The Cat's Meow
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Movie Reviews of The Cat's Meow
Movie Review: One Account of the Cerebrities in the Jazz Age (with a Gun)
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Cat's Meow" is purely imaginary accounts on what really happened on the ship owned by William Randolph Hearst, powerful newspaper mogul (now mostly remembered as the inspiration of Orson Wells' "Citizen Kane"). Don't expect Agatha Cristie-like mystry, though -- the film is about these characters in the lavish party held on the ship, and director Peter Bogdanovich is more interested in the frivolous atmosphere of the time than in the plot.In was in November, 1924, in the middle of the Jazz Age. Hollywood celebrities arrive at Hearst's ship to have a good time. They are -- Charles Chaplin, Marion Davies (actress and Hearst's mistress), Thomas Ince (movie producer who desperately needs jobs), Elinor Glyn (bestselling author, and best known for writing Clara Bow film "It"), Louella Parsons (later known as the 'writer' for Hearst's paper), and Margaret Livingston (actress and Ince's mistress). But before the ship arrives at San Diego, something terrible happened (so the film claims) to one of them.
"The Cat's Meow" is fictional accounts of the 'scandal,' but its own version of the story is, I am afraid, too incredible. Moreover, in order to fully enjoy the film, you have to know some historical backgrounds about these people, and that is not appealing to general audience. (You also remember that director Bogdanovich's career started as a film critic.) The romantic part of the story, or the entangled relations between Hearst, Chaplin, and Davies, is interesting, but the rest of the characters seems practically left out in the story.
I love Kirsten Dunst who plays Marion Davies, but here it is a trouble to me. The real Marion Davies was about 27 years old then, and Kirstin Dunst does NOT look like a 27-year-old woman. She is brilliant in modern setting (see "Bring it on," "Spider-Man" and even "Drop Dead Gorgeous"), but she now looks quite uncomfortable. Put Edward Herrmann (as Hearst) beside her, and he looks more like a grandfather to her. Sorry to say this, but Ashley Judd or Charlize Theron would be much more convincing Marion.
The film's best (and most surprising) role is Eddie Izzard as Chaplin. The casting was a gamble for the director, but it works. He is a great comic, as you know, but now he gives emotional depth to Chaplin who is clearly in trouble (he was then soon to be married second time). Robert Downey Jr, did Chaplin once (and he was great, too), but Eddie Izzzard's portait is more realistic when he describes the pains of the man.
The film's greatest virtue is probably its beautiful photography and gorgeous costumes. The crew did a great job, the photographer Bruno Delbonnel ("Amelie") in particular. Its happy-go-easy jazz music is fun to hear, the riduculously fluffy hats are fun to see, and the witty dialogues are also going to make you grin.
Probably, Peter Bogdanovich was too meticulous in re-creating the atmosphere of the age (even Chaplin's Japanese driver Takano is not forgotten). But I need the central story which has the power to draw us into the world he shows. It's all jazz, I know, and it's fun to see, but there should be more to it.
Some of the characters are also the subject of another film "RKO 281 -- The Battle Over Citizen Kane" starring John Malkovich. Just in case if you're interested in film history.
Movie Review: Long-Buried Hollywood Love Triangle and Murder Mystery
Summary: 3 Stars
Anyone who has taken an introductory film class knows Thomas Ince was a pioneer filmmaker who could never live out of the shadow of D.W. Griffith. Part of this has to do with talent and the other part with his fast lifestyle. This film barely touches on either aspect, but it does venture forth a theory on how he died in November 1924. One-time wunderkind director Peter Bogdanovich has made an intriguing historical fiction by surrounding Ince with a gallery of larger-than-life characters aboard publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst's yacht. The occasion is Ince's birthday party, and the story ends with his death. How his death occurred is a matter of speculation, but Bogdanovich, along with screenwriter Steve Peros, has fashioned a period murder mystery focused on the volatile love triangle of Hearst, his mistress Marion Davies and Charlie Chaplin. According to this version, Chaplin is constantly on the make for the alluring Davies, and Ince is more than willing to spy on them for Hearst so that the mogul will fund his failing movie-producing career. Chaplin finally makes his conquest after a huge drug-and-sex orgy, Hearst finds out and then a series of tragic consequences occur.
At first, Kirsten Dunst seems an odd choice for the vivacious Davies, as the actress is too young to be a credible magnet for two such powerful men (though ironically, Chaplin preferred the company of much younger women). But she actually grows in the film until she finally captures the world-weariness of her character in the final scenes. Edward Herrmann plays Hearst like he played FDR, full of bombast but this time, with a decided sadness and made all the more pathetic by the vast age difference between his character and Davies. British comedian Eddie Izzard makes a credible Chaplin, though he seems relatively constrained by the role, as does Cary Elwes who plays Ince with just enough desperation to make his fate seem less than criminal. Out of "Ab Fab" mode, Joanna Lumley is quite effective as writer Elinor Glyn, who narrates the story, but Jennifer Tilly is grating as the clinging gossip columnist Louella Parsons, the only one to benefit from the scandal and become a Hollywood power doyenne for thirty years. It's an interesting story told competently but not all that memorably, but this one is definitely up Bogdanovich's alley as he enjoys Hollywood history like no other filmmaker.
Movie Review: "I'm asking you to join me in an oath of silence"
Summary: 3 Stars
The Cat's Meow offers an insight into what may (or may not) have occurred during a fateful pleasure cruise aboard media mogul William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924. One guest didn't survive the trip, and afterwards the other passengers only ever talked about what happened during those few days in riddles. The film is at pains to point out that it only depicts one possible version of events, which unfortunately does rather undermine the convincing storyline.
The story begins in Hollywood, "a land just off the coast of the planet earth", in that decadent decade dominated by the Charleston, flappers, and bootleg moonshine. The women's costumes are thus visually spectacular - all satin and feathers - but some of the actors seem to be overwhelmed by the splendour, and appear somewhat wooden as a result. The notable exception to this is Kirsten Dunst, who plays the effervescent Marion Davies, Hearst's mistress. However, the best lines in the film surely belong to the wonderfully cynical and sarcastic Joanna Lumley.
The thing the movie does capture to perfection is the double standards extant in Hollywood. One of the characters disdainfully dismisses the Prohibition, claiming that alcohol isn't illegal "for us". And that seems to pretty much sum up the attitude of the film fraternity at the time - that they are above rules and regulations. Even murder, it would seem, can be hushed up.
This isn't a murder mystery as such; anyone with a thorough knowledge of Hollywood history will know who died, and the whispers surrounding the event. But the average viewer may question if, after all this time, they really care what the truth is. Better instead to enjoy this film as a fiction.
Movie Review: OF WHISPERED LORES AND LOVES
Summary: 3 Stars
What really happened during this 'scandal' on a yatch where a film producer met his abrupt end amid a wild weekend of booze, charleston swinging, and dope?
We'll never truly know, but the film is a peppy cavalcade of big name stars playing big name stars. It's a character-heavy motion picture so let's discuss the impersonations.
Dunst is the flavour of the month, she makes Davies look like an attractively complex figure. While reflecting the verve of a young privileged woman at an exciting time, she maintains a moral core without really being certain of precisely what she wants, which rings true.
The flamboyant Eddie Izzard was a surprise in the cast but made an atypically understated Chaplin. You see the intelligence and yearning in his eyes, the sly wit dripping from his casual tilts of the head.
Personally, I felt these two were the only admirable actors in the film. The rest of the crew members acted as though they were in a much dopier movie. Herrmann for instance plays Hearst, the big tycoon, as a buffoon channeled through Bill Murray, huffing and puffing when he feels betrayed, grinning goofily and almost cross-eyed when he appears giddy.
The film overall is a very watchable one though, particularly if you can overlook a needlessly sepia tone across the board giving a pseudo-noir look. The idea clearly was less to weave a murder mystery yarn and more to splice together the interactions among people at the scene of a high-society and thus hush-hush crime.
Movie Review: Entertaining, but not as purr-fect as you'd expect
Summary: 3 Stars
The latest feature from film maker/critic Peter Bogdanovich is a speculative account of events leading to murder that took place on the yacht of media giant William Randolph Hearst (played by Edward Herrmann) on the night of Sat Nov 15 1924.(Great, now I sound like a court reporter).Among the famous passengers and possible suspects were Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst), Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard) on the brink of his next big success THE GOLD RUSH, film pioneer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes), gossip columnist Louella Parsons (Jennifer Tilly) and writer Elinor Glyn (Joanna Lumley). Bogdanovich and writer Steve Pero, who scripted from his play have crafted an entertaining ensemble piece/ mystery which somehow manages to avoid falling into the conspiracy theory trap. Add to this lavish production design and good performances all round, especially by Dunst and you have the best Agatha Christie story that Agatha Christie never wrote. You keep expecting Peter Ustinov to show up at some point. Sure, there are the expected love triangles, deep dark secrets and red herrings abound but that doesn't stop THE CAT'S MEOW from being entertaining, despite there being no consistent story of the facts existing. Entertaining, but not special. But with a cast like that, THE CAT'S MEOW is still worth a look.
DVD extras include a director's commentary, making of feature, a Chaplin short film, newsreel footage, interviews with Bogdanovich and the cast and the movie's trailer.