Some may question why I struggle through the entire Golden Globe and Oscar lists when there are some films I postpone or regret having to sit through. The film I expect to be the worst annually has become the winner of the Costume Design category. These films are nominated not for substance, but purely on the attire of the cast. The previous two winners were Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Marie Antoinette which have been standouts in a negative way...So to complete this years ballot all I had to do was finish this Keira Knightley film. Low and behold this category finally delivered a decent film. With good performances by Hayley Atwell (as Lady Bess) and Ralph Fiennes (as the Duke, you might remember him from In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, or The English Patient). Fiennes also was nominated for a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his role as a bored, dull, and sometimes cruel man. Atwell had her first major film performance and acted the part well, I'm not going to say she was amazing, but she fit the part well.
This film is a history piece following the life of Georgiana a girl not even 18 years old when she becomes the Duchess of Devonshire. Taking place in England in the late 18th century and spanning about 15 years of her life, and the roles of a Duchess. This is a very feminist film, it portrays [justly] women as having very limited rights, and has a few appalling scenes. You can't leave this film without thinking "thank goodness I wasn't a women in this day and age." The most ironic part of the film was that it won for costume design, and I couldn't get over the fake mole Knightly had at one of the parties. Whether it was normal to do this 250 years ago at parties or not, it was very funny to me that this "costume" was so fake and ridiculous.
With a good story, decent acting jobs all around, and some fantastic costumes this definitely brought new life to the category. Maybe I won't avoid next years front runners Bright Star and The Young Victoria until November.
Vote: 7/10
IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/
Yes, the fake mole was a standard 'facial accessory' in that era; so it was not 'fake'.
Trả lờiXóaI saw the film and the costuming was very well done for that time period.
We must remember that ships were bringing goods from the East and Asia, including many beautiful fabrics. The wigs worn by men and women were also part of their wardrobe.