Thursday Movie Picks: Period Dramas
1) The Favourite
This film has the perfect title considering it was one of my favorites from last year. If you're iffy on period pieces, this gloriously petty story about Queen Anne and two women vying for her attention is a good place to start.
2) Lady Macbeth
While I didn't love this film I admire it. Following completely unlikable characters is a tough sell but this did it and Florence Pugh was amazing as a young woman sold off into marriage that makes questionable choices.
3) The Edge of Love
This one doesn't go quite as far back as the others but no one ever talks about this film staring Keria Knightley, Sienna Miller and Cillian Murphy in the 1940's. The most famous thing about it is probably the fact that Lindsay Lohan was a trainwreck and dropped out of it (and was replaced by Miller) but it was a fine film.
I have only seen The Favorite, but I wasn't a big fan. The performances were spectacular. I just found all of the main characters detestable. That said "gloriously petty" is the best possible description of that movie.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much petty in that movie, I love it.
DeleteYes for The Favourite! It's like the perfect Period Drama for people who don't like Period Drama :D
ReplyDeleteI hear a lot of people say that, that it's a good gateway period drama. lol
DeleteI had hoped to love The Favourite more than I did. All three women were wonderful-Colman and Rachel Weisz more than Emma Stone though she was fine-but it ultimately let me with a so what feeling.
ReplyDeleteI can say the same for Edge of Love which is a shame because I love that period of history.
Haven't seen Lady MacBeth yet.
I LOVE period films which made it tough to choose. I went with three adaptations of novels that I really loved.
A Room with a View (1985)-In the early years of the 20th century English lass Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham-Carter) is making a tour of Italy with her spinster cousin Charlotte (Maggie Smith). At a pensione in Florence, the pair become acquainted with the expansive Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliott) and his free-spirited son George (Julian Sands). When Charlotte intuits that Lucy is too intrigued by George they depart back to England where Lucy ponders settling down with the wealthy, staid Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis). Unexpectedly George reappears in her life and Lucy must decide between a sensible marriage with Cecil or the riskier true love of George. Lush, brilliantly acted comic drama from Merchant/Ivory based on an E.M. Forster novel.
Maurice (1987)-Another Merchant/Ivory adaptation of an E.M. Forster novel but one that was only able to be published posthumously because of the controversial subject matter. In 1909, Maurice Hall (James Wilby) enters Cambridge, where he befriends wealthy Clive Durham (a very young Hugh Grant). Clive confesses he is sexually attracted to Maurice, who realizes he is a homosexual when he begins to return Clive's feelings. The two embark on an intense but chaste affair to avoid tarnishing Clive's reputation, but eventually the relationship ends, and Clive marries Anne (Phoebe Nicholls). While visiting Clive, Maurice is drawn toward his friend's servant, Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves) and a more meaningful relationship looms for the two. Meticulously made with incisive work by the three leading men.
Mansfield Park (1999)-In 1808 poor relation Fanny Price (Frances O'Connor) comes to live with wealthy uncle Sir Thomas (Harold Pinter), his haughty wife Lady Bertram (Lindsay Duncan) and their four children, at their country mansion-Mansfield Park-where she'll be brought up for a proper introduction to society. Indifferently treated by her relatives, except for her cousin Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller) Fanny's life is thrown into disarray with the arrival of worldly Mary Crawford (Embeth Davidtz) with whom Edmund becomes smitten and her brother Henry (Alessandro Nivola). Cunning, duplicitous and sly they cause endless complications for the entire household until a fateful event comes to pass. Solid adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s lesser known works.
I haven't seen any of your picks but I plan on reading Mansfield Park soon. A Room With A View I've heard so many wonderful things about.
DeleteNice picks! I love The Favourite as well. But the other two have been on my to-watch list forever. Florence Pugh is having an amazing year so far.
ReplyDeleteShe is. Really looking forward to Midsommar
DeleteI think I did see The Favourite..OMG! I can't remember which means it may not have been too memorable for me..or I am losing my mind. I haven't seen your other 2 but the last one sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThe Favourite is amazing you should remember that lol
DeleteYey for Lady MacBeth! Florence was just incredible in that
ReplyDeleteShe was!
DeleteLady MacBeth and The Favourite.... great choices. I enjoyed the hell out of those films. I haven't seen The Edge of Love other than a few nude clips but any film that replaces Hohan w/ Sienna Miller in my opinion is an upgrade.
ReplyDeletelol you've only seen the nude clips.
DeleteI've only seen The Favourite and I was a bit disappointed. Lady MacBeth I'm interested in seeing. Hopefully I'll take it off my watchlist soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it, it's an interesting watch.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these movies, but they all sound interesting! Great list!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Thursday Movie Picks!
Ronyell @ The Surreal Movies and TV Blog
Thank you! I hope you get to check some of them out.
DeleteI've heard good things about Lady Macbeth so I definitely want to see it.
ReplyDeleteI have seen The Edge of Love but the only thing I remember is that it had something to do with Dylan Thomas. I didn't even know Lindsay Lohan was ever attached to it.
Oh yeah, right in the middle of her party girl phase.
DeleteI though about mentioning The Favourite, did I? I think I didn't because I wanted to pick it for some other theme. Now I can't remember what. That movie rocked tho!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens lol. I keep a list of all the TMP topics and fill in the first movies that come to mind on each topic. I'd be lost without it.
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