Love & Friendship

Tags

2010's, Chloë Sevigny, Emma Greenwell, James Fleet, Jane Austen, Jemma Redgrave, Justin Edwards, Kate Beckinsale, Love & Friendship, Morfydd Clark, Period Comedy, Stephen Fry, Tom Bennett, Whit Stillman, Xavier Samuel

Film Title

Love & Friendship

Director

Whit Stillman

Starring

• Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan Vernon
• Chloë Sevigny as Alicia Johnson
• Xavier Samuel as Reginald DeCourcy
• Morfydd Clark as Frederica Vernon
• Emma Greenwell as Catherine Vernon
• Justin Edwards as Charles Vernon
• Tom Bennett as Sir James Martin
• James Fleet as Sir Reginald DeCourcy
• Jemma Redgrave as Lady DeCourcy
• Stephen Fry as Mr. Johnson

An impressively witty period comedy that takes a largely underrated Jane Austen tale and showcases a naughtiness that is something different from her usual stories, Love & Friendship weaves a cunning and thoroughly amusing tale of one woman’s plot to maintain her position in society, no matter what the cost. Trust me, this is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a while.

The setting is England in the 1790’s and Lady Susan Vernon is a widow. Occupying a precarious position in the class system since her late husband’s death and known for being a flirt with a bad reputation, we open with Susan leaving one home in which she has created chaos. She invites herself to stay at her in-laws; her brother-in-law Charles who is more than happy to oblige, his wife Catherine, who cottons onto Susan’s ways and her brother the dashing and much younger Reginald. Susan, though trying to lay low as rumours spread of her indiscretions, is armed with a cunning plan while at the country home to ensnare a husband for her daughter and naturally herself. She finds that young Reginald, despite his initial reservations about her, has become enamoured with her which opens up an avenue of success. For her daughter, Susan has a candidate in the shape of Sir James Martin, who has a large fortune but little intellect. Her schemes begin to take effect, aided in no small part by her trusted confidante Alicia Johnson, who helps her best friend despite knowing that she could be reprimanded and sent back to America by her husband if she doesn’t sever ties with Susan. Yet when Frederica, who is significantly nicer and more shy than her mother, runs away from school and arrives at the country house, Susan’s plans begin to go pear-shaped as her shy daughter has no inkling to marry and is instead smitten with Reginald. It seems all the spinning of webs by the crafty Lady Susan is about to get a lot more complex than intended.

Love & Friendship takes its basis from a Jane Austen novella that was published posthumously, but thought to have been written well before her more famous later work, the likes of which have been adapted countless times for movies and television. Whit Stillman effortlessly brings the not so well-known story to the screen with aplomb and vigour. His direction is unfussy yet immersive; focusing mainly on the schemes and plots of the tale rather than being overrun by period splendour and pomposity. Saying that, costume design and set decoration is stupendously done and is worthy of all the praise it should get. Thankfully, both elements of direction and decoration are supported on equally good footing, never letting one override the other and bringing out the period setting while reveling in a certain modernity to be found. One of these modern touches that was very funny was intertitles that introduced the characters and highlighted their motives, such a simple touch added a whole lot to the overall product. The ace in the pack of Love & Friendship is the script, that is as sharp as a rapier and unearths a sauciness rarely glimpsed in anything based on Austen’s material. Who knew something from the pen of Jane Austen could be so tart, cunning and cutting in the most delicious way? Well I for one loved seeing this different side to it and Stillman’s script captures the biting humour to a very excellent degree. A classical score that appears light and almost cosy acts as an ironic counterpart to Susan’s navigation and plots for those around her.

Where Love & Friendship really scores high points is in the casting and the respective performances. In the lead role of the cunning yet seriously charming Lady Susan, Kate Beckinsale shines in what is her best performance to date. Beckinsale just has such zeal and devilish delight in the part that it’s hard to resist. The character of Lady Susan has no really redeeming features as she schemes away and has no moral compass; but there is something so likable about her that we fall under the spell of her, much like every other character does. Delivering pithy put downs, breaking hearts or explaining away any blame put on her, Kate Beckinsale fits the part of the manipulative Susan like a glove with her kittenish glee and delightful sauciness. Chloë Sevigny plays excellently against Beckinsale as her confidante who bored with her life is more than willing to listen into her scandalous plans for others and the danger of it all. Possessing both the good looks and the curious temperament, Xavier Samuel is very well cast as Reginald, who falls for Lady Susan’s feminine wiles despite his better judgement. Morfydd Clark contributes a gentle and sweet demeanor to the part of Frederica, who has no intention of following her mother’s manipulations in getting a husband. As the bemused in-laws of Lady Susan, Emma Greenwell as the suspicious wife and Justin Edwards as her husband that lets everything run its course are suitably great in their parts. Stealing the scene whenever he is present is Tom Bennett as the rich James Martin, whose financial wealth is not matched by his simple outlook and lack of knowledge. He gets to say so many hysterical lines that you can’t help but laugh yet feel a bit of sympathy for the character, due in no small part because of Bennett’s winning comic timing. James Fleet and Jemma Redgrave in the supporting roles of Reginald and Catherine’s parents have a ball with what they are given and there is a funny cameo from Stephen Fry as Alicia’s older, disapproving husband.

Filled with fine acting, quick pacing and amusing exchanges, Love & Friendship is a film that is impossible to not be charmed and won over by. I genuinely cannot remember having so much fun watching a film in the cinema of late like I did when watching the witty Love & Friendship.

Easy Virtue

Tags

2000's, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Easy Virtue, Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas, Period Comedy, Stephan Elliott

Film Title

Easy Virtue

Director

Stephan Elliott

Starring

• Jessica Biel as Larita Whittaker
• Ben Barnes as John Whittaker
• Colin Firth as Major Jim Whittaker
• Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs. Veronica Whittaker

Based on the Noël Coward play and boasting a witty screenplay and fine performances, Easy Virtue is a period comedy that examines the clashing of cultures in the 1920’s revolving around a middle-class Englishman’s hasty marriage to a forthright American woman and the subsequent reactions of his stuffy family.

1920’s; John Whittaker is the only boy of a middle class family. Whilst vacationing in Monaco, he falls for the beautiful American racecar driver Larita, who is much older than him. After a brief courtship, they marry and John decides to take his bride back to the English countryside to meet his family who live in a large and grand house. Larita is greeted with an icy reception by John’s imperious mother Veronica; a steely, dragon like woman of order and stability and his two sisters. John’s father Jim, a former major in the war is a shadow of his former self and feels no love for Veronica. He does however come to appreciate the breath of fresh air that Larita brings to the dreary house. Although she attempts to get along with her in-laws and adapt to English culture, the free thinking and feisty Larita finds it difficult because of how different her upbringing is to the high-ranking family’s and the continuing opposition from Veronica. Can her marriage to John last with all the hostility around her? Cue vicious and caustic dialogue and a humorous insight into the machinations of the upper class in the 20’s as Easy Virtue unravels with hilarious and sizzling results.

Praise must to go to the period design which accentuates the glamorous era of the 20’s which is sometimes at odds with Veronica’s attempts at tradition. The manor in which the family lives is designed with a keen eye for period detail and really is a stunning sight to behold. The costume design is gorgeous, especially in the various gowns worn by the glamorous Larita that set pulses racing around the inner circle of the household. The jazzy score helps add to the period atmosphere, including a sultry rendition of “Mad about the boy” sang by Jessica Biel.

The witty screenplay captures the conflicting emotions that run high as a result of Larita’s arrival into the household. It humorously cuts through the facade of civility with a sword like wit that gives the audience room to laugh. Stephen Elliott directs with a brisk pace that keeps the one liners and scenes that mock society values coming thick and fast. Only occasionally does the film feel uneven when it tries to add some serious undertones. The cast of Easy Virtue are ideally chosen to flesh out this story of social disorder and how the life of one family is turned upside down by the eldest son’s marriage. In the role of Larita, Jessica Biel is vivacious, sexy and convincing. I’m not usually the biggest fan of Biel’s acting, but I can’t fault her work here. She conveys the forthright manner of Larita whilst showing us subtle insights into the depths of this woman with charm and sophistication. As the lovestruck John whose impulsive marriage disrupts the order of things, Ben Barnes is effectively wide-eyed and naive as his character begins to question the resentment thrown Larita’s way. Colin Firth is marvellous as the dishevelled father, he really shows us the crushed pride and happiness that were once within this man, which the war took from him. Kristin Scott Thomas flat-out nails the role of the stony Veronica, delivering her lines with mendacious wit and astonishment like a hornet protecting its nest.

A funny period film with style, wit and great performances, Easy Virtue is marvellous viewing for its satire on middle class values.

An Ideal Husband

Tags

1990's, An Ideal Husband, Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam, John Wood, Julianne Moore, Minnie Driver, Oliver Parker, Oscar Wilde, Period Comedy, Period Drama, Rupert Everett

Film Title

An Ideal Husband

Director

Oliver Parker

Cast

• Rupert Everett as Lord Arthur Goring
• Cate Blanchett as Lady Gertrude Chiltern
• Minnie Driver as Miss Mabel Chiltern
• Julianne Moore as Mrs. Laura Cheveley
• Jeremy Northam as Sir Robert Chiltern
• John Wood as Lord Caversham

Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband is a witty, delightful and well-acted period comedy surrounding a potential parliamentary scandal and those involved. Cracking dialogue and an excellent satirical look at society’s conventions, it whisks along at a brisk pace and keeps you entertained all the way.

The film is set in 1895 London. Sir Robert Chiltern is a respected rising star in parliament with a beautiful, devoted wife Gertrude and the admiration of his colleagues. His seemingly perfect existence is shaken by the arrival of Mrs. Laura Cheveley; a manipulative women with knowledge of a past misdeed Robert committed that could bring his career into disrepute and threaten his marriage. Worried about the potential parliamentary ramifications and marital distrust, he calls upon his best friend Lord Arthur Goring; a notoriously idle philanderer who incurs his father’s wrath by the fact he is not married and has no interest for it. Goring agrees to help as he knows Laura Cheveley from years before, but finds that his proud bachelorhood may be under threat because of this and the fact that Chiltern’s sister, Mabel is head over heels in love with Arthur.Prepare for hysterical lines and witty insights into political life as Arthur attempts to help his friend whilst preserving his caddish demeanor and single living.

What immediately struck me about An Ideal Husband was the topicality of it, as in this era we have seen many political scandals and parliamentary shocks. This adds a certain modernity to the film despite it being a period piece, it could have taken place today and been just as fun. Yet the period setting helps with the witty satire of political scandal present in the Oscar Wilde play of the same name.Oliver Parker views the various machinations of polite society with a humorous edge, showing the audience the extent of scandal on society back then. The script further adds to the laughs as we witness both Robert and Arthur’s desperate attempts to evade the scheme of the vindictive Mrs. Cheveley and its potential effects on both of their personal lives. The adventurous score brims with mischievous glee as characters exchange barbed lines whilst remaining allegedly polite in high society.

The cast assembled shine with crackling dialogue and interesting characters. Rupert Everett steals the show as the philandering Arthur and breathes life into his character and his outlook on life. Also,watching him trying to retain bachelor status proves highly comic viewing. Jeremy Northam, in the pivotal role of the worrying Robert, portrays the best friend character with a lively and engaging performance. Julianne Moore is delightfully scheming and foxy as Laura, her character clearly knowing how to play people like a fiddle for her own personal gain. As the loving Gertrude, the versatile Cate Blanchett exudes a touching wistfulness as she comes to realise her husband isn’t as perfect as she originally thought in a finely judged performance. Rounding out the lovely ladies is Minnie Driver as the quick-witted and lovestruck Mabel. Her expressive face is ideally utilised to comic effect as we watch her many advances towards Arthur in the hope he will reciprocate her loving emotions. And not forgetting John Wood, who is a caustically witty presence as Arthur’s impatient and disapproving father.

A period comedy with a fine cast and a particularly humorous look at scandal, An Ideal Husband is a joy from start to finish with its bristling nature and witty script. If it’s a satirical period comedy with delightfully funny examinations of scandal that you’ve been searching for, then you may find it with An Ideal Husband.

Tea with Mussolini

Tags

1990's, Cher, Franco Zeffirelli, Italy, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, Maggie Smith, Period Comedy, Period Drama, Tea with Mussolini

Film Title

Tea with Mussolini

Director

Franco Zeffirelli

Cast

• Cher as Elsa Morganthal
• Joan Plowright as Mary Wallace
• Judi Dench as Arabella
• Maggie Smith as Lady Hester Random
• Lily Tomlin as Georgie Rockwell
• Baird Wallace as Teenage Luca
• Charlie Lucas as Young Luca

Franco Zeffirelli draws upon incidents from his own childhood for this semi-autobiographical, coming of age tale of a young boy whose life is influenced by many different women as Italy heads for political change and the impending knowledge of World War II. Funny, warm and boasting an array of fine performances from the talented cast, Tea with Mussolini is charming viewing from start to finish.

The film begins in 1935, Florence. Luca is a young illegitimate child whose mother has died and whose father shows little care for his upbringing. Luckily for him, his father’s secretary, the kind Mary Wallace decides to take the boy into her care. She is part of an expatriate sisterhood known as “The Scorpioni”, which consists of Englishwomen and two Americans. Populating the electic group are Arabella, the spirited art loving bohemian; Lady Hester, a rude and haughty matron who because of her late husbands political connections is a strong believer in Mussolini; Elsa, an outrageous American widow who loves to spend and Georgie, a witty and openly lesbian archaeologist. It is through this gaggle of women that Luca learns many valuable lessons about life as he grows up. But as the country heads for Italy’s involvement in the war and political uncertainty, the bond between him and the women remains strong despite the many attempts to break it. So sit back and enjoy this touching coming of age story of Luca as he grows from childhood to teenage years, instilled with the lessons of the inspirational women that surround him.

Although some of the events in the film feel a little over the top and episodic, this should not detract from the overall freshness of the story as performed by the exceptional cast. The screenplay excellently alternates between dry humour and moments of touching sincerity with deft skill. The use of authentic Italian locations is stunningly realised and shot almost like a Merchant-Ivory picture, capturing the lush beauty but also the eventual turmoil that will occur. Charlie Lucas and Baird Wallace shine as Luca at different ages, showing his emergence from wide-eyed boy to cultured young gentleman. Yet it the female cast that lights up Tea with Mussolini, creating a lively group of eccentric but caring ladies. In a role that seems tailor-made for her, Cher delivers an exciting, sensational and heartfelt performance as the extravagant Elsa, who loves to shake things up, but behind the glamour has a caring streak that becomes most apparent when it comes to Luca. Joan Plowright provides a warm but firm presence as Luca’s surrogate mother figure, her eyes filled with love and care for the boy. She also conveys a sagacious strength when situations get tough and has a quiet but disarming wit. Maggie Smith, that great dame, turns in a typically acerbic performance as the haughty and high-class Hester, blinded by her own naive tendencies. Smith has a hoot delivering the best lines consisting of withering insults and warm responses in equal abundance. That other grand dame of cinema Judi Dench adds eccentric mannerisms and bohemian freedom as the passionate Arabella, showing us her cultured sensibilities with her many recitals of classic poetry and literature. Rounding out this ensemble is Lily Tomlin who adds an arch humour and touching quality as the free-living Georgie, who isn’t afraid to voice her opinion. The film may be set during the war but don’t expect a history lesson, as the main focus is on the effects it has rather than the fighting. Franco Zeffirelli directs with a light comic air that also contains many moments of poignancy arising from Luca’s unbreakable connection with the gaggle of women who have changed his life.

Featuring a brilliant cast, stunning sets and excellent dialogue laced with humour and warmth to spare, Tea with Mussolini is simply a joy. Believe me, the cast enough is reason to see the semi-autobiographical delight from Franco Zeffirelli.