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Post by london777 on Apr 16, 2020 13:54:15 GMT
Stephen Frears gets little attention here, probably because he is not American. While even Americans who are attuned to foreign films underrate him because he is not an auteur. But he is one of the best directors working today in the English language. This is a useful checklist of his theatrical releases. I would not get too hung-up on the "ranking" aspect. What is common to all Frears films is his impeccable craftsmanship. They are all superbly finished like a Savile Row suit. (Exception: Lay the Favorite seems a bit slipshod). And his choice and control of actors. I cannot remember a bad performance by anyone in any of his movies. He is an old-style director and a very English one in his understatement and irony. For example, the reviewer contrasts Frears' restrained adaptation of a Jim Thompson story in The Grifters with American versions of that writer's work. I will now endeavor to see The Hi-Lo Country (1998). I am not keen on Westerns but I had forgotten this one was by Frears so worth investigating. Every Stephen Frears film – ranked! |
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Post by cynthiagreen on Apr 16, 2020 14:37:30 GMT
Yes - he has had a terrific career - THE GRIFTERS makes my all time top ten - and DANGEROUS LIAISONS superb too - but some other standouts - THE HIT, PRICK UP YOUR EARS, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE.... even THE QUEEN.... in fact not a real dud there I'd say.
Tell me about the oranges, Lily.....
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Post by teleadm on Apr 16, 2020 17:23:20 GMT
The only movie I've seen of his, and I haven't seen them all, that's been a hugh disappointment was Chéri 2009. It didn't get me involved at all, it felt like it was supposed to have been a longer movie, and then tightened up to a shorter running time, and what is missing is explained by a voice-over that rushes over the missing pieces.
Gumshoe 1971 I've seen sometime in the late 1970s and I might have been too young to appreciate it, so it deserves a new chance from me, someday.
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Post by kijii on Apr 16, 2020 17:43:12 GMT
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) is on the BFI top 100.
I made a point of seeing all the films on this list --many on my all-region DVD player since several are only available in the PAL formate--I saw this movie and, in the process saw a young Daniel Day-Lewis. Indian actor, Saeed Jaffrey, was also in this movie. You may recognize him from roles in The Man Who Would Be King (1975); A Passage to India (1984); and Gandhi (1982).
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Post by cynthiagreen on Apr 16, 2020 18:06:53 GMT
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) is on the BFI top 100. I made a point of seeing all the films on this list --many on my all-region DVD player since several are only available in the PAL formate--I saw this movie and, in the process saw a young Daniel Day-Lewis. Indian actor, Saeed Jaffrey, was also in this movie. You may recognize him from roles in T he Man Who Would Be King (1975); A Passage to India (1984); and Gandhi (1982). Sometimes luck/timing is everything... LAUNDERETTE opened to rave reviews in mid November 85 - three weeks later A ROOM WITH A VIEW had its Royal Command Performance - although it didn't go on general release for a few months the critics saw it - and also gave it raves - and also noticed young DDL doing something 180 degrees removed from his gay punk hottie in the film they had loved three weeks before....an effete upper class twit in an arthouse smash of global proportions. "The new Olivier" they cried...  ....
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Post by petrolino on Apr 17, 2020 22:51:07 GMT
I like 'The Grifters' (1990) and 'Mrs. Henderson Presents' (2005).
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Post by politicidal on Apr 18, 2020 14:07:35 GMT
Florence Foster Jenkins (7/10)
Victoria & Abdul (7/10)
Dangerous Liaisons (6/10
The Grifters (5/10)
The Queen (4/10)
Mary Reilly (3/10)
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Post by Vits on Apr 18, 2020 23:30:19 GMT
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS - 2/10
THE QUEEN - 4/10
HIGH FIDELITY - 5/10
DANGEROUS LIAISONS - 7/10
PHILOMENA - 8/10
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