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Tag Archives: Rufus Sewell

Victoria Season 1

20 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by vinnieh in Television Reviews

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

2010's, Adrian Schiller, Alex Jennings, Catherine Flemming, Daniela Holtz, David Oakes, Eve Myles, Ferdinand Kingsley, Jenna Coleman, Margaret Clunie, Nell Hudson, Nigel Lindsay, Paul Rhys, Peter Bowles, Rufus Sewell, Tom Hughes, Tommy Knight, Victoria, Victoria Season 1

The fabulous Maddy is doing a blogathon about the gems of the small screen and I just knew I had to take part. As I’m a sucker for historical dramas, I just knew I had to cover the first series of the elegant Victoria.

A lavish historical drama, depicting the ascension to the throne of Queen Victoria and the turbulence of her early reign, the first season of Victoria is a marvellous one that draws you in with its writing and acting.

England, 1837 and upon the death of William IV, his niece Victoria( Jenna Coleman) becomes Queen at the age of 18. She’s lead an extreme sheltered life up until this point, having grown up in Kensington Palace. Her time there has been almost that of a prisoner as her mother’s adviser Sir John Conroy(Paul Rhys) has attempted to dominate the young girl. He is an opportunistic man who has wrapped the Duchess( Catherine Flemming) around his little finger. With little in the way of guidance, Victoria is thrust into her role of Queen. While there are those who covet her position and think of her as a naive girl, with assistance and growing sense of strength, she succeeds at fulfilling her duties as monarch. There are difficulties along the way as she navigates power struggles, backbiting and doubts from courtiers and government. From this point on, she grows as a woman and ruler, destined to be remembered and revered. Still the path in front of her is a far from simple one as she takes residence in Buckingham Palace. There’s her dedication to Prime Minister Lord Melbourne(Rufus Sewell) that calls into question whether there is something improper going on. While there is some love that Victoria at one point thinks age feels( mainly one that resembles father and daughter approval), it’s a very platonic relationship between them. Her stubbornness to rearrange her ladies in waiting to make it seem she isn’t favouring one government over the other causes a scandal as well as other ways that she acts impulsively. Still trying to get a foothold into power is John Conroy, who employs dirty tactics to enable what he wants. Thankfully, Victoria manages to assert herself and banish him from her life as age gets more comfortable in her destiny. One of the biggest things is Victoria’s meeting and eventual marriage to Prince Albert(Tom Hughes). She chafes at first at the idea of wedding him as it is from the idea of her slippery uncle King Leopold of Belgium(Alex Jennings), but comes around and realises he is the man she loves. And downstairs contains just as much drama as upstairs in a highly entertaining historical series that will have you hooked.

Like most historical dramas, Victoria is a stunning feast for the eyes. The buildings and set design dazzle with colour and life, capturing the richness of palaces and country homes. Special mention must go to the costume department, who dress everyone in such finely designed clothes that you can’t take your eyes off. This is especially the case in what we see Victoria dressed in, which is nothing short of gorgeous. Just like in The Young Victoria, we are presented with a different perspective of the iconic Victoria. Here she is still very much a young woman who is alternately learning on the job and asserting her authority in the face of opposition. The writing, which covers the early years of her reign that aren’t quite as documented as the later ones, highlights the steps Victoria had to take to be seen as a strong and regal monarch. She was no ones puppet and slowly found her toughness to steel herself in a time that would bear her name. Many will say that Victoria is soapy and to an extent it is very eventful and dramatic, but that’s what makes it so compelling. There’s always something going on to keep the attention, both upstairs and downstairs. From humour and insight into palace life to the romance between Victoria and Albert, there’s no shortage of talking points here. In many aspects, Victoria resembles a mixture of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs and is just as entertaining. It takes what made those shows great and runs with it, creating a series of fine drama and history. Not all of it may be historically accurate, but mind you what movies or television based on real events stick extremely loyally to what happened? A gloriously grand musical score backs up the pomp and ceremony of being a Queen and the romantic dramas experienced by the whole host of characters.

Jenna Coleman is an inspired choice to play the young monarch, taking her first steps as queen and learning quickly the responsibility of it. She has a playfulness and alternating will that showcases the often portrayed Victoria as full of life and passion, steel and vulnerability. Strength, girlishness and intelligence all come across in her work, twinned with sympathy for her as she adjusts to the sudden shift in her life. It’s safe to say Coleman makes for an ideal Victoria by making the role her own. There are plenty more stars in the big ensemble cast. Tom Hughes makes for a handsome and excellent Prince Albert. Our main knowledge of Albert is that his death completely devastated Victoria, so it’s nice to see a portrayal of the young man as one of many things. He’s smart yet awkward, reserved but very passionate and immensely forward-thinking. It is very good to witness more of an insight into Albert rather than just him as simply the Queen’s husband. He and Jenna Coleman share a very nice and gradually romantic chemistry that highlights the deep love that grows between Victoria and Albert. On hand for great charisma and understanding is Rufus Sewell as the skilled and supportive Lord Melbourne. Sewell plays him as a man who has been around for a long time and knows the score when it comes to the relationship between Crown and Parliament. His immense likability ensures we buy into the way he interacts with Victoria and steers her on her way to greatness.

A highly entertaining performance comes courtesy of Alex Jennings, who portrays Victoria’s uncle King Leopold of Belgium. He may be someone whose always finding ways to lurk about and influence matters to his own benefit, but damn if he doesn’t look like he’s having fun doing it. Catherine Flemming is easily influenced and distant from her daughter, hoping that it will be changed sometime in the future. David Oakes is on dashing ground as Albert’s womanizing brother Ernest, who enters into a flirtation with Harriett, Duchess of Sutherland (as played by the luscious Margaret Clunie )and close friend to the Queen. This beginning sows the seeds of more to come from these two. In roles of government, there is a disapproving Duke of Wellington and at the opposite end a slowly more respecting future Prime Minister Robert Peel. Both are played in style by Peter Bowles and Nigel Lindsay. In his short tenure in the show, Paul Rhys is appropriately slimy and scheming as John Conroy. So it is very satisfying when Victoria finally cuts him down to size and makes it possible for herself to be heard as a woman of power and influence. A lot of that is down to how well Paul Rhys plays the role that we dislike Conroy so intensely.

And the downstairs is well represented too. Daniela Holtz is endlessly severe but mainly well meaning playing the loyal Baroness. She’s often picky and constantly on the lookout for something to smooth over, but it’s often out of a desire to do well by Victoria. is a character who is both caring and staid, a balance that is well observed by Holtz. Nell Hudson is the pretty new dresser to the Queen named Skerrett, one hiding a secret and attempting to keep it fully under wraps. Eve Myles is effectively dowdy and reliable as the main ladies maid of the household who isn’t above a bit of grousing about conditions. With a flair and sense of amusement, Ferdinand Kingsley is the palace chef with an eye for Skerrett. One of my favourites characters is Penge, the Steward who is lazy and overly cynical. Portrayed by the watchable and fun Adrian Schiller displays of eye-rolling indignant and sarcastic comments add humour to the mix of things going on in Victoria. Tommy Knight plays his underling, who always has a smile on his face and impish charm to spare.

Sumptuous costume drama that effortlessly fills the Downton Abbey void in your life, Season 1 of Victoria delivers great historical drama goods with style that has me yearning for the second series.

Dangerous Beauty

29 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

1990's, Based on a true story, Catherine McCormack, Dangerous Beauty, Drama, Fred Ward, Jacqueline Bisset, Marshall Herskovitz, Moira Kelly, Naomi Watts, Oliver Platt, Romance, Rufus Sewell

Film Title

Dangerous Beauty

Director

Marshall Herskovitz

Starring

  • Catherine McCormack as Veronica Franco
  • Rufus Sewell as Marco Venier
  • Oliver Platt as Maffio Venier
  • Jacqueline Bisset as Paolo Franco
  • Fred Ward as Domenico Venier
  • Moira Kelly as Beatrice Venier
  • Naomi Watts as Giulia De Lezze

Taking basis from the true story of 16th Century courtesan and poet Veronica Franco, Dangerous Beauty is an underrated movie that finds a somewhat inspiring and passionate tale in the journey of a trailblazer who gained both respect and scorn.

16th Century Venice: women are seen as property and marriage has nothing to do with love, more for the sake of duty and money. Veronica Franco is a beautiful young girl with a passion for verse and desire for learning. dangerous-beauty-posterShe is of lowly birth, yet has a kittenish disposition that covers this. Young and passionate Veronica is in love with Senator’s son Marco Venier, and he returns that love. Yet due to the fact that she is of inferior birth and that her family can’t provide a dowry, the two can never marry. Devastated by this knowledge, she is consoled by her mother Paolo. Her mother then gives Veronica a talk on a path to that could liberate her to a comfortable existence. The profession in question is being a courtesan. Hearing this surprising advice from her mother, Veronica recoils at first at the idea of selling her body for profit. But once she hears that courtesans can have a sense of influence and rights to an education, she takes note. Forsaking her love for Marco, Veronica transforms due to her burgeoning intelligence and drive into a courtesan of which she becomes greatly renowned. Veronica finds her fortunes changing and her reputation growing, both for better and for worse in some quarters. She gains respect from a lot of people higher up the social ladder, yet earns the hate of ladies who see that their husbands could very well be Veronica’s clients. Her poetry flourishes and though the world that she inhabits is male-dominated, through her intellect and passion she gets a foothold in society. Yet Veronica, while gaining independence, craves the love of Marco secretly yet understands the precariousness of standing. Fate has other plans however as war brews, plague arrives and the Inquisition takes residence in Venice. Veronica is forced to testify in court about her life, to which she shows her mettle and takes aim at the hypocrisy of society in unconventional style.

A film like Dangerous Beauty had the potential to be overly sleazy and trashy, so it’s good that it steers clear of both by way of confident and understanding direction. Marshall Herskovitz has this innate ability to sympathise with the characters, mainly in the case of Veronica. He doesn’t pass judgement on her despite the profession she embarks on, portraying her more as a girl who takes the initiative in order to prosper in a world that is obsessed with social standing and class. veronica-and-marcoA script filled with drama, romance and wittiness, stands Dangerous Beauty in good stead as it busts apart the hypocritical attitudes of the time and especially the burdens on women in general. The parts of humour, provided mostly by Veronica and her excellent way with words, moves the story along with a brisk pace that doesn’t scrimp on the deeper parts of the story either. Now with Dangerous Beauty being a film about a courtesan, there is a sexual tone to the movie. Yet as sensuality is presented, it is done in a way that isn’t just about naked bodies and sweating. Sex is a power play in a sort of way in Dangerous Beauty, exposing how women were looked at in the time but how Veronica switched it up with her untamed personality. There are some areas where the film can be a little uneven, but Dangerous Beauty is not harmed by this thankfully as its story and execution remain intact. Beauty is glimpsed through the vast array of colour that features heavily, the visual department really knock it out the park recreating 16th Century Venice. An expressive score encompasses the humour, drama and passion on display with beautiful shifts in emotional levels.

Catherine McCormack delivers a splendid performance here as the soul of the film. Imbuing Veronica with a keen intention to learn, seductiveness and later outspoken feeling, she truly is a marvel. veronica-francoBoasting a beauty yet a heart and desire, you can’t quite take your eyes off her. Plus, her interpretation of the often witty and poetic words Veronica speaks are both fun and refreshing. McCormack is simply like a breath of fresh air, boasting the right temperament and conviction for the part of a woman who refused to be compromised by chains and retained dignity. The character of Veronica Franco is supposed to stand out and man does Catherine McCormack do just that. Rufus Sewell exhibits a sensitivity and sense of conflict within nobleman Marco, who knows that he loves Veronica but is obliged by duty to marry someone else. We witness the stiffening of his backbone as Dangerous Beauty commences and he begins to change. One of the biggest stand outs after McCormack is Oliver Platt. He essays the role of Marco’s cousin who isn’t as well off as he and whose jealousy burns that Veronica’s poetry flourishes with a chance of money while his dwindles. Although the character is a wastrel, there are many notes of tragedy to him. Jacqueline Bisset is simply terrific as the extremely wise mother who instructs her daughter into the ways of a courtesan under her watchful eye. She boasts a delightfully observant cynicism that has been shaped through her years as a young woman in a male-dominated world and the way in which she can educate her daughter in how to gain something. Then we have Fred Ward who clearly has a ball with the role of Marco’s uncle, playing him with a wily understanding of his nephew’s needs and a genuine respect for Veronica, where others scorn her. Though largely in the background for a lot of Dangerous Beauty, Moira Kelly comes into her own later on with a scathing attack on the unfair treatment of women in society. And look out for an early role from Naomi Watts as the timid and dutiful wife chosen for Marco.

A satisfying and beautifully rendered drama of one woman and her integrity, Dangerous Beauty is sumptuous, fresh and at times quite funny. I greatly advise people to see this film as it is a pretty underappreciated one in my eyes.

The Illusionist

20 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 59 Comments

Tags

2000's, Edward Norton, Fantasy, Jessica Biel, Mystery, Neil Burger, Paul Giamatti, Romance, Rufus Sewell, The Illusionist

Film Title

The Illusionist

Director

Neil Burger

Starring

  • Edward Norton as Eisenheim
  • Paul Giamatti as Chief Inspector Uhl
  • Jessica Biel as Duchess Sophie Von Teschen
  • Rufus Sewell as Crown Prince Leopold

An intriguing blend of mystery, romance and hints of fantasy, The Illusionist like its protagonist casts a spell on you from beginning to end. Handsomely directed and visually arresting, it burns itself into the memory with its sleight of hand events and effective performances.

In turn of the century Vienna, the magician Eisenheim thrills audiences with his performances that seem to defy the odds and point at possible supernatural talents. The Illusionist PosterAs a child, Eisenheim came from a poor family and he became interested in magic tricks and similar things. He also fell in love with Sophie, a young duchess from a prominent family. Their relationship was forbidden when discovered because of the difference in social standing. As a result, a teenage Eisenheim traveled the world, honing his craft with the art of magic. Now back in Vienna, he is the centre of attention for his audience. During one specific performance, the Crown Prince Leopold attends with a now grown up Sophie, who he is engaged to. During the performance, Eisenheim requires a volunteer and finds one in Sophie. Both recognize each other immediately and remember how their love was thwarted. An obvious candle still burns between them after meeting again. But the Crown Prince is not one to be competed with, as he exercises strict and sadistic control over the people around him, mainly Sophie who sees more as a possession than as a lover. Edward Norton The IllusionistEisenheim also gives a private performance for the Crown Prince in which he humiliates him. Angered by what he sees as an attack on his authority, the Prince tasks his Chief Inspector Uhl to investigate Eisenheim and prove he is nothing but a money-making fraud. But Uhl, while loyal to the Prince and his job, begins to respect Eisenheim and his act, becoming very curious about how he does it. As Eisenheim and independently minded Sophie secretly start their relationship again due to the thwarted passion that separated them, a battle of wills ensues between the magician and the prince, leading to shocking consequences. But in this game of trickery and love, all is not as it seems.

From the opening frames of mist and golden curtains, you just know that The Illusionist is going to draw you in. And so it does with its plot and execution. Writer and director Neil Burger conjures up a mysterious atmosphere of stifled emotions and repressed romance eventually breaking through with aplomb. Burger successfully keeps the audience on their toes regarding the mystery over Eisenheim and his talents. Is he really channeling something not of this world or not? That is where the effectiveness of this movie lies, in the intriguing mystery surrounding the eponymous magician. Eisenheim and SophieA huge highlight of The Illusionist has to be the sumptuous cinematography. It cloaks the movie in hues of burnt gold and shadows, enhancing the magical aura that Eisenheim brings and also the lavish but restricted lives of those in power. You couldn’t have asked for better cinematography for a film like this, it is that awe-inspiring to view as you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to turn of the century Vienna. A swirling score from Philip Glass gives romance to The Illusionist, while effectively giving us many pieces that enhance the overall mystery that hangs over Eisenheim.

In terms of acting, The Illusionist succeeds thanks to a talented cast giving their all to their roles. Heading the proceedings is the ever intense Edward Norton portraying the elusive Eisenheim. Filled with intelligence, passion and glints of mystery, Edward Norton has fun with the part that doesn’t reveal too much but just enough to keep us curious over whether Eisenheim is supernaturally talented or merely just a clever conjurer fooling his audience. The Illusionist Paul GiamattiThe always reliable Paul Giamatti contributes nervous energy and a sense of conflicted loyalty as his character feels obliged to do the Prince’s bidding but is very curious about Eisenheim as well. Giamatti successfully blends those two components to make a great performance. I’ve spoken in the past about how Jessica Biel for a while didn’t do much for me as an actress. I always found she was in loads of action movies and not given enough to do. It’s then I realized that it wasn’t Biel I had the problem with, it was the films she was lumbered with. When given the right material she really flourishes and that’s exactly what she does in this movie. Luscious, composed and filled with an  imprisoned desire, Biel makes quite an impression as Sophie; the object of affection who still carries a deep love for her childhood friend. Rounding out the impressive quartet of performers is Rufus Sewell as the sadistic and cruel Prince. Sewell emits this immediately slimy quality that makes the audience feel revulsion towards and he does it well.

Passionate and laced with enigmas, The Illusionist is well-crafted film making that gains power from striking visuals and stellar work from the cast.

 

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