Friday, October 19, 2007

Flick Chick: Elizabeth The Golden Age

It's no secret that I heart movie popcorn. It's a bit of an obsession, really. As such, I am always game for a trip to the theater for whatever might spark even the slightest interest on the silver screen. My latest buttery, salt-filled theater visit was last weekend when I accompanied some lovely lady in-laws to see "Elizabeth, The Golden Age" starring Clive Owen and Cate Blanchett. I like Cate Blanchett as a general rule, and now, after this movie, I really like Clive Owen. He's just plain nice to look at. Mmmm. Clive.

The movie did not get great reviews, but I found it good on most accounts. The costumes are insanely gorgeous and the performance by the talented Ms. Blanchett does not disappoint. I found the story, while criticised for being historically inaccurate, to be a good one. Although I suppose if you're some sort of Elizabethan scholar as the movie critics seem to be, then perhaps you should spare yourself the heartbreak of learning that Hollywood-- contrary to all that it stands for in this gleaming day and age of accuracy in the media-- actually embellishes stories for drama.

There were times this movie couldn't seem to decide if it was an artsy cinematic study in contrasting wardrobes to backgrounds or an episode of "Iron Chef." Seriously. Subtlety was not this movie's strong point. The music was way over the top and every once in a while there were these weird 360-degree camera maneuvers around the actors, who were clearly just posing for the camera that was spinning around them. I kept waiting for Bobby Flay to pop out in his chef coat, knives a blaze. Over. The. Top. It may be how I want my popcorn, but it's a little much for the main feature.

Other than that, I have to say I liked this movie. I give it a "Decent" on of my extremely scientific Flick Chick rating scale of "Boo," "Meh," "Decent," and the rare, but coveted, "Whoo-hoo!"
Any recommendations for my next butter-coated theater visit?

5 comments:

sarah said...

i totally want to get to clive owen's warm caramel center...mmmm.....

sarah said...

ooh! also, if you can still find it in the theaters, go see "once". fabulousfabulous movie that makes you mad because of the ending but you still love it anyway.

Emily said...

I never saw The DaVinci Code, but I kept thinking that Tom Hanks was just not right for that part, and (w?)racked my brain for who would have been better. I decided Clive would have been the best. Me likey.

So you referenced Jake in the poll, and at my hair stylist's today I read the interview with him in, um, Interview magazine. It was fun-ny. He's really pretty hilarious. A sense of humor is so nice on a man.

emily said...

I totallly want to see this...with a giant tub of buttery delight (just like you). I sort of like these over the top movies and their costumes like Marie Antoinette.

TnD said...

I am commenting just because you you called my potenital comment fascinating. I'm not sure if it is fascinating because I haven't seen the flick, but I drool for the popcorn. But I will now see the flock based on your review.