First Look at "Grey Gardens" Starrying Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange
March 17th 2009 04:11
One of the most moving and beautiful films ever made is the documentary Grey Gardens. The untouchable Albert and David Maysles are responsible for this 1975 masterpiece, and no other film holds a more special place in my heart.
Grey Gardens follows the eccentric pair of Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The mother and daughter lived in near isolation in a huge manor called "Grey Gardens", where they spent their days in a sort of dream world, while allowing the mansion to fall into utter disarray and squalor. The home was filled with trash and cats and all manner of critters, and the women seemed oblivious to the conditions. The Maysals followed the women around their home, capturing their whimsical and sometimes sad existence. It highlighted the bond they had, their dependence on one another, and Little Edie's occasional despair with the situation.
Little Edie is decidedly the star of the film, with her unconventional costumes (as she calls them), her singing and dancing, her ruminations on life in general and "Grey Gardens" in particular, and her strong yet delicate emotional releases; all captured in this funny, warm, and heartbreaking piece of classic cinema. Here is a glimpse of Little Edie her best.
When I heard that a film was being made based on the documentary, I was immediately outraged. How could you even attempt such a thing? How could any actress begin to capture the essence of these extraordinary women? Drew Barrymore as Little Edie?? Absurd!
That said, I have now seen the promotional trailer for the HBO film, I have decided to put those opinions on hold until I see the complete picture. I have to admit that Drew Barrymore appears to have transformed herself into Little Edie in quite a convincing manner, and my once critical view of the concept has now been replaced with cautious optimism.
Below, I've included the trailer for the new HBO film, followed by a clip of the original. And just for fun, I've ended the clips with a video of Rufus Wainwright singing a stirring and wistful song inspired by the original film. Let me know what you think.
Grey Gardens Original Poster
Grey Gardens follows the eccentric pair of Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The mother and daughter lived in near isolation in a huge manor called "Grey Gardens", where they spent their days in a sort of dream world, while allowing the mansion to fall into utter disarray and squalor. The home was filled with trash and cats and all manner of critters, and the women seemed oblivious to the conditions. The Maysals followed the women around their home, capturing their whimsical and sometimes sad existence. It highlighted the bond they had, their dependence on one another, and Little Edie's occasional despair with the situation.
Little Edie is decidedly the star of the film, with her unconventional costumes (as she calls them), her singing and dancing, her ruminations on life in general and "Grey Gardens" in particular, and her strong yet delicate emotional releases; all captured in this funny, warm, and heartbreaking piece of classic cinema. Here is a glimpse of Little Edie her best.
When I heard that a film was being made based on the documentary, I was immediately outraged. How could you even attempt such a thing? How could any actress begin to capture the essence of these extraordinary women? Drew Barrymore as Little Edie?? Absurd!
That said, I have now seen the promotional trailer for the HBO film, I have decided to put those opinions on hold until I see the complete picture. I have to admit that Drew Barrymore appears to have transformed herself into Little Edie in quite a convincing manner, and my once critical view of the concept has now been replaced with cautious optimism.
Below, I've included the trailer for the new HBO film, followed by a clip of the original. And just for fun, I've ended the clips with a video of Rufus Wainwright singing a stirring and wistful song inspired by the original film. Let me know what you think.
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It's on my list!
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Janet, I hope you do watch it. Its just magical and enchanting in some way. I can't quite explain it, but I think it is one of the most poignant portraits of human relationships I've ever seen. It really touched me.
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