5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

A beautifully shot film

A Customer from Paignton, Devon, 23rd February, 2005

Peter Bogdanovich is a man I?m inspired with, by any means. It's fantastic that he is now back on our cinema screens where he rightfully belongs (although the episode he directed for The Sopranos 'Sentimental Education' was terrific) I?m just thrilled cinema has him back. On with the review, from the very first shot, it?s evident. The cinematography is pitched somewhere between the exquisite and the sublime. Capturing the musky air, the dusty velvet, the glamour, and the mystery... every sense of the 20's is here. This theme is wonderfully prevalent throughout its running time. Also included are some wonderfully wicked performances. The two main leads, the gorgeous Kirsten Dunst whom, in my opinion, represents the best actress Hollywood has to offer. Here she wonderfully plays star of the silver screen, Marion Davies. Focusing on her ongoing affair with a rather dapper Charles Chaplin played by the talented Eddie Izzard. Both give believable and warming performances to the characters they portray. But for me, it was Elinor Glyn played by the fab Joanna Lumley. I have no doubt Joanna Lumley's favourite book was Elinor Glyn's 'Three Weeks'. He she creates a truly wonderfully, sexy, witty, darkly erotic, character, these elements are never hard to find in any Joanna Lumley performance. Wonderfull film, some lovely performances and an atmosphere alight with the roaring 20's.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Chaplin couldn’t do stand-up, and Izzard can’t be

johnnyL from County Antrim, 25th April, 2005

It would take a great actor who is also a great clown to play Charlie Chaplin. It’s a shame that Eddie Izzard can’t act. He did a disservice to Charlie, the film and to the other actors in it.

Bogdanovich must bear the blame for this film’s many flaws, nor least the characterisation of WR Hearst, the most powerful and ruthless media mogul of his time. He comes across as a weak and bumbling idiot.

Joanna Lumley shines as does Kirsten Dunst and the other actors, but Izzard’s inept and amateurish performance destroys the illusion and completely takes the mystery out of the myth.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Surprisingly enjoyable

A Customer from herts, 28th March, 2005

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film very much, but it was really good! The cast were fantastic, especially Eddie Izzard as Charlie CHaplin and Kirsten Dunst and Joanna Lumley. Might not be everyone's cup of tea as it is a period drama, but the story is very good and capitivates you right until the end.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Lumley Steals the Show

A Customer from Somerset, England, 26th September, 2005

Eddy Izzard as Charlie Chaplin - I don't think so.... this insubstantial tale of dark doings in the heady hay days of 1930's America left me feeling rather flat. The sets are superb but Bogdanovich's directing did little to make this a memorable view. Thank goodness for Joanna Lumley, whose portrait of a cynical socialite saved the day.

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lovely change

arrancat from , 18th December, 2009

loved this film, nice to experience something a little bit different to the big budgets and special effects. beautiful set, fantastic acting, and a well told story. wish they made more films like this. a bit of a miss marple meets poirot!

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The Cat's Meow (2002)

Teebs from , 7th December, 2009

Lightweight period piece from an enthusiastic Bogdanovich which captures both an obvious affection for the era and the glamorous, decadent early Hollywood world, but also steeped in cynicism for the make-believe world of the 'dream factory'. It helps if you're a little familiar with the characters portrayed here and Hollywood history in general, but even so it's just a little too smooth and well crafted to have any real bite, despite its thoughtful handling of issues of power and romantic jealousy. The casting doesn't help either, as only Herrmann brings anything more than a superficial impersonation to the central character of W R Hearst.

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Very Enjoyable

Minopater from , 15th May, 2009

The plot, 20's era and setting could have come straight out of Agatha Christie's pen but this vignette of a film is based on a true incident in which virtually all of the incriminating details were covered up. Thomas Ince, a pioneer producer-director, had been invited to celebrate his 43rd birthday on board a yacht, Oneida, owned by Big Daddy press baron, William Randolph Hearst. Hearst's mistress, the ditzy Marion Davies, was also on board, as was the libidinous Charlie Chaplin and about a dozen others loosely involved in the film industry including the English writer, Elinor Glyn and budding gossip columnist Louella Parsons. At the end of a decadent weekend involving sex, lust, jealousy,vintage champagne,jazz and dancing the Charleston someone ended up being shot and later died.The subsequent cover up defied belief even by Hollywood standards and nobody was brought to justice. This film, ably directed by Peter Bogdanovich, puts forward a possible theory as to what might have happened and summons up the decadence of this set of people extremely well.There are some fine performances from Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Tilly and Edward Herrman. My only grouch is that, as talented as he is, I just couldn't quite see Eddie Izzard as Chaplin. What a pity Robert Downey couldn't have reprised his role. Nevertheless this is a fine film.

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Fun, interesting 'what if' film

A Customer from Liverpool, 10th April, 2009

Great play of events that could have heppened. Good storyline and great mix of actors

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