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Tag: film review

Hold Still, My Dearest: Reviews for June 18th

by Nicole Carpenter

 

TV Review: “Dead Still”

Sara Krasne

I will start by saying that this show is for mature audiences only as there are sexually explicit scenes as well as images of a graphic and sometimes gory nature. Set in Victorian-era Ireland, this show follows the exploits of photographer, Brock Blennerhasset (Michael Smiley), along with his niece, Nancy Vickers (Eileen O’Higgins) and his assistant, former grave digger Conall Malloy (Kerr Logan). Mr. Blennerhasset is a memorial photographer, meaning he takes pictures of the recently dearly departed, usually alongside their very much alive family. This type of photography was popular with the wealthy and elite of the Victorian era who had a somewhat morbid fascination with death and art surrounding it. Seances to commune with the dead were also popular in that time period and occur in the show. During the course of their adventures, a police detective, Frederick Regan (Aidan O’Hare), catches wind of an illicit photograph ring which deals in photos of a risqué nature. As his investigations go deeper into this seedy world, he seeks the advice of the renowned Mr. Blennerhasset. 

Dead Still is almost equal parts murder mystery and mad-cap detective story with a healthy smattering of macabre wit and humor thrown in for good measure. If you aren’t good at listening to Irish accents, you may have trouble following some of the conversations, but I love the accents and the delightful Irish-ness of it all. Most of the show takes place in Dublin and the surrounding country estates where it was, in-fact, filmed. This was particularly delightful as true-to-the story location filming is unusual these days. In a May 2020 interview with The New York Post Actor Michael Smiley spoke about filming in a huge mansion which only had one occupant who lived in a handful of the 40 or so rooms in the house. The crew filmed amongst the old relics left in the upper floors because who needs props when you’ve got the real thing collecting dust and creating just the right atmosphere? If you like dark humor blending with a bit of the ridiculous, you’ll love this show. The costuming is fantastic and mostly period accurate (there are a few discrepancies, but it’s a great show, so I turned a blind eye) I have found myself waiting between episodes with giddy anticipation and re-watching the previous week before the new one becomes available—in order to be in the thick of the story when the next installment  drops. The show’s tagline is: When death is in the picture, mysteries are sure to develop. And I think that when those mysteries develop, so too does an addictive show. Dead Still is available to stream through AcornTV, which is both a stand-alone service as well as a channel available through Amazon Prime. 

Film Review: “The Favourite”

Nicole Carpenter

Set during the reign of Queen Anne, spanning the years 1702 to 1707, The Favourite is the comedic tale of two women vying for the close friendship—along with the perks—of the English monarch. While complete fiction from the perspective of period costume and historic events, the film weaves an entertaining narrative lead by three strong female actresses portraying three actual historic figures. Olivia Coleman won an academy award for her portrayal of Queen Anne as a childlike monarch controlled by her lover. While Coleman gave a masterful performance, the historical record shows us that, as a ruler, Anne was highly involved in matters of state.

The love triangle shown in the picture is also fiction—Anne by all accounts was devoted to her husband, and enjoyed his mutual affection and respect. Some events shown in the film are based on history such as the political shift from the Tories over the Whigs, as well as Anne’s stroke; but little else of historic fact shines through this humorous depiction of the early eighteenth century.

Viewers will enjoy the imaginative story woven by the 2018 film, not for the depiction of the past but for the fanciful narrative.

Time Travel and Madness: Reviews for May 7th

by Nicole Carpenter
From the director of pre-colonial era horror movie, The VVitch, Robert Eggers’ 2019 movie The Lighthouse is a thriller following two lighthouse keepers as they fight the elements and one another for survival on a weather-battered island during the 19th century. The film is shot in 1:1 aspect ratio which adds to the claustrophobic feeling of the close quarters the two men are forced to endure. Shot in high-contrast black and white, the film is not only visually stunning, with each shot reading like an old photograph. The lack of color serves many purposes other than an aesthetic choice: The color scheme makes it near impossible to feel that any time is passing on the island and drains any sense of comfort and warmth that a movie shot in color might have. In this way, the color choice tips its hat to classic-horror imagery. Thomas Wake played by Willam Dafoe and Thomas Howard played by Robert Pattison, respectively engage in an extremely antagonistic and often violent relationship. Though they rely heavily on one another for companionship, there is an imbalance of power between the senior lighthouse keeper, Wake and his junior counterpart Howard. Throughout the film we are made aware of these imbalances, for example when Dafoe guards the lantern at the top of the lighthouse from Howard, and forces Howard to do the (quite literally) dirty work involved in lighthouse maintenance. These imbalances drive tensions to a fever pitch, resulting in explosive arguments and are potentially the force behind vivid maritime hallucinations of mermaids and one-eyed seagulls. While the ending is very similar to The VVitch also from Eggers as well as other horror movies from the movie production company A24, this thriller did not disappoint. The suffocating tension resulting in the inevitable but disturbing ending of the story of the two lighthouse keepers serves as a reminder to take a moment to calm down when the frustration of being stuck in doors begins to mount.
Film Review: The Lighthouse (2019) Catherine Graham

  

  
A time hopping tale, Susanna Kearsley’s Bellewether is the story of a house or, more specifically, the people who inhabit that house centuries apart—and whose ghosts remain. The modern narrator is Charley Van Hoek who has come to Long Island’s North Shore as curator and director of Wilde House Museum. Researching the Wilde Family who built the house in the colonial era, Charley discovers a tale of romance and intrigue in the days of the French and Indian war.  As she continues her research, Charley feels a strange presence in Wilde House and she becomes obsessed with learning the secrets of Wilde House. History lovers—particular those interested in the colonial era of the communities on both sides of the Long Island Sound will appreciate the care with which this book was researched and which brings the story to vivid life. Those who are aficionados of fantasy fiction will find much to love in this book as well. Admittedly, I am not normally a fan of the latter but Kearsley does such a good job of weaving the supernatural aspects of the story into the present-day narrative and historical fiction that I soon forgot about the genre at all. Kearsley is masterful at hopping between eras without feeling stunted or short-shifting either one. I finished Bellewether longing to read similar books by this author.
Book Review: Bellewether Ramin Ganeshram

Rebel Girls, Flannel Suits, and Aaron Burr, Sir?: Reviews for March 16th

by Nicole Carpenter

A storybook of extraordinary women, Aaron Burr’s secret love life and a classic movie set in Westport.

My family and I are on a mission to watch films and TV productions that are affiliated with Westport in some way – be it their location, writer and/or actor. We chose to do our first family review on the 1956 film, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit based on the 1955 novel by Sloan Wilson by the same name. This American drama, starring Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones and Frederic March focuses on a young World War II Veteran, Tom Rath, (Peck) balancing family life in Westport, a Public Relations career in New York City, and the emotional after-effects of serving in the war. While the 2 1/2 hour film takes its time telling a complex story, we all agreed that it was a groundbreaking film for its era in how it addressed uncomfortable situations that challenge one’s personal integrity in the workplace, at home and in society. It was really fun to see 1956 images of Westport’s train Station (Saugatuck), various roads and parts of Main Street. What really stood out was the amount for which the Rath family sells their “modest” home: $14,000 at a time with the median US home value was around $8,000. You can watch The Man In the Grey Flannel Suit here. 
Film Review: The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit Alicia D’Anna
A deftly presented tale about a little known figure of American history: The second–and secret–wife of Vice President Aaron Burr. Enslaved in India where she was born, Mary Emmons was owned first by a French Colonial family and then by Burr’s first wife, Theodosia Bartow Prevost Burr after being purchased in the West Indies where Emmons travelled with her original owners. The book imaginatively reconstructs the life of a woman about whom the historical record remains mum–following her from childhood in India to the Caribbean and finally to America where she lives the remainder of her life. After Theodosia’s marriage to Aaron Burr, Emmons becomes Burr’s unwilling mistress, bearing him two children who later go on to prominence in abolitionist circles. The author makes up for the lack of primary source material to inform Emmons life by, instead, deeply researching all other aspects of this 18th century world in order to create a believable story. Engrossing and worth a read: especially for lovers of 18th century period fiction who enjoy glimpses into the lives of diverse Americans.
Book Review: The Secret Wife of Aaron BurrRamin Ganeshram
Rebel Girls is a non-fiction book about 100 extraordinary women throughout history. Sadie’s favorite story in the book is about Irena Sendler, who was a brave fighter resisting the Nazis in occupied Poland during World War 2. Working under the pseudonym Irena Sendlerowa, she saved many Jewish children when she was part of Polish Underground resistance movement. 
 
 
Q.  Was there anything that surprised you? 
Yes, many years ago they had an epidemic** and now we have a virus that makes people sick. 
 
 
Q.      What did you learn from the story? 
You just have to be brave to help other people. 
 
 
Q.       Describe the character. 
She was very encouraging. Her father told her to have courage and always help people. She was brave and saved lots and lots of children. 
 
 
Q.       Do you think your friends would like to read the book? 
Yes, but I don’t think some of the boys would like it. 
 
 
Q. Are there any new words that you have learned from reading the story? 
Nazi, Persecuted, Epidemic and Typhus 
 
 **Epidemics, including typhus, were common due to poor hygienic conditions and lack of medical supplies in the overcrowded ghettos where Jews were forced to live in Warsaw. 
Book Review: Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca CavalloQ&A review with Westport Second Grader, Sadie Griffiths