Sunday, January 24, 2021

Covid Is Really Causing The Entertainment Industry To Destroy Properties Better Not Tampered With!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                                  Girls,  let me  save you the trouble!  Do not let this gorgeous shot fool you.


                                   Whomever had the  idea to do  a redo of the  1947  film  "Black Narcissus" should not have done so.   First,  the story is drawn  out  to an overly excessive  three-and-a-half hours.  Despite the  gorgeous  visuals,  mostly by computer graphics, they cannot compensate for the lack of subtlety,  nuance, and psychological  exploration,  all of which made  the Powell-Pressburger original so iconic.

                                     This version is  reduced to the level of "The Turning Point,"  which examined tensions  between women, but at least was elevated to the level  of camp,  which is why gays still love it today.   Not to mention there were two pros in the leads,  named Anne Bancroft and Shirley Maclaine.

                                        With the exception  of Diana  Rigg,  as  the Reverend Mother,  who  only gets a  couple of scenes,  since  she does not  go to that Himalyan convent, the acting is  amateurish.

                                            Gemma Arterton plays Sister Clodagh, the Deborah Kerr role.   Kerr was an actress, who did not have to resort to things like self immolation and self  flagellation.  Where is Vanessa Redgrave, when needed?  The tension between her and Aisling Franciosi,  who plays Sister Ruth--the showcase role  in  the '47 version,  and netting  an Oscar nomination for Kathleen Byron--is so overtly ssexual--for each other,  for Mr. Dean,  for ANYONE--and while shots of Deborah Kerr in the '47 film  wearing a one-piece bathing suit, chronicling her past, must have sent the Legion Of Decency into a  tizzy, then,  I doubt anyone would bat an eye over this version, because its excess is executed so badly.

                                             Arterton  has no subtlety or nuance, telegraphing everything before  it happens  to let  viewers know what's  coming,  making  over use  of  her eyes.  Even  worse is Franciosi,  who plays Sister Ruth less like a sexually depraved nun--the best kind,  darlings!--and  more like  a petulant  child.  The big sendoff over the cliff  is what this version builds up to,  whereas it was the  midpoint  of  the  original.  And when Sister  Ruth, maddened,  enters  through those double doors,  there is no  madness or menace,  as  with Byron. All that is left is a  spoiled child who wants attention and power, and when this Sister Ruth finally goes  over the  cliff,  who gives a damn??????

                                                Have  I said  enough,  darlings?   Do you get how bad this is?  I will  say this,  maybe  those having never seen  the 1947 film should look at this.  Those who do will say, "So?" Then sit  down  and  watch the 1947 version,  and see the difference.  Rumer Godden,  who wrote the original,  1939 novel,  must be turning in her grave.

                                                 I have always insisted  that putting an actress, or actor, in a nun's outift, sells  tickets.  This "Black Narcissus" disproves that.  Had this been exhibited commerically  in  the theaters,  it would have flopped.

                                                Because,  with the exception of  Rigg,  no one here can act!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 comments:

  1. New and Improved?
    Not by a long shot!!
    What a waste.
    Do these actresses fancy themselves on par with Bancroft and Maclaine, do you think??

    ReplyDelete
  2. Actually, i already know,
    That Gemma girl believes she is channeling Deborah Kerr.
    Delusional.

    ReplyDelete