MB

I just wondered if there are any accepted 'Given's' - or accepted 'viewpoints' that you find difficult to 'go along with' in the world of film.

Anyway - here are mine: Judi Dench is not actually a particularly good 'actress' - she is an interesting character herself and plays herself quite well - but her range is just about limited to that.. (I think this is probably a view held by quite a few people, mind you..)

I think some people make period films (Jane Austen adaptations particularly) to pander to some people's desire to imagine themselves living in that kind of lifestyle - not because the story merits that much attention..there should be a new genre which can alert the rest of us to this - we could call it 'Wannabeeism'. Does it matter? I don't know - but to expect us to take it seriously seems a bit much..

I hope I haven't upset too many people with the last few statements - but it is honestly how I feel - please feel free to point out where I might be wrong

Or, better still - add your own! As long as there is reasoning - I can't see any harm in it?

Windthrop

I don't think she is a bad actress but I would go along with overrated. I think Eileen Atkins is much better and less mannered. I saw EA on stage opposite another Dame (Maggie Smith) about ten years ago and thought how much subtler Atkins was and OTT Smith had become. I think some performers get to such an exulted position that it is assumed they are giving 'great' performances.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

batman

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Re period dramas .... I think there is a assumption with some fim makers that classical literature and pretty costumes = art, regardless of the quality of what they are doing.

With regard to the comment about 'lifestyle', do you mean that the fim makers are the 'wannabees'? Or do you believe they are making films for a 'wannabee' audience?


ps - for a moment I thought this thread was about Robin Givens!

MB

I agree - Maggie Smith in the Harry Potter films is very OTT. I loved her in 'The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie' ..she was quite OTT in that, mind you, but it just jars a bit now with the more naturalistic acting styles of the other actors..must watch that again, though..

Let me see if I can think of a positive 'alternative viewpoint' -

I'll try - but first

I think the Harry Potter films are mainly cringeworthy in terms of over the top acting performances - are there any US people on here? They must think we all need help..

MB

I meant 'Givens' in the sense of ole 'Stanislavsky' - 'given circumstances' - 'it's a given'..etc..

It all began for me being brought up in a 'Beatles fan' household and me not actually thinking they were very good..ulp..

batman

Don't mention the 'S' ..... I went straight back to my days at drama school.

MB

Can I join you there

batman

Let us digress a moment ..... I was once in a production of "Juno and the Paycock." I played 'The Mobilizer'. After murdering a member of the cast onstage we dragged him off into the wings. He stood there for a few moments giveing us this glazed eye look and breathing very heavily. He looked like he was going to pass out, I asked him "What's wrong?" .... "It's OK" he said, "I'm de-motivating" ...... he then slumped into a heap on the floor and needed to be put in the recovery position!

MB

I think that, quite often, they are pandering to a particular market - it annoys me a little because I would like to see more money time and attention for new stories, perhaps more interesting stories - that may be more relevant to our lives..

But - if it gets people going to the cinema I suppose it can't be all bad..but at least lets be honest about what it's about ..I studied a bit of Jane Austen - doesn't make me any kind of an expert - but she was..ok - y'know - she wrote some witty lines, she wrote well, she had a particular take on life that is intriguing to a lot of people - but an awful lot of 'readings' of her work are trumped up nonsense thought up by English Literature lecturers desperate for something to say..it's all been a bit overplayed in terms of her relative worth to literature and our culture, I think..

MB

(You haven't got a helpless with laughter icon..)

Oh god - I could tell you some tales too..there was one guy who used to lie down on the floor everywhere because 'being at a different height' could take his head 'to a different place' - people kept falling over him though..

MB

And I meant 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', of course..



meant to be writing ..must not get distracted..

ShirlGirl

I agree wholeheartedly. I like Judi Dench very, very much, but I do think she's overrated, and when she was made a "Dame" - (gawd how quaint is that!) - I honestly thought it came about just because England was due for another one and she just happened to be around at the time.

Btw, I will never understand why Richard Todd is not "Sir". It should have happened a long time ago. It's a deplorable oversight.

At least he has an OBE.

ShirlGirl

So I wonder who the next "Dame" will be. Who's in the spotlight at the moment?

Julie Walters perhaps?

batman

I totally agree with you there ShirlGirl .... Toddy should have been a 'Sir' ages ago, especially if his military service is taken into account as well.

DB7

I thought Dame Judi was very good in Notes on s Scandal, that gradual slip into being a self-centred sociopath through to cutting a rather tragic figure with the press camped on her doorstep.