Well, it seems we are having a period Tuesday today at HOLLYWOOD SPY, since two of the upcoming historical movies have had their first
pictures released around the Net recently.
FAREWELL, MY QUEEN
The first one is for
FAREWELL, MY QUEEN, a French film which will premiere this February at famous Berlin Film Festival. Directed by
Benoit Jacquot the story of the film is set in Versailles in July 1789. Unrest is growing in the court of King Louis the XVI. The people are rebelling - a revolution is imminent. Behind the facades of the royal palaces, everyone is thinking of fleeing, including Queen Marie Antoinette (
Diane Kruger) and her entourage. Among her ladies-in-waiting is Sidonie Laborde (
Lea Seydoux) who as the Queen's reader has become
quite intimate with her. With great amazement, Sidonie experiences the first hours of the French Revolution. Her status as courtier makes her the best kind of narrator in the film - both an insider and an observer of the royals. She describes the final days before revolution engulfs the palace with insight and surprising slices of humor.
I'm not sure if we need another Marie Antoinette film after
Sofia Copolla's horrid flop with
Kirsten Dunst, especially with
Diane Kruger (who isn't really a good actress, remember her shockingly bad acting in TROY?) in the lead role, but we shall give this one a benefit of the doubt.
DAKOTA FANNING'S EFFIE
Another period film for today is the one with young
Dakota Fanning in the lead role in a period drama
EFFIE which revolves around Effie Gray, a teenager who married famous London art critic John Ruskin (
Greg Wise) in the 1850s but he refused to consummate the marriage since he was repulsed by her body even though Effie was considered a gorgeous girl. In the end she turned her affections to Ruskin's protege, famous Victorian painter John Everett Millais (
Tom Sturridge). It' s interesting that the story was written by
Emma Thompson who will also appear in the film beside two legends
Derek Jacobi and
Julie Walters. The cast also includes
Claudia Cardinale, Robbie Coltrane and super charming
Russell Tovey from BEING HUMAN.
It is also interesting that the first candidates for the lead roles were
Saoirse Ronan and
Orlando Bloom and that
Greg Wise is
Emma Thompson's real life husband and that this is
Dakota Fanning's first role as an adult actress.The movie should appear in cinemas this June and as you can see from these pictures it will feature some really amazing and colourful costumes!
Well, you know I'm a big fan of the period movies. I'll probably watch both of these at some point. I only remember Kruger from the Basterds movie, so I guess I won't be too biased towards her acting. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Dezzy! Happy New Year, my friend! :D Effie sounds waaaay more promising than Farewell My Queen but I'll probably still try Queen out. I was also traumatized my Kruger in Troy but I still need my French Revolution fix! :)
ReplyDeletewhat? You mean you haven't watched TROY, Luanne? :)
ReplyDelete@Sammy
ReplyDeletehey, Samwise, missed you a lot, darling, Happy New Year to you as well! He he "traumatized" is the right word :) Glad you like both of today's films, I'm having an amazing period film tomorrow as well, even better than these two :)
Effie looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a Marie Antoinette film yet. I didn't see the flop with Dunst. I also haven't seen any of Kruger's movies yet. That bad, huh?
you didn't miss much then, Medeia :) Most of those named weren't that good.
ReplyDeleteEffie looks pretty neat!
ReplyDeleteit should be interesting for those who love the genre and it should be pleasing for the eye ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I did see Troy, but obviously it didn't really stick with me. Was Kruger Helen? I have no recollection. I guess it was a forgettable performance. :((
ReplyDeleteNot sure these ones will do it for me at all, but you never know. Sometimes they aren't bad.
ReplyDeleteThose are some amazing costumes!! :)
ReplyDeleteNice blog man!
ReplyDeleteWeird Interesting News
Following!
Hi Dezz - I'm fond of period pieces, but I am a wee bit picky (I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it) about what I watch when it comes to portraying the past, particularly the history of European royalty! (I don't like seeing the "family" tarnished in public) ;)
ReplyDeleteI may give Farewell, my Queen a pass and take in Effie - I enjoy little Miss Dakota (although she was in a recent perfume ad and I was less than impressed with how she was situated - naturally I blogged about it here, but I still enjoy her on screen.
Smiles coming your way,
Jenny @ PEARSON REPORT
I do enjoy period pieces because I love history (although AHollywood takes extreme license with being factual). The costumes in Farewell My Queen look magnificant. I'd like to see Effie though. I read your comment darling, I'm Irish and living in America right now with my Hubby. When I go home, I go to Ireland. I know, sometimes I confuse myself. I'm going to tweet you in a minute.
ReplyDeleteThe usual interpretation is that Ruskin was gay and that's why he couldn't consummate the marriage. Poor Effie did not deserve the blame.
ReplyDeleteYou know period films are for me and great to find out about two new films to look forward to. Thanks Dezz for the inside info. I love Emma Thompson so am really looking forward to Effie and to seeing what she does with this true story that is probably not very widely known.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you that we don't really need another movie focused on Marie Antoinette. Looks like it will be a visually beautiful film though. (I confess I didn't see the MA version with Kirsten Dunst)
I really love the sound of Effie. It looks completely gorgeous and what a story. I knew nothing of this film so thank you, thank you for spotlighting it. :)
ReplyDeletePeriod films are not my bag Dezzy, so I have little to add here.
ReplyDeleteMy friend is bullying me into watching Downtown Abbey, so maybe I will change
I've never been able to get into period dramas, which surprised me. However, for some reason modernish historical pieces (King's Speech, Frost/Nixon) were my cup of tea (again, that surprised me).
ReplyDeleteI actually liked Sofia's Marie Antoinette movie....which makes me think of farewell my Queen as rather pointless. But perhaps it may surprise me
ReplyDeleteAnd i was already anticipating Effie because of Dakota.
I never realised that Dakota has THE face to play in such movie! I hope it will make her career grow. Might be interesting, with all those great actors!
ReplyDeleteLucinda
not my type of film but might watch it with my mrs. :D
ReplyDeleteI love the costuming for period films. So opulent.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a look at Farewell my Queen......
ReplyDeleteI like period peices! And Effie looks very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThose both sound good, and I love the pictures! I think I'm ready for another Marie Antoinette film, even though I really didn't care for the Kirsten Dunst one.
ReplyDelete@Luanne
ReplyDeleteyep, it was pretty forgetable, but I did adore Peter O'Toole's and Eric Bana's amazing performances, and Saffron Burrows was also great as Hector's wife
@Pat
I knew that cat doesn't like period things :)
@Jemi
they sure are :)
@Speaker
ReplyDeletethanks :)
@Jenny
well, to admit the truth most of the royals are bad people :) or crazy people, or selfish people like in MA's case :)
@Anne
I was a bit confused because I thought you live in Ireland, so your comment yesterday revealed to me that you are actually in USA :)
@Debs
ReplyDeletethe most common story is that he was shocked by her pubic hair, because he thought women are hairless down there :) I think that will be shown in the film as well. It was a Victorian age, people were crazy then :)
@Fabo
glad you liked the post, don't forget to drop by tomorrow, because I will have an amazing BBC series trailer, something very new and very lovely.
@Melsy
ReplyDeleteI wrote about it before a couple of times, but now we have the first pics. Hope you liked them
@Scott
I think I will also enjoy DOWNTON ABBEY but I never seem to find the time to watch it. I finished MERLIN, and will watch SPARTACUS later this month and that's my quota when it comes to shows :)
@Jamie
yep, it's strange since you love history
@Dirty
ReplyDeletethanks for the comment
@Lucinda
it might, looks like it could be a nice role if she gives her best
@Zap
mrs will probably love them :)
@Lynda
ReplyDeletevery opulent
@Lurk
at least one :)
@Berserc
glad to hear that :)
@Suzie
yep,a new period film is always welcomed :)
I love period costumes, but I'm just not a Dakota Fanning fan yet. Not impressed by her.
ReplyDeleteI do remember you talking about Effie before. I've been so discombobulated lately I forgot. :)The pictures look really beautiful and I can't wait to see it. Hope the trailer comes soon.
ReplyDeleteWow, these look so good. Thanks for adding these.
ReplyDelete@Josh
ReplyDeleteshe hasn't impressed me either, yet, Josh
@Melsy
I shall post it as soon as it arrives :)
@Clarissa
be welcome :)
@Josh
ReplyDeleteshe hasn't impressed me either, yet, Josh
@Melsy
I shall post it as soon as it arrives :)
@Clarissa
be welcome :)
@Josh
ReplyDeleteshe hasn't impressed me either, yet, Josh
@Melsy
I shall post it as soon as it arrives :)
@Clarissa
be welcome :)
EFFIE sounds like it could be really really good!
ReplyDeleteglad you like it, Victoria :) we shall keep our fingers crossed :)
ReplyDelete