In 1995, author and Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a stroke that put him in a coma; he awakened mute and completely paralyzed. Mathieu Amalric stars in this adaptation of Bauby’s autobiography, which he dictated by blinking. Julian Schnabel was nominated for the 2008 Best Director Oscar and won the Golden Globe in the same category for his poignant film about the strength of the human spirit.
This film (one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die”) is the true story of an editor of “Elle” who suffered a stroke and descended into locked-in syndrome. All he could do was move his left eyelid. His ultra-patient caretakers devised a method of communication with him. Using that he wrote a small book “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” which Julian Schnabel made into this film.. You might want to read that short book. It might be difficult or unpleasant to imagine how it would be to be trapped in such a manner. Unfortunately I came away disliking Bauby. In the film he is cruel, even in his reduced state, to the woman who loves him even while she is helping him. Any comments on this ?
Marion Cotillard earned an Oscar for playing beloved Parisian singer Edith Piaf, whose passion for her music saw her through a life filled with tragedy. From her forlorn childhood in a brothel to her big break at Louis Leplée’s (Gérard Depardieu) nightclub and her premature death at the age of 47, director Olivier Dahan creates a loving portrait of the legendary chanteuse. Sylvie Testud and Pascal Greggory co-star in this critically acclaimed biopic.
“La Vie en Rose” is one of the “1001 Films to See Before You Die.” “Thrilling” is the word that comes to my mind. Any review I have read has been a rave. It is a long film (140 minutes) that seems short. The finale in which she sings her most famous “Non, je ne regrette rien” gave me goosebumps. I am glad I heard her sing this song in a theatre where the screen was the world and nothing else existed. If you want to hear the real Edith Piaf sing her theme song, click on Non, je ne regrette rien
After Princess Diana’s shocking death, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren, in an Oscar-winning role) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) engage in intimate talks as Britain demands the princess be memorialized in a manner beyond standard protocol. This Oscar-nominated drama for Best Picture goes behind the scenes as the queen and prime minister try to manage Diana’s death on a personal level while also dealing with a public calling for royal treatment for their beloved princess.
Helen Mirren shows her versatility in a role quite different from her other roles. She IS the film. I couldn’t take my eyes off her perfect performance. You might not even care about British royalty and the whole Princess Diana scandal, but this film might start you questioning the royal motives regarding Diana. By the end of the film I felt quite unsympathetic towards the royal family but very enthusiastic about Mirren’s performance. This is a talking heads film, not an action film. It was recommended as one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die.” (Such a cheery thought !)
Gifted British filmmaker Stephen Frears brings to the screen the troubled life of bold 1960s writer Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) in this portrait of an obsessive, controlling coupling set against history. Orton’s infamous relationship with his tempestuous lover, Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina), fueled but also eventually destroyed Orton — literally and figuratively — at a time when the world didn’t at all embrace or understand homosexuality.
Absolutely not for everyone. Vulgar, explicit, no-holds-barred British film about a possibly talented playwright who was egocentric, cruel, and enjoyed taking chances. Watching this supposedly true biographical exposé was a bit like playing peeping tom. However, it WAS interesting. You are warned!
