some unsuccessful marriages and unfortunately later on in her life she became an alcoholic. She had a daughter but wasn't the best of mothers. Her funeral was attended by thousands of people to pay tribute to a woman who was generally loved. Lloyd was a slave to her work, to her fans and thrived on their attention and devotion to her.

Jessie Wallace stars as Marie Lloyd. She does a pretty good job. I don't think I have ever seen her in anything before. What I really liked about this film was that it was a musical. You got to hear Lloyd's songs and her bits acted out. I enjoyed it for that. Plus Richard Armitage (Thorton from North & South) played one of her husbands. It's always a bonus when he's in something. Though that marriage headed south with his cheating and gambling away her money. Amanda Root is played a religious woman at the heart of trying to get people to boycott Lloyd's shows and music.

The film is completely filmed on a sound stage. You can always tell it's a set. I think that was the point, I could be reading way to much into it. Since Marie Lloyd lived her life mainly on the stage, this film really felt and looked like it was on a stage for every aspect of her life. The musical numbers were fantastic. The cast was great, and the costumes were top notch. This is a BBC production after all, their costumes are always top notch.