Stage Beauty
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Movie Reviews of Stage Beauty
Movie Review: "Beauty" Features Very Good Performances...
Summary: 4 Stars
London, 1660. The most popular form of entertainment is the theater. Shakespeare's plays are playing at a number of different venues, some respectable, some less so. Due to Royal decree, all female roles are played by men. Of these men, Kynaston (Billy Crudup), is widely regarded to be a star, having made the role of Desdemona, in "Othello", his own. Kynaston's dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), watches his performance from the wings every night, mimicking his every affected move, wishing the accolades were for her as well. Maria sneaks off to a makeshift theater most evenings to perform in a more rudimentary performance of "Lear". News of this soon reaches King Charles II (Rupert Everett). At the urging of his new mistress, Nell (Zoe Tapper), he soon decrees that female roles should only be played by females. Kynaston is unsure what he can do, now that he is no longer allowed to practice the craft he has so long perfected.
"Stage Beauty", directed by Richard Eyre ("Iris", one of my least favorite film biographies of all time), is a well-produced film with engaging performances.
The film revolves around the two central characters. It is the story of their relationship, their craft, and their troubles. The film is only as good as their performances. And they are quite good. But there is a flaw in each, which detracts from the film.
As Kynaston, Billy Crudup credibly creates a character that is very believable. He is a man who has made a career of playing female roles. He even takes to dressing as a woman when he goes out on the town, to the delight of his admirers, because he feels it is important to maintain the charade. He practices hand movements, inflections, walking, all to simulate the female form. He has perfected the art of dying as a female. All of these `technical' aspects of the role are easily handled by Crudup, one of the best actors working today. He also seems to easily don wig, makeup and dress, to become a woman. When the King opens up the theater to women, therefore robbing him of his roles, we feel Kynaston's loss and shock.
There is a scene early in the film in which two female admirers rush backstage to meet Kynaston. Ogling him, they eventually get him to agree to a ride in their carriage. This scene is a bit funny, but it is also unfortunate, because it serves to highlight all of the ways in which Crudup's character doesn't resemble a woman. Sitting next to the two women, we see that he wears too much makeup, his face is far too angular, and he doesn't resemble a woman. How did he fool these other women? In order for something like this to work, we have to feel that he could fool his adoring public. If he can't fool us for even a second, how can he fool them for years and years? Yes, they may have been less knowledgeable about these things in the 1660s, but I find it difficult to believe they would buy Crudup as a woman. He looks like a tarted-up whore.
Claire Danes plays Maria. She is very devoted to her job, but also longs for something more. She wants to act, not for the stardom, necessarily, but for the challenge. After helping Kynaston change clothes, she rushes to a makeshift theater to perform, as Desdemona, in a more rudimentary version of "Othello". Much to her surprise, word of her performance begins to travel, causing everyone to rethink the rules. During the course of the story, Maria shifts from a confidant, willing to sneak in a performance here and there, to a woman interested in becoming the star. The shift is not a gradual one and it is a bit jarring. A more natural, longer transition would have aided the role and the film considerably.
Smoother transitions in both of the main characters would have added to the film immeasurably. I almost got the sense that the film was trimmed, perhaps due to budget restrictions. The film is a bit short for a period drama. I think it runs about 100 minutes. It was also produced independently, so perhaps this theory is plausible. If these two problems had been worked out, the film could easily qualify as a great film. Most people watching this film won't be bothered by this.
The supporting cast is also very good. Of the group, Tom Wilkinson, as Betterton, the owner of Kynaston's theater, is the least memorable. Rupert Everett clearly has a grand old time playing Charles II. Lounging in bed with a dozen yapping dogs, dressed as a woman for a play with his mistress, who is dressed as a man, and more, Everett clearly relishes playing Royalty for the fool. It is a funny and amusing performance. Richard Griffiths is also very good as a pompous, bored member of the upper class. As Sir Charles Sedley, he walks around trying to create amusement for himself. Ben Chaplin plays George Villars, the Duke of Buckingham, Kynaston's closeted lover. He and Crudup are quite good verbally sparring with one another in public.
"Beauty" is a beauty to look at. The stage, backstage areas, the Royal palace, a country estate. Everything looks authentic, adding greatly to the quality of the film.
"Stage Beauty" is a very good film. If a little more attention had been paid to the main characters, it would have been a great film. All in all, definitely worth renting.
Movie Review: Crudup's amazing, but the film lacks depth and chemistry
Summary: 4 Stars
As a general rule, I try to avoid movies featuring men dressed as women. In the case of Stage Beauty, though, the cross-dressing is built upon the historic foundation of male-only performers in the 17th century London theatre. Claire Danes sweetened the pot enough for me to seek this movie out. I can't say I'm all that enamored with the film, though. It is sort of artsy, the kind of movie that makes you feel like you're supposed to adore it - but I just don't. Billy Crudup turned in a brave, amazing performance, but the story didn't completely click for me, and - I hate to say it - Claire Danes' performance came up a little short, as her character seemed to lack depth. Then there's the whole chemistry thing - basically, there isn't much of it to be found between Crudup and Danes, making the romantic angle of the story sort of weird and confusing.
As we all know, there was a time centuries ago when women were prohibited from performing on stage; instead, men played all the female characters. Here, Ned Kynaston (Crudup) is the most acclaimed "female" actor in 17th-century London, bringing the house down in roles such as Othello's Desdemona. Claire Danes plays his dresser, Maria. She studies his every move onstage and secretly performs the role herself at a nearby tavern. Kynaston finds out about Maria's acting debut at a royal dinner, but his attempt to cast calumny upon it backfires when King Charles decides to allow women to perform. Kynaston is necessarily a little unhappy about this, and he flat-out refuses to perform with Maria or any other woman onstage. Charles' little minx of a mistress soon talks (well, it's not really talking, but it does involve her mouth) the king into forbidding men to play female parts altogether. The celebrated Kynaston, "queen" of the London stage, is now without a job; to make matters worse, he's given a thorough thrashing by Maria's supporters. Kynaston, unwilling to play a male role, soon hits bottom - and it's really not pretty. Maria has a few problems of her own, as well; as celebrated as she is as the first woman of the London stage, she's not really a very good actress. Might it be that Maria and Kynaston need each other in order to find success and happiness?
This movie is really all about Billy Crudup and his character. There's one particularly poignant scene wherein Kynaston tries to show how easy it is to play a man - and fails miserably. Kynaston doesn't want to play men because there's no art involved in it, nor is there any beauty. He doesn't want to let the beauty die. He has spent years training for his profession, knows more about being a woman that Maria does, and feels utterly betrayed. It's a surprisingly powerful, emotional argument that gives the film a depth that nothing and no one else was able to supply. Of course, the most powerful scene comes at the very end, sending the movie out on a high note indeed.
Crudup is rather disturbingly feminine in his female guise; Danes, in contrast, is somewhat manly in terms of her actions and motivations. I never understood the feelings between their two characters; there's some kind of romantic flame winking in and out somewhere, but Maria is far too unfeeling early on to make whatever passion comes later believable to me. Anyone with a heart would take pity on the guy when he loses everything he cares about.
I should mention that Stage Beauty is surprisingly risqué on several occasions - what with Kynaston having to convince a couple of admirers that he is in fact a gentleman, a lecherous courtier making advances on Kynaston in female guise, and a perverted king (and let me say, I hope I never again see a "king" dressed as a woman). There's only a modest amount of nudity, however (including one quick, slightly revealing shot of Claire Danes). There is also, I should mention, a kissing scene without any females in attendance - not my favorite scene.
In the end, my slight sense of disappointment with this film seems to come down to Claire Danes' performance. There just wasn't much depth there until the very end. I'm all in favor of women playing women, but I wasn't even sympathetic to Maria's cause. It's still a good movie, but I just think it could have been better. It's worth seeing, however, for Billy Crudup's tour de force performance, if nothing else.
Movie Review: Crudup Delivers Bigtime In This 17th Century Costume Drama
Summary: 4 Stars
I have always been a sucker for period costume dramas, and while "Stage Beauty" is not "Shakespeare In Love," it's not too shabby either. Billy Crudup's performance is absolutely fantabulous!! He plays Edward "Ned" Knyaston, the renowned and beautiful 17th century English actor, trained to portray dramas' leading ladies.' Of course, the film is flawed, frequently overblown, much too busy, and often, not credible - but Crudup's acting, is really worth the price of the rental - along with the gorgeous wardrobe, a few outstanding comic moments, and the Method acting lesson near the film's conclusion.
During the Restoration, King Charles II actually made headlines when he broke with history and declared it legal for women to play female characters onstage. But, what then happened to all the talented, professional actors who had heretofore dedicated themselves to playing heroines? Such a one is Ned Knyaston, he of the face that could launch a thousand ships. And thus, our plot. Ned's dresser, Maria, (Clare Danes), clearly worships the actor and fancies herself an actress. She also fancies herself in love. And, when she is given a shot at acting, she gets Desdemona down pat - as a male trained to play a female would play the part. In other words, she mimics Ned perfectly. Her "in love" fantasy is a problem too. Ned prefers men.
The film is at its best when Knyaston, after his denouement, is left alone to face his own arrogance, and confront the loss of his career, which has been his life and his identity. As a young boy, he was taken off the streets, trained to act and to supress everything male in order to portray a female. Unfortunately, we, the audience, are led to believe that even though his sexual identity, and preference, are firmly established as homosexual, ultimately that's all up for grabs. My principal issue with the movie is that it leads one to believe that homosexuality is a "problem" which can be solved, or cured, by a beautiful leading lady. Not. Nor is one's sexuality a decision most have control over. Crudup does lend credibility and complexity to his part, however. He can be flirtatiously feminine and naughty, and extremely masculine. I just wish they had tabled the love story, which is not necessary to the plot, and I think cheapens it.
Clare Danes who plays an actress who cannot act, works well with what she has been given, script-wise. She is extremely talented but there is little chemistry, of the romantic kind, between her and Crudup. And this is clearly Crudup's movie. Ben Chaplin is excellent as the fickle Duke of Buckingham, filled with the ennui of the rich and famous. On the other hand, I so did not like the buffoonish depiction of King Charles II, (Rupert Everett). Historically, the portrayal of the king is off, off, off!!! He was neither deranged nor a flake, and while he had many famous mistresses, he was not one to be led around by whimsical women. Charles II was, actually, quite royal and a popular monarch, although wig-bedecked, as befitted the period's fashion. And the King's Nell Gwynn was an acclaimed actress long before she met the merry monarch. I also doubt she spoke with a Cockney accent. Hugh Bonneville is wonderful as Samuel Pepys, another historical figure, who documented the goings-on of the times. The lecherous Sir Charles Sedley, (Richard Griffiths), is as grotesque as anything I have ever seen on screen, including the creatures who people "The Lord Of The Ring Trilogy."
If you can relax and focus on the good performances, local and period color, and ignore what jars, if anything - this is a movie to see and enjoy. I certainly did. Otherwise, see "Shakespeare In Love Again," although I warn you, Billy Crudup is not to be missed!
JANA
Movie Review: questions of gender identity abound in this uneven film
Summary: 4 Stars
State Beauty, with its lots of bawdy humor and hammy, over-the-top performances by the supporting cast, has a lot to offer. The movie has a pleasant period flavor and the themes of gender identity and confusion are nicely presented. But some viewers may feel that the movie is masquerading as a second rate Shakespeare in Love, which is ironic, because in many respects, Stage Beauty is much better movie. It isn't until the second half act that the movie falls apart and loses its focus. The first hour, however, is a rip-roaring, hilarious, and often-passionate tale of Restoration drag.
The film is set in England during the reign of King Charles II (played with fun loving bravado by Rupert Everett), where only men are permitted to act. Billy Crudup plays Ned Kynaston, "the most beautiful woman" on the stage. Ned is a gay or bisexual man (we can never be quite sure) who has made a living out of playing women. Ned attracts female groupies like a rock star, he is volatile, vain and brilliant, but he's also so wrapped up in his acting, that when the King passes a law banning cross- dressing men on stage, Ned is forced to question his identity as a man, and his career as an actor. He becomes an outcast in society - playing drag is the only life he's ever known.
Claire Danes plays Maria Hughes, his back stage dresser. She studies and memorizes his every scene, and she craves being an actor just like her master. After the King discovers that she's been performing underground in a theater group that operates in a pub, Maria becomes famous as the only woman permitted to play female parts. Ned and Maria bicker and argue - both are jealous of each other, and Ned feels threatened when the acting rules are changed to favour women. In one scene, under the guise of King Charles, he makes an attempt to act as a man and, since he views himself as "a man trapped in a woman's form," he isn't able to make the transition to male roles.
As the story progresses, Ned finds his masculine side and begins to make a seamless transition to heterosexuality. This is where the film falls apart, his sudden and inexplicable physical attraction to Maria just doesn't ring true, serving more as a cheap plot device to sex up the story so that the two young actors can have a contrived and "straight" screen romance. But the film is gorgeous to look at, with period costumes and powdered wigs (on both sexes) galore. And the witty and bawdy script gives the film a wonderful sense of atmosphere and bite. Lovers of Shakespeare are also going to like the recreation of Othello.
The cast is generally good, especially Billy Crudup who gives a strong, and undeniably outstanding performance as Ned. Tom Wilkinson is also as standout as an older actor and theatre manager, Ben Chaplin, is delicious as Ned's sexy, part time lover who later dumps him, and Rupert Everett is unselfconsciously and deliciously hammy as King Charles. Stage Beauty, for the most part, is energetically paced and vivaciously performed, but the sloppy and slow moving third act results in an uneven film that works in fits and spurts. Mike Leonard October 04.
Movie Review: Wild Entertainment!
Summary: 4 Stars
The number one thing that "Stage Beauty" is, is entertainment, which is ironic because that is what most of the characters want to do. . . entertain. This is one of those movies that can't be great, only in the fact that it has an overused story. I've heard that it is similiar to "Shakespere in Love," but since I never saw that movie, I can't really comment. What I love about "Stage Beauty" was the revalation of Claire Danes. She could be an amazing actress, and as such a strong female character, she stole the show, even from Billy Crudup, a great actor who stole the show in "Almost Famous," and stole the scenes in "Big Fish." It is a period comedy-drama, and as usual, the costumes and settings were a great thing to look at. The problem with period movies is that you have to be accurate, because there is always someone that will make a comment about it not being correct. I had a problem with the direction. Half of the movie was shot without the use of a steady camera. It was done to make us be like observers, when it fact it annoyed the eyes. I'm not a huge fan of the camera when it is not steady because I could never see the point. The movement also gives us a feeling of confusion, a running theme for the main character, because it was steady during the scenes he was not in. Good reason for doing it, but a bad idea overall.
Billy Crudup plays Ned Kynaston, an actor, who has been called "the most beautiful women on stage." He is a man, but in the late 1600's it was against the law for women to preform on stage. His dresser, Maria, does not listen to the law, and at night she runs off to act on the stage, as a women pretending to be a man who is pretending to be a women. She pays the manager money to preform, and she fools the audiences. She is eventually found out, and soon the laws change. It becomes mandatory for the women to play the women characters on the stage, and Ned becomes obsolete in the theatre. He also becomes obsolete the Duke becomes engaged to a women. The Duke was his lover, and during their sexual encounters, Ned would play the women. Ned begins to want to be back on the stage, but refuses to play opposite Maria. He has to begin to change his life, because the world around him is not.
Throughout the film, Ned never really knows if he wants to be a women or a man. He is told that he is great as a women on stage, but also great as a man in real life. His confusion sets up the conflict, and it is always a question to everybody, including himself, what he is. Based on his personal life, it could be a toss up, because as he is attracted to the Duke, he is also attracted to Maria. I see a grand future for Claire Danes, who I hear has made many flops in the past. "Stage Beauty" is in limited release, so it won't make a ton of money, which is a shame because this movie is very entertaining. While not a great movie, it offers some good preformances, and great settings. "Stage Beauty" is a good bet to make a supporting apperance at the Oscars next year.
ENJOY!
Rated R for sexual content and language.