So pretty...

To David Lean...

I'm having computer troubles at the moment, which is just ghastly. I had so many articles to finish completing, but it is what it is. I'm too lazy now to finish the actual article I'd planned on doing for David Lean. It's difficult to avoid Lean's more overt characteristics of being a prelude to Anthony Minghella (whom I adore). I always feel just a bit bad for not loving Lean indiscriminately, though I do love him on occasion. Not that he needs absolution from me, the man has two Oscars. I'm still not certain about how I feel about The Bridge on the River Kwai (though I think it was the best of the nominated five - not having seen Sayanora), but the one for Lawrence of Arabia is more than deserved. It's a shame he won his Oscars for the films devoid of female emotion since I think he does so well when he takes a look at them (Summertime, A Passage to India even Brief Encounter or Doctor Zhivago)....but, we know about Oscar/Best Picture and Women.

               

His trump card will always be his attention to detail. His directors of photography almost always did brilliant work; just look at that beautiful shot from Doctor Zhivago below.

I didn't even know he worked as his own editor on A Passage to India. I still haven't seen either of his Dickens adaptations or a few others of his significant ones, but I love these three the best - and these three performances, each of them so very timeless. Yes, I'd have Oscar-ed them all.

Ultimately, I'd remember David by heading back to Summertime - it's unnaturally low-key for him, but I think it's remarkable (and he reportedly loved it most of his films). How would you celebrate his birthday?

“Oh, Brother”

I previously gave a list of memorable sister / sister pairings. That list was much more fun because cinematic sisters are plentiful. It’s tougher with the men; too many cinematic brothers are not too fond of each other. I don’t have a brother, so I can’t confess to the bond being that deep either. Still, I’d say that the five examples of brotherly love I did come up with were good enough.

Heath Ledger and Matt Damon in The Brothers' Grimm

I like The Brothers' Grimm more than most, no Gilliam apologist I am but I find its weird humour enjoyable. Ledger and Damon realy work as siblings (though it's odd that Damon is the cool one to Ledger's buffoon - there's acting for you).

         
Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness in Doctor Zhivago

This is an interesting example of brotherly love, since the two actors have few moments together. Yet, the very film we see is propelled by Yevgrav’s quest to find his brother’s child. A brother he spent few moments, if that doesn’t signify a strong bond of filial love, I don’t know what does.

Freddie Highmore, Joe Prospero, Nick Roud and Luke Spill in Finding Neverland

They’re probably too young to give any significant evidence of brotherly love. In a way, they’re like the Bennett sisters – no obvious hints of love, save for their general camaraderie. The casting director should be lauded for finding a group of young boys to work together who were actually believable as a band of brothers.

          
Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger in On the Waterfront

Yes, yes – I know Terry “coulda been a contender” and it’s all because Charlie sold him out, but what’s better than a distempered relationship between siblings is seeing that argument resolved. Charlie realises his mistakes and sacrifices himself for the good of his brother. Yes, he was guilty – but that doesn’t make his decision any less noble, or his love for his brother any less admirable.

Brad Renfro and David Speck in The Client

Confession: I love this film. Susan Sarandon is all sorts of awesome in it, but I digress. Two brothers see a man get killed, the younger one goes into a catatonic state and the older gets into a bucket load of trouble when the wrong people realise he may know too much. Perhaps it’s because this was one of the earlier novels I read, or because I generally like John Grisham but this pairing always strikes me as the ultimate brotherhood connection (even though they're children).

      

That was ridiculously tough. I'm probably blanking on an obvious choice...what positive brotherly incarnations have we had on screen?

“Beautiful”

I’m still on a semi-break (until tomorrow when most of the horrid exams will be done) but I couldn’t help but take up the baton from Jose and list ten beautiful screen-couples. He gave ten excellent ones, and challenged me to do the same. It’s a task that’s endless because there are so many options to choose from. Should I go only classic? Should I go only modern? Should I take acting into account? Should I include platonic relationships…? What to do…what to do…? Now would probably be the right time to tell you that I’m really neurotic about list making (and everything really, but more on that subsequently). The list is not spontaneous, I put some amount of thought into this – even though it’s very possible I’ve still missed out on a few. I considered beauty of the actors, beauty of the characters and all around loveliness.

                       

I weighed whether or not to include any of Jose’s choices…but I decided not to: though Natalie and Warren in Splendor in the Grass would feature somewhere. So take a look at my un-impulsive list.

                   

#10: Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity

REVIEWED

From Here to Eternity is more remembered for that other fateful pairing and their gyrations on the beach, thus Monty’s greatest performance is forgotten and so is Reed’s richly deserved Oscar win. He’s playing a soldier in World War II, and she’s playing a hooker with a heart of gold. Reed has got to be one of the most forgotten actors of her generations (and it’s not as if she didn’t star in popular films), though I suppose she doesn’t have that “individual” look of someone like, for example, Elizabeth Taylor. She pairs up excellently, with Clift (though of course, who doesn’t?) and though her arc is not the strongest of the film’s they do pull out good performances whilst looking good.

#9: Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

REVIEWED

The muted response to Benjamin Button only continues a year and a half after its release. I was, as I’ve intimated, a fan and though the film loves to lacerate both our stars in cakes of makeup when they finally do correspond in looks and age it is lovely to watch. It’s not just CGI as some of the more snarky dissenters have claimed, although if it is – it’s a flawless job. Cate is not conventionally pretty but she is beautiful to watch and though she’s not the most beautiful woman of her age bracket* (all things being subjective), she and Brad are just lovely to watch here.

#8: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic

REVIEWED

Generic? You bet. What can I say, I’m like that. It’s very obvious, which I suppose makes it all the less inspired. Thank God Leo finally was able to cast off his “pretty boy status” (why is it bad for male actors to be good looking, but it’s a prerequisite with the women?). Kate Winslet is gorgeous here, red hair agrees with her and together the two are just beautiful to watch. It’s the sort of pairing that reeks of patency, but it’s still worth mentioning...I mean, how can I bet against them?

           

#7: Omar Sharif and Julie Christie in Doctor Zhivago

REVIEWED

I hate how Doctor Zhivago is rarely remembered seeing as I consider it to be one of the greatest pieces of the sixties (and my favourite piece from Lean). For me, Julie Christie is a softer version of Glenda Jackson (analogy: Jackson is to Blanchett as Christie is to Kidman). She doesn’t shy away from her looks, though. Notice how her iconic performances make ample use of her beautiful face (even when she’s past the conventional age of beauty). Omar Sharif has always had that very debonair charm that makes him seem to be a very personable man, and he sure has a distinctive face. The two seem as if they’d be an odd couple but in reality meld together so beautifully…hence their inclusion here.

#6: Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love

REVIEWED

Isn’t this another obvious choice? Maybe it’s the costumes from Sandy Powell that makes them all the more gorgeous…but they still look gorgeous together. Maybe, just maybe, I’m projecting residual Shakespeare love on to his screen incarnation and muse, but I don’t think so. How many ways can you write that they look gorgeous together? Not many. So just look…

#5: Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish in Bright Star

REVIEWED (sort of)

Ben Whishaw is almost too good-looking to be considered a man, and there are so many scenes where Cornish strikes me as a Nicole Kidman doppelganger, so it’s already on the list from that. I love Bright Star very much and it continues to grow on me as time goes by I cannot help but say that this is easily one of the most gorgeous young couples last decade. Young love is lovely to watch.

#4: Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint in On the Waterfront

REVIEWED

The reformed bad boy and the good Catholic girl is one of those romantic norms that continue to persist. Brando and Saint both won Oscars for their portrayals (deservedly so) and though they don't get romantic lighting or luminous costumes they bring out the essence of beauty. It's natural and it is always heartbreaking. That scene at the bar between the two is just a beauty.

#3: Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient

And another Fiennes…Katherine and Almasay are the type of couple that wouldn’t be out of place in a sixties classic and I suppose with Minghella's tendency to seem like Lean they wouldn't. Neither is as traditionally good looking as the cinema would have, but they are lovely especially Kristin whom I adore, and their pairing hear is just great. To think that Kristin almost lost the role...Minghella knew he was doing when he cast her.

#2: Leonardo Whiting and Olivia Hussey in Romeo & Juliet

REVIEWED

I always feel sad that this pair never went on to greater things. It is easily my favourite Shakespearean film and Zeffirelli’s choice of using actual youths (and newcomers) to portray the young couple is brilliant. It only strengthens their case when you notice the good performances that they give.

#1: Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Age of Innocence

REVIEWED

Now that they’re in their fifties and all sometimes we forget just how gorgeous this pair is. It was almost a case of too much beauty those moments between the two (though unconsumated) are just gorgeous to watch and when you realise they're doing some of their best work it becomes even more worthy of praise. They're not just looking like perfection...they are. This was the easiest choice on the list.

 * Incidentally, Nicole Kidman who is easily one of the most beautiful actresses is not here. Her pairing with Jude Law in the unfortunately maligned Cold Mountain (which I like) is #11...but I can't forgive it for acquiring two gorgeous thespians and covering them in mud.
              

PS. What do you think of my ten? Jose hates memes, but this is an excellent meme idea and I'm quite audacious so I'm extending an invitation, if you're interested submit your ten and link back to Jose.

Love During Wartime

ometimes, even I’m confused as to why I call some directors my favourites. Case in point – David Lean. Sometimes, I think I’m more besotted with the idea of David Lean that David Lean himself. Granted, I’ve never seen The Bridge on the River Kwai (which is loathsome, I know - stop judging me). Lawrence of Arabia is a technical marvel – but one which I do not love. A Passage to India is an excellent adaptation, but both it and its source leave me confused and Ryan’s Daughter is better left unremembered. It is only the oft forgotten Summertime (the Kate H. vehicle) and his other tale of lost love that I cite as necessities of my cinematic favourites. And yet, even though I would readily mention Doctor Zhivago as a favourite of mine I never feel particularly happy as I watch. Sure, it’s a tragedy – but perhaps it’s the fact that despite its length Doctor Zhivago is steadily on its way to a tragic ending that cannot be averted.

I love the foreshadowing in this shot, it looks as if Christie is looking at the couple...but she hasn't even met them yet

                       

On the DVD for Doctor Zhivago Omar Sharif (what a talented man) spoke of it being one of the last epics from MGM, and it sure is a good way to go out because it certainly is epic. The film is based on Boris Pasternak's novel of the same name about a tale of tragic love in Russia. The scope of the film is daunting and the pace is definitely not rushed. Yet, there is nothing in Doctor Zhivago I’d call extraneous. David Lean is such a personal director; every shot is filled with such intimacy – the man knew how to excel in technicalities. But Doctor Zhivago is not devoid of emotion. In fact, the story’s emotional appeal is probably its ace. True, the basic story is rather simple – a love triangle between Sharif, Julie Christie and Geraldine Chaplin. But it’s not typical in the least. It’s less concerned with the machinations of the triangle and more interested in the fate of the other characters. And it’s a strongpoint of the film. In addition to the excellent threesome, we have Tom Courtenay, Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger and Ralph Richardson. True, with the most screen time Sharif comes across as strongest (what a shame he was ignored by the Academy) but Lean wants everyone to have their time to shine – and with so much time on his hands, he manages to do so.

Most people probably know of Doctor Zhivago through its score, arguably the most popular film score – and really it is that good. It accents the film with a bittersweet tone that runs throughout, and it’s the same way with the actual film. If I really sit down and ponder on it, Doctor Zhivago is really quite depressing – two important deaths occur within the space of five minutes (one is not even on screen) and the thing we love called closure is never really forthcoming. In fact, after three hours of waiting I can understand why some would be less than pleased at the outcome of the "romance". But Lean is not as interested in giving us a “movie” as much as he wants to give us glimpses into the lives of people he treats with such honesty I wouldn’t deny them as authentic humans despite their obvious artificiality (they are literary characters, alone). I’m rarely moved to watch it in its entirety (though doing so last Friday was quite satisfying). But, like I remember it in spots, I think of lovely moments within the tragedy of Doctor Zhivago and I’m content. Like Julie Christie’s loveliness in a red dress, Omar Sharif’s son in a small role, an adlibbed slap from Rod Steiger, or a look of happiness as Sharif spots someone important while on a train. True – everything is leading up to that inevitable decisive tragedy – but I still think of Doctor Zhivago as a near perfect piece of art. It’s not any less worthy because it’s not pleasing on first glance. Below the surface there’s much to appreciate. It appears at #25 on my list of favourite films, for though it confuses me at the end of the day I know "...it is a gift..."

Listen to a sample of the score...