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CraigFoucht
Reviews
Elizabeth I (2005)
Dropped head of Mary Queen of Scots was no GOOF-it happened!
I wanted to comment on the posting that claimed that the Mary Queen of Scots beheading scene was a GOOF!!! I just spent an hour reading accounts of the life of Mary Queen of Scots and that really happened to the poor doomed Mary! She was wearing an auburn wig and when the executioner picked up the severed head and shouted "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!" her head fell the the ground.
I was completely blown away by this film. Helen Mirren is a REVELATION in it. You completely feel as though she is a woman torn by duty to her country vs. a life full of love and normalcy. The script is historically accurate and worthy of Shakespeare.
It should have been released in the theatres so that Ms. Mirred could collect the Oscar that she deserves!!!
The Hours (2002)
Don't miss this film
I saw this film yesterday, and it is the kind of film that haunts you into the next few days. Aside from the interesting symmetrical parallels between the stories (Viginia Woolf's writing of "Mrs. Dalloway" while Clarissa Vaughan is actually living a modern version of the party around which the narrative flows), it is a interesting telling of people who are living through incredible emotional pain. They are all looking for emotional truth in their lives, and find unfortunately that they are backed into a corner for which the only solution seems to be death.
Meryl Streep turns in an incredible constrained performance which serves as a nice contrast to Nicole Kidman's performance (as Ms. Woolf), who is more apparently coming unraveled as the film progresses. Even the supporting players (Toni Collette and Miranda Richardson most notably) make the story even more moving and strong in their sensitive but not overbearing portrayals.
I agree with the other comments posted here, Philip Glass' soundtrack cannot be underestimated in looking at what makes the film work. It compliments the film perfectly, and took me over the edge into not being able to control my emotions several times when I was least expecting it. His use of music during the scenes where we see Julianne Moore attempting to keep herself together shows his mastery.
Do not miss this film, it is an important telling of a great story.