MissPotter Tagged Articles at Cinematical
DVD Review: Miss Potter
Filed under: Drama », DVD Reviews », Family Films », Home Entertainment »
For those who aren't itching for more big explosions and yippee kai yay exclamations, there's another DVD that's hitting the stands today -- Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor's Miss Potter. The film, which was in theaters earlier this year, is based on the life of Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter Rabbit and the famous collection of children's books and merchandise that came after it. While by no means a complete portrait of her life, the film delves into the progressively-minded storyteller/artist as she fights to free herself of her parental restraints and be her own woman during the first years of the 20th century.
Having been inundated with Potter paraphernalia as a child, I was curious to get a look into the famous woman's life. How does the film work? It's not terrible, but not terribly great either. Unfortunately, the movie starts with Zellweger doing a voice-over which is way too much like Bridget Jones, so it takes a bit to wipe memories of the actress' previous role and get into the life of Beatrix. Beyond that, Miss Potter is one of those stories that gives genuine moments of laughter and sadness, intermingled with real-life happenings, but it's also one without a strong focus. Sure, our attention is directed towards Potter, but you're not sure in what context -- a love story, a story of female power, a story of family or a story of friendship. While each of these elements is present, it's not in a fluid way. This would be okay with a non-linear story, but in this context, it makes for uneven storytelling.
Renée Zellweger Lending Star Power to Czech Film Fest
Filed under: Classics », Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Other Festivals », Cinematical Indie »
She was born in Katy, Texas, but her father comes from Switzerland and her mother hails from Norway. Plus, she spent quite a bit of time in Romania while filming Cold Mountain. Thus it makes perfect sense that Renée Zellweger will be attending the 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which will be held June 29-July 7 in the Czech Republic. She will be presenting Miss Potter, in which she starred as children's author Beatrix Potter. That film received mixed reviews, but happily the Karlovy Vary festival itself has an excellent, long-standing reputation as a place to discover new talent from Eastern Europe. The festival also includes a lovely selection of films from around the world and is known for its widely-varied retrospectives. For example, the Shochiku Nouvelle Vague sidebar features seven films made in the early 1960s by three Japanese directors (Yoshishige Yoshida, Masahiro Shinoda, Nagisa Oshima). Shinoda is expected to attend; his Samurai Spy -- which will be screened -- is available on DVD from Criterion. Another sidebar of note is Variety Critics' Choice, in which the trade publication's film critics offer their selection of ten overlooked favorites. The films range from slasher flick to psychological drama to comedy (note the original critic/review): Dead in 3 Days (Derek Elley), Hotel Very Welcome (Derek Elley), Fissures (Robert Koehler), True North (Eddie Cockrell), Hyena (Leslie Felperin), Cold Feet (Leslie Felperin), Parting Shot (Derek Elley), The Distance (Jonathan Holland), Prague (Eddie Cockrell; also reviewed by Cinematical's Martha Fischer), Someone Else (Derek Elley). The original reviews are not all entirely positive, but good enough to make my mouth water. The full line-up of more than 200 films will be announced shortly.
Chris Noonan Admits Wanting Cate Blanchett for Miss Potter
Filed under: Drama », Casting », DIY/Filmmaking », Politics »
Do you like being second best? I don't, but when it comes to lead in a Chris Noonan film, I'd say fine -- so be it. Renee Zellweger definitely didn't have a problem with it -- as far as we know -- since she took the lead in the well-received Miss Potter. Apparently, Zellweger was not at all Noonan's first choice for the lead; instead, it was the brilliant Cate Blanchett whom Noonan adores. Noonan even considers Blanchett to be equivalent to one of Hollywood's greatest actresses, Katherine Hepburn, whom Blanchett portrayed in The Aviator.What was the reason for Blanchett's departure from the film? She had the role originally but was forced to give it up for an unreported reason -- but she was as reluctant to give up the role as Noonan was for letting her go. Apparently, Blanchett begged for him to postpone production, but Noonan put it perfectly when he said: "the machine won't stand still."
Even though Zellweger was runner-up for the part of Beatrix Potter, director Noonan was not disappointed in her performance or the end result of the film. Perhaps it was a happy accident for Noonan as he discovered Zellweger to be a joy to work with. The West Australian quotes Noonan describing Zellweger as humble: "She is not a star and doesn't play a star. So you lose the Renee Zellweger when she is playing Beatrix Potter and I think that is remarkable." We all know the saying: as one door closes another one opens -- and as one great actress must decline an incredible project, another remarkable actress must step in.
Should Hollywood Keep Its Paws Off Brit Kid Lit?
Filed under: Animation », Classics », Comedy », Drama », Independent », Music & Musicals », Casting », Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Family Films », Remakes and Sequels », Cinematical Indie »
John Patterson has an interesting article up over on The Guardian carping about the liberties Hollywood has taken in adapting classics of British children's literature. The most recent offender, of course, is Miss Potter, directed by Australian Chris Noonan and starring Texan Renée Zellweger as Britain's beloved best-selling author, rather than any number of British actresses who could have played the part. Patterson is (mostly, at least) tongue-in-cheek -- at least I think he is, I don't always grok British humor. But this is, after all, the same chap who, in writing about the religious right witch-hunting animated films, called Bugs Bunny a "flagrant naturist" and said of Foghorn Leghorn that he's "all about the cock" -- something that most American writers would be way too uptight to dare to say in print. Any writer who goes after Dr. James Dobson for labeling Spongebob Squarepants a "nellie" just because he holds hands with his best friend Patrick and watches "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy" is okay in my book.
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