Upcoming Historical Movies

Alaric · Post by **Alaric** » Fri September 19th, 2008, 8:04 am

They're doing the same with Pablo Escobar. "Escobar" comes out later this year, I think, while "Killing Pablo" is out next year.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Wed September 24th, 2008, 10:50 am

Not really an upcoming movie as it's pretty old (1946), but for anyone in the UK, Channel 4 is showing the film version of Dragonwyck - at 0255 this coming Sunday morning! Review says it's very camp and hammy but enjoyable!

nona · Post by **nona** » Sun October 5th, 2008, 7:00 pm

I just saw a comercial for Duchess, didn't someone here say it was not that great or something?

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Sun October 12th, 2008, 2:48 pm

I went to see The Duchess with a friend on Friday. I thought it was okay. I don't really know what I was expecting, so I can't say it was fabulous nor was it horrid.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Sun October 12th, 2008, 3:37 pm

[quote=""Rowan""]I went to see The Duchess with a friend on Friday. I thought it was okay. I don't really know what I was expecting, so I can't say it was fabulous nor was it horrid.[/quote]

I haven't seen it. It looks like a feast for the eyes, but the reviews I've read have been lukewarm. I think I have the book it's based on somewhere in the house.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Sun October 12th, 2008, 4:06 pm

Okay I just read over some of the reviews by non-critics on Yahoo and I'd have to say that the first one I read hits the nail on the head for me of why it was just okay for me...

Devon Cream without a spoon.

Georgiana Spencer the Duchess of Devonshire or could that be Keira Knightley as Diana Spencer Princess of Wales? Which ever you decide on, it is possible that they were one and the same the way Director Saul Dibb has directed this work. A period piece that falls short on who the Duchess really is and who Mr. Dibb and Ms. Knightley have decided to portray her as.

Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley are a perfect pair in this film “The Duchess”, of Devonshire Georgiana Cavendish. I only wish there was more of them together in this film along with their lives and moments of living. A ménage of interest but not much discovered.

Mr. Dibb takes us into interesting situations in this film and then backs out, giving the appearance of juicy work, but really no depth. Ms. Knightley and Mr. Fiennes appear to have found their characters but are seldom held to full display. I’m not sure if the writing is so limited or the film was cut to pieces, but what remains is more sound bite and costume than it is a discovery of who these people were in their lives. Sort of a gossip column chuckle, one after another. The Duke (Ralph Fiennes ) asks at the end while looking at the children play, what it must be like to be so free, yet we don’t get enough of why Mr. Dibb thinks the Duke isn’t free.

The costumes are tremendous to Wow and the photography makes everything most appealing but the story falls short in the telling, like spreading a large scoop of Devon cream on fresh bright ripe blueberries and cut strawberries next to your coffee in the morning then immediately running out into the rain without an umbrella leaving the bowl of fruit and cream for the houseflies.

Even with all the short falls of the story telling, this film is worth the adventure and mostly due to the talent portraying the characters. Charlotte Rampling (Lady Spencer) is always dazzling, Hayley Atwell (Bess Foster, the Dukes livin-lover later wife) gives us a single note character but still well played, as does Dominic Cooper (Charles Grey eventual Prime Minister of UK Lover of the Duchess).

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Thu November 13th, 2008, 12:01 am

Oliver's Lester To Battle Craig At The Box Office?

12 November 2008 5:57 AM, PST

Daniel Craig faces a battle royal at the box office, if he signs on to play William The Conqueror in a new film - Oliver star Mark Lester will play King Harold in a rival movie.

The former child star will don the crown for a new movie, called 1066, which will also feature Alien Vs Predator star Ian Whyte. The $75 million (GBP50 million) movie will be shot in Wales next year.

The project, written by Robin Jacob and historical novelist Helen Hollick, is the culmination of over four years of historical research and script development.

Industry stunt legend Rocky Taylor, who has featured in 17 Bond movies, will take charge of the film's stunt scenes.

Craig is said to be in negotiations to play Harold's rival William in a rival epic, which will trace his life prior to his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

SM

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu November 13th, 2008, 12:33 am

[quote=""SonjaMarie""]Oliver star Mark Lester will play King Harold in a rival movie.[/quote]

Interesting! My first job was as a candy attendant in a movie theater and I "heard" Oliver! many, many times. Back then the movie theater lobbies were not always enclosed and the theaters were not multiplexes. We could always hear the films in the theater where I worked. I counted how many times I heard Love Story, but now I don't recall. I think it was something like 79 times!

I looked up Mark Lester on Wikipedia and found out that he took his A Levels when he as 28 and then became an osteopath and acupuncturist. He has his own clinic in Gloucester. There's a photo of him at the clinic's website:
http://www.carltonclinic.com/

Lester hasn't made a film since 1977, so I wonder what lured him out of retirement.

nona · Post by **nona** » Thu November 13th, 2008, 2:50 am

oh wow that will be interesting to see and Daniel craig as William? I dunno about that but it can still be really good.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Thu November 13th, 2008, 12:04 pm

It does sound a bit odd that someone who hasn't acted for 30 years is suddenly being given a big part in a major film, sounds a bit risky to me!

He was so cute in Oliver though!