Post by mikef6 on Jan 24, 2018 19:01:15 GMT
The Beguiled / Don Siegal (1971). In the final months of the U.S. Civil War, a Union soldier, Cpl McBurney (Clint Eastwood), is wounded and alone in Mississippi. He is found by a young girl who lives at a ladies’ seminary nearby. Knowing that Martha the Head Mistress (Geraldine Page), the teacher Edwina (Elizabeth Hartman) and their eight charges will soon turn him over to the daily confederate patrol, he attempts to charm, sweet talk, and romance as many of them as his can, creating a volatile situation. Director Siegal called this Southern Gothic film a combination of Ambrose Bierce, Edgar Allen Poe, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote – and he is not far off. Tension builds to explosive levels. If you ever wonder what the phrase “a woman scorned” is really all about, see this movie. (Just kidding, folks.)
Clint Eastwood and Elizabeth Hartman
Eastwood and Geraldine Page
The Beguiled / Sofia Coppola (2017). Once this movie had ended for me, I had mixed feelings about it. But as the days past, I came to dislike it more and more. Yet – this may seem contradictory – I understand what some people say that the first version you see may be your. Although there were some pretty shots of scenery, most of the Southern Gothic atmosphere, the “horror” element, was missing. Much of the main characters’ backstories were not retained. Colin Farrell was a mere shadow of Eastwood. And what was the point of shooting so many scenes in so much darkness that hardly anything can be discerned except candle flame. I was going to finish the last half of the film in the afternoon but even with window blinds closed and all lights out, what little glare was left was still too much against the black screen. I had to wait until after sundown before catching the ending. The best part: Kirsten Dunst as the lonely school teacher. The other major players were Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning. As said above, for each day that goes by this film turns a little more sour for me.
Farrell and Dunst in a rare brightly lit scene
Clint Eastwood and Elizabeth Hartman
Eastwood and Geraldine Page
The Beguiled / Sofia Coppola (2017). Once this movie had ended for me, I had mixed feelings about it. But as the days past, I came to dislike it more and more. Yet – this may seem contradictory – I understand what some people say that the first version you see may be your. Although there were some pretty shots of scenery, most of the Southern Gothic atmosphere, the “horror” element, was missing. Much of the main characters’ backstories were not retained. Colin Farrell was a mere shadow of Eastwood. And what was the point of shooting so many scenes in so much darkness that hardly anything can be discerned except candle flame. I was going to finish the last half of the film in the afternoon but even with window blinds closed and all lights out, what little glare was left was still too much against the black screen. I had to wait until after sundown before catching the ending. The best part: Kirsten Dunst as the lonely school teacher. The other major players were Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning. As said above, for each day that goes by this film turns a little more sour for me.
Farrell and Dunst in a rare brightly lit scene
