Stage Beauty Review
by Karina Montgomery (karina AT cinerina DOT com)October 9th, 2004
Stage Beauty
Full Price Feature
Some stage to screen adaptations flounder under their own theatricality when projected on the big screen; not so with this film version of Jeffrey Hatcher's Compleat Female Stage Beauty. Here, the close-up, naturalistic style of film acting complements the overly stylized form of artistry that male actors until 1660 used to portray women on stage.
The story takes place at a pivotal moment for women in the Restoration under King Charles II (Rupert Everett, delicious): men have always played women in plays, but as we know, that had to change sometime. For Claire Danes as Maria that time is now. This plot idea is interesting enough on its own - but what of the beatiful men who had always only played women, such as Billy Crudup?
Crudup is simply fantastic as Ned Kyneston, one of the greatest of these stag actresses. Hi sdresser, Danes, craves both his career and his love; she can only have one or the other, it seems. Both Crudup and Danes' names on a marquee read like My So Called 17th Century, but they are engaging, delightful, amazing in this film, with real chemistry (that I understand led to an unfortunate breakup by Crudup).
It doesn't hurt that our heroes are supported by the excellent Everett, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Griffiths, and Ben Chaplin. Every one of these is elevated to the height of the material(save the splendid Wilkinson, who had no need for elevation) - a considerable journey for some.
The script is witty, funny, moving, insightful, well-paced. We all wanted a copy immediately. It's a joy just to let the words wash over you. I tried to note favorite quotes and failed, there were so many and I did not want to miss a word.
I loved Danes' journey into eerie parallels with Hollywood with her character's story. Crudup also follows the fickle tail of fame, but he also must find himself, as well as happiness. Watching him try to find who he truly is, try to prove he is as great an actor as he is an actress, is fantastic.
I wondered if there would be any fuss over some of the romantic and sexual elements of the film - not from the increasingly Puritan Right, but from the gay community. My defense of the film, if anyone out there feels betrayed by certain scenes, is that sexual ambiguity has been an acknowledged way of life for centuries (only losing stride with the aforementioned Puritans). Its frank portrayal here is more historical than not, and hopefully will be viewed in its proper emotional and societal context. In short: it's a movie, just watch it!
Director Richard Eyre has crafted his two leads (despite their character's protestations to the contrary) into actors who truly own these roles. Danes is playing Maria like a smart Gwyneth Paltrow without the chilliness. Crudup feels like an old friend by the end of the film, even as his journey is so different and arduous and personal.
It's lovely, funny, sweet, interesting, it's great - go see it!
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These reviews (c) 2004 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to forward but credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks. You can check out previous reviews at:
http://www.cinerina.com and http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com - the Online Film Critics Society http://www.hsbr.net/reviews/karina/listing.hsbr - Hollywood Stock Exchange Brokerage Resource
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
