The Cat's Meow
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Movie Reviews of The Cat's Meow
Movie Review: It's Just The Cat's Meow
Summary: 4 Stars
The Cat's Meow is a delightfully entertaining film, set in 1934 on the cruise ship Oneida. The events that took place on board that boat were never actually discovered. This film entertains one of the many theories of how the events transpired that weekend. It's the 43rd birthday of film director and producer Thomas Ince, played nicely by Cary Elwes. Mr. Ince's friend Marion Davies is throwing him a birthday party on board the yacht Oneida which is owned by her lover William Randolph Hearst. Marion's guest list also included her friend and part-time fling, actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin. Hearst is very possessive of Marion and he is not fond of the relationship that her and Mr. Chaplin share. The other guests include Elinor Glyn who was an extremely famous romance novelist, Louella 'Lolly' Parsons a well known up and coming Hollywood gossip columnist, and Ms. Margaret Livingston a not so well known actress who was also Ince's mistress. Now I know what you are thinking all the wrong people are in all the right places for the sparks to begin flying and fly they do. Though many of us would not have picked such an unknown actor such as Eddie Izzard to portray Charlie Chaplin the results support themselves. In this more serious portrayal of Chaplin, Eddie Izzard did spectacular. Kirsten Dunst plays Marion Davies quite remarkably I must say the on screen chemistry that Dunst and Izzard share is shockingly realistic. The largest downfall for this film would have to be the chemistry between Marion Davies and her lover William Randolph Hearst, or should I say the lack of. Edward Herrmann who portrayed Hearst did wonderful in his own right but the scenes that he and Dunst shared, suspended believability farther than I am willing to allow. There just seamed to be no connection between the two, even though in real life Marion Davies stayed by William Randolph Hearst until his death nearly thirty years later. I just felt that when portraying real people it is quite important to display the connection that they shared, you know for history's' sake and for my own as a viewer.
Alright lets get back to the good stuff. In my opinion the best part about this film has to be the roles portrayed by Joanne Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer Tilly plays gossip columnist Lolly Parsons. Jennifer Tilly is such a delight to watch on screen, she has that presence that makes everyone want to giggle the first time that she appears on camera. Her role is quite different from many of her films that she has been in, but she still pulls the role off nicely. My favorite part of the film would have to be Joanne Lumley many of you may not recognize her but she has been around. She plays Patsy on the BBC program Absolutely Fabulous. Joanne plays novelist Elinor Glyn who in the film is the woman who tells it like it is. Elinor has a witty comment or comeback for everyone. Lets just say that Elinor has a way with words, hence her novelist status. Joanne Lumley is perfect for the role, she fits in so nicely that I don't think I could even picture someone else playing Elinor Glyn. Joanne's performance is spectacular, she is a great actress. Peter Bogdonovich did a good job, I especially liked the color changes from full color to black and white and back again they really enhanced the story. Overall the film is well worth watching and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys film as much as I do or anyone that is interested in possible scenarios in history.
Movie Review: "Cat's Meow" is the cat's pajamas
Summary: 4 Stars
"Whodunnit?" This movie tries to answer that -- in 1924, a star-studded boat trip went wrong when someone got shot, and the truth of it was never investigated. This is one thing that might have happened. The actors appear to be enjoying themselves romping through Roaring 20s decadence, but rise to the occasion when genuine acting is called for. It's like an Agatha Christie murder mystery, except no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.A bunch of Hollywood glitterati arrive at a boat belonging to William Randolph Hearst, a rather obnoxious Hollywood mogul. Also on the boat is Marion Davies, Hearst's actress mistress, who is being actively pursued by Charlie Chaplin (who recently got his sixteen-year-old costar pregnant), a cool-and-calm eccentric novelist Elinor Glyn, irritating columnist Louella Parsons, fading superproducer Thomas Ince and his frustrated girlfriend, and a slew of others. Rumors fly about Marion and Charlie's suspected affair, and though Hearst doesn't want to believe it, the clues pile up -- with the assistance of Ince, who wants Hearst to be his business partner. A single gunshot threatens all of them...
This is one of the movies that probably won't appeal to the average viewer, simply because a lot of the people in it, with a few exceptions like Chaplin and Davies, are not now remembered clearly. But if viewers can shut off their "hey, I don't know who that was" signals, then they will find a sort of whodunnit without the detective, a juicy soap wrapped up in a mystery wrapped up in a "Hollywood what-if" tale. Perhaps the biggest problem is that the last part is a bit anticlimactic and the buildup is rather insubstantial -- the biggest buildup is Hearst tearing through the boat in search of Chaplin.
Kirsten Dunst shines brightly as Marion Davies, showing both a deeply conflicted young woman and a flirty party girl. She's never been better, even if she does wear a giant butterfly on her head. (Weird headpieces are a constant in this movie -- watch for Tilly's birdcage) Cary Elwes of "Princess Bride" returns as a desperate man who will go the extra mile to revive his career. Edward Herrmann plays a very intriguing Hearst, who is both obnoxious and tender, jealous and angry, controlling and generous. Eddie Izzard plays an insincere predator as Chaplin, who cares more about the conquest than about the woman; Joanna Lumley is rather underused, but she imbues all her scenes with a hilarious dry wit; Jennifer Tilly plays an irritating flibbertigibbet who has an unexpected cunning streak.
The dialogue is fast, dry and enjoyable -- one of my favorite lines was "Hollywood, a land just off the coast of the planet Earth." There's some sexual content (nothing too graphic) and a fair amount of profanity; teens who like Kirsten Dunst particularly will enjoy this, but younger kids will be bored silly.
This is not the movie that will appeal to the bubble-brained. But anyone who likes witty dialogue, sparkling costumes, a well-thought-out plotline and the shivering thrill of wondering if this was how it happened will think "Cat's Meow" is the cat's pajamas.
Movie Review: The Cat's Pajamas!
Summary: 4 Stars
Peter Bogdanovich's "The Cat's Meow" is without doubt in my mind one of the year's best films. Granted it's been a slow year, but "The Cat's Meow" is a lavish film with lively, colorful characters and proves Bogdanovich is back with a bang!Most people know what the plot is about, but, just in case. "The Cat's Meow" tells the story of what exactly happened in 1924 on William Randolph Hearst's (Edward Herrman) yacht concerning the death of film producer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes). The story has of course has never been properly told due to the lack of information concerning all of it. There are some universal truths though. Number one, Ince did die (I believe that's something we could all agree on lol), two, Hearst was never questioned or charged with anything. Three, no one was ever questioned about the incident except for a doctor aboard the yacht. Four, the story was kept out of the press. Why did all of the following happen? That's a good question. And while we may never be completely sure as to what did happen that day screenwriter Steven Peros has given us what we are told, "The Whisper Told Most Often".
Lets for the moment forget that this film is based on rumors and gossip of the past, and just pretend it's all make believe (Because it just very well may be), the film still succeeds due to it's wonderful acting, and I do agree with most when they say this is Kirsten Dunst's best performance. She is truly amazing in this. Bogdanovich's directing is wonderful, showing that his talent has not slipped since the 9 years that passed from his last film. And what about the mood the film creates! Bogdanovich & company have to be given credit for bringing back the feeling of the times. They really recreate the era quite nicely. Which is what I guess really makes the film. So, yes, there is more than the mystic of the film's story to enjoy.
When I first heard about this film I became instantly intrigued to see it. I love hearing stories about the 20's. There's something about the decade that fasicinates me. I also thought that Dunst might not have been a good choice to play Marion Davies. But, once I saw her in the film, I came to realize, you know what? She does sort of look like Davies back in the 20's. A lot of people have a problem with Eddie Izzard as Charlie Chaplin, I don't. I think Izzard did a fine job. Edward Herrman really brought heart to the Hearst character. It was a side of Hearst many people thought didn't exist.
I know it may be early to say this, but, I would love it if this film got nominated for some Oscars like best supporting actress (Dunst), best adapted screenplay (Steven Peros) and best costume design. Also, once you see the movie you may want to buy the soundtrack which includes songs like "The Charlston", "Avalon", "Whispering" & "After You've Gone" to name a few.
Bottom-line: A lively colorful film with vibrant characters demonstrating that Bogdanovich still got it! One of the year's best films.
Movie Review: Narcissism and Insecurity: A Volatile Combination
Summary: 4 Stars
The Cat's Meow held my interest from beginning to end. What I found most interesting was the portrayal of narcissism and insecurity in most of the characters. Each character acts as though his or her life, reputation and desires are the center of the universe. Everyone else is merely a stepping stone toward their fulfillment, or an obstacle in their way.Hearst, seemingly the most eccentric and powerful character, tries to control everyone in his world. He insults guests and insists that everyone abide by his rules. Oddly, he takes great pleasure in ascending to the yacht's deck each evening at dusk to see the seagulls-and shoot them.
Yet in spite of all of his power, he is insecure about what others think of him. He has a spy glass built into his floor so that he can watch the movements of others, and he has the yacht "bugged" so that he can listen to guests' "private" conversations on his personal radio. His jealousy and insecurity about Marion's love eventually bloom into full-blown paranoia.
Ince, whose career is on the decline, is so narcissistic that he treats his mistress as a toy that he can ignore. Yet he expects her to focus on him and build his ego back up when his own insecurities surface. Those insecurities cause him to fan the flames of Hearst's jealousy for his own benefit. And his own narcissism makes him blind to the danger that even he faces from the time bomb that he is creating.
Chaplin, played quite convincingly by Eddie Izzard, is shown to be such a narcissist that he has absolutely no insight into either himself or others. He believes that each of his fleeting sexual impulses must be satisfied regardless of the consequences, and despite considerable evidence to the contrary, he thinks that the infatuation of the moment will be his love for life. As Chaplin frantically tries to seduce Marion away from Hearst, promising eternal love, she asks him what he will do about his most recent conquest, a teenage actor whom he has impregnated. He sees no contradiction when he dismisses her, saying that she was "a mistake." And his narcissism makes him so oblivious to others that he has no idea how dangerous it is to make the powerful Hearst angry.
Even our narrator, Elinor Glyn, is narcissistic enough to feel that she is above talking to bores and is the only one clever enough to guide the vulnerable Marion into doing what's best. Yet she is so insecure about her reputation that she refuses to leave her automobile when she realizes that she might be early for the party.
Louella Parsons, the most amusing character, starts out embarrassingly loud, brash and insecure among the sophisticates at the party, and turns overnight into the confident, tough negotiator that her reputation leads us to expect.
The acting, costumes, music and direction are great. If you like period pieces-or just studies of human frailty-you'll enjoy this.
Movie Review: The Cat's Meow: A Can't Miss
Summary: 4 Stars
I had the pleasure of viewing this film with the director present at the DC film festival. After enjoying this delightful, almost nostalgic work, Peter Bogdanovich answered questions and offered his thoughts and initial ambitions for making the film. I was particularly taken by the film's energy, and its ability to remove the audience from their own individual worlds, and place them on William Randolph Hearst's yacht for a weekend trip in the late 1920's. The movement and dialogue in the film personify the internal hopes and mind sets of the major characters, each drastically different. It seems that a viewer of the film should not search for some deep meaning or reflection on society, rather they should be interested in its portrayal of a blanketed mystery that took place years ago and is embedded in irony and revenge, comedy and heartbreak.
Bogdanovich claims to have learned about the story from the nephew of Marion Davies, (Hearst's famous faithful mistress) who told him the mysterious story of a death on the famous print media editor's yacht during a short trip down the coast of California. The story interested Bogdonovich, and later on an urge from a famous film critic, he was inspired to bring the tale to life after he found a screenplay of just this subject in his daily pile of scripts he recieved from writers. The result is a success, a film that effectively portrays the heart wrenching deceit, and jealous revenge that consumed the media lords' world on this extraordinary weekend in 1929.
The characters are magnificent, and in some cases brilliently acted. My personal favorites are Eddie Izzard's (choice British performer), role as Charlie Chaplain, the talented comedien and and writer who's love for Hearst's mistress Marion, tears the proper manner and aristocratic tranquility of the film apart. Joanna Lumley's job as the famous west coast reporter, Elinor Glyn, is charming (i'm a big ab fab fan, she's patsy).
The film is intriquing and enjoyable, beginning and ending in black and white while the characters attend a very mysterious funeral. The black and white scenes illustrate well the reality that the upper class members must face, while the beautifly matstered colored scenes on the yatch portray the fast-paced blur that seemed to be this particular boat tour.
I recommend catching this film if you have the means, and please take time to enjoy Izzard's performance, he's one i'll be watching out for from now on.