Darling
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Movie Reviews of Darling
Movie Review: As poignant today as it was 40 years ago.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a truly modern story of the kind of alienation and corruption that eats at the heart of modern life and relationships. Darling is vastly intelligent, and vastly disturbing as well, in its portrayal of rudderless and unprincipled lives in search of something to cling to (mainly fidelity and love), even though the characters who seek such life preservers are almost pathologically incapable of giving the same security to anyone else.
Darling is a movie that begs to be watched again and again, with nuanced performances from all of its stars, and Julie Christie in a deservedly Oscar-winning performance as a shallow, well-meaning husk of a woman for whom looks have opened the door and who plays life like a narcissistic game. We've met her type before -- the kind as to whom you might mistake the looks, the desperate hugs, the spirited lovemaking, and the promises as reflective of human depth when, in fact, they are mere shadows and masks concealing a vain emptiness.
The men she entangles seemingly should know better, but we find that they, too, are bereft of heart and of character, and largely self-deluded or self-absorbed. Darling is also populated by those who revel in meaningless gamesmanship and cynical manipulation.
Darling isn't all gloom, for in its performances you get a glimmer of how life might better be lived ... and you might appreciate more what you have or should start seeking right away.
Movie Review: "It should be so easy to be happy,shouldn't it?"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Darling" was Julie Christie's breakthrough in 1965,along with the epic "Doctor Zhivago." In "Darling", Christie is Diana Scott, a sophisticated London model. She's flighty and dreamy, always hoping for happiness and love. First, she shacks up with a married man, the suave Dirk Bogarde; later, she falls for the slimy playboy Laurence Harvey. In the meantime, she befriends a gay photographer Malcolm and becomes an Italian princess. She tries to become Catholic to please her princely husband. Alone in the palace, she goes mad. The ending is open to interpretation as an old lady sings "Santa Lucia."
"Darling" is a breakthrough film for its time. It addresses hot-button issues like abortion and homosexuality in an intelligent way (for example,a stuttering man claims that London is "rife with homosexuality",and Diana has a "miscarriage") The narrative structure is open to question. There's Diana's voice-over,providing sardonic commentary. The ending, with the singing old lady as well as magazines with Princess Diana's face on them- makes one wonder if she lived, or has become iconic with her premature death.
"Darling" is prescient, foretelling the unhappy,photogenic Princess Diana of our own time. It stands as a swingin',sardonic '60s classic.
Movie Review: the best of those english working class films of the era
Summary: 5 Stars
this one was a shocker to me, especially after my usual ranting against the english movies of this period, and anything with laurence harvey in particular. that said -- i loved this movie, and damn if julie christie didnt DESERVE that oscar over julie andrews! she is great as a vapid self-involved ditz who uses her looks in climbing up the social ladder, finding herself in progressively more vile situations. dirk bogarde is one of her lovers, laurence harvey another, but the movie really is the property of miss christie, who gives a performance as breathtaking as her looks.
Movie Review: everybody's darling, at any age
Summary: 5 Stars
it is always a pleasure to watch and to re-watch julie christie in any movie she chooses to do. watching this early film in juxtaposition with AWAY FROM HER reminds us that Cleopatra was not the only woman whose beauty can not be withered by age. when the beauty evolves from intelligence, it is always with her and with us. we all are that much richer for having been in her presence.Movie Review: Shattering
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is slick and shattering with an underbelly of sobbering disatisfaction. Christie is pognient. Harvey is cool with cracks of vulnerability that informs the emptiness of his life. Bogarde is sympathetic and callow, a basically good man who is seduced by an elusive beauty that could never be. The direction is crisp. the music and sound very good.