The films competing for the 2023 Best Production Design Oscar are “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Babylon,” “Elvis,” and “The Fabelmans.” Our odds currently indicate that “Babylon” (10/3) will be the winner, followed in order of likelihood by “Elvis” (19/5), “Avatar: The Way of Water” (4/1), “All Quiet on the Western Front” (9/2), and “The Fabelmans” (9/2).
There being 12 individual craftspeople in this lineup makes it the category’s largest since 2010. The last time there were more than this was 1988, when “The Last Emperor” designers Bruno Cesari, Osvaldo Desideri, and Ferdinando Scarfiotti defeated 11 challengers. The current group consists of four past winners and eight newcomers, with those who make up the latter bunch being Karen Murphy (“Elvis”), “All Quiet on the Western Front” duo Ernestine Hipper and Christian M. Goldbeck, “Babylon” pair Anthony Carlino and Florencia Martin, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” trio Dylan Cole, Vanessa Cole, and Ben Procter.
There being 12 individual craftspeople in this lineup makes it the category’s largest since 2010. The last time there were more than this was 1988, when “The Last Emperor” designers Bruno Cesari, Osvaldo Desideri, and Ferdinando Scarfiotti defeated 11 challengers. The current group consists of four past winners and eight newcomers, with those who make up the latter bunch being Karen Murphy (“Elvis”), “All Quiet on the Western Front” duo Ernestine Hipper and Christian M. Goldbeck, “Babylon” pair Anthony Carlino and Florencia Martin, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” trio Dylan Cole, Vanessa Cole, and Ben Procter.
- 3/12/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
In a decade of numerous masterpieces, one of the towering cinematic feats of the 1970s was Bernardo Bertolucci’s Alberto Moravia adaptation The Conformist. With jaw-dropping cinematography from Vittorio Storaro, stunning production design from Ferdinando Scarfiotti, and an iconic Georges Delerue score, the film will return in a new 4K restoration to kick off 2023. Ahead of a January 6 opening at Film Forum, we’re pleased to share the first look at the restoration––sourced from the original camera negative––with the exclusive trailer premiere, courtesy of Kino Lorber.
In Mussolini’s Italy, repressed Jean-Louis Trintignant, trying to purge memories of a youthful, homosexual episode––and murder––joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in. As the reluctant Judas motors to his personal Gethsemane (the assassination of his leftist mentor), he flashes back to a dance party for the blind; an insane asylum in a stadium; and wife Stefania Sandrelli...
In Mussolini’s Italy, repressed Jean-Louis Trintignant, trying to purge memories of a youthful, homosexual episode––and murder––joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in. As the reluctant Judas motors to his personal Gethsemane (the assassination of his leftist mentor), he flashes back to a dance party for the blind; an insane asylum in a stadium; and wife Stefania Sandrelli...
- 12/7/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
“Scarface,” which opened Dec. 9, 1983, made money at the box office but wasn’t immediately profitable. However, in the 36 years since, the film has been embraced as a classic. The project started as a 1930 pulp novel by Armitage Trail, inspired by gangster Al Capone, whose nickname was Scarface. On April 6, 1982, Variety announced star Al Pacino and director Sidney Lumet were working on a remake of the 1932 film, but before long, Brian De Palma stepped in as director. The original budget was $13 million-$14 million. When production wrapped in summer 1983, Variety reported the cost had ballooned to $37 million.
Just before the film’s holiday launch, Universal held a New York premiere screening and a party at Sardi’s, with an eclectic mix of guests including Cher, Raquel Welch, Lucille Ball, Eddie Murphy and Kurt Vonnegut, “who walked out during the grisly chainsaw shower scene,” Variety reported. The article added that an on-screen dedication...
Just before the film’s holiday launch, Universal held a New York premiere screening and a party at Sardi’s, with an eclectic mix of guests including Cher, Raquel Welch, Lucille Ball, Eddie Murphy and Kurt Vonnegut, “who walked out during the grisly chainsaw shower scene,” Variety reported. The article added that an on-screen dedication...
- 12/6/2019
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
High class Italo filmmaking slips into the ’70s with Luchino Visconti still on top. This handsomely appointed period drama recreates Venice of 1910. Make that a highly stylized recreated Venice. As curiously enacted by Dirk Bogarde, Thomas Mann’s story of a composer’s inner turmoil over a maddeningly attractive teenaged boy becomes a one-man ordeal.
Death in Venice
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 962
1971 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date February 25, 2019 / 39.95
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Romolo Valli, Mark Burns, Nora Ricci, Marisa Berenson,
Carole André, Björn Andrésen, Silvana Mangano.
Cinematography: Pasquale De Santis
Costume Designer: Piero Tosi
Art Direction: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Music selections: Gustav Mahler, Beethoven, Mussorgsky
Film Editor: Ruggero Mastroianni
Written by Luchino Visconti, Nicola Badalucco from the novel by Thomas Mann
Produced by Robert Gordon Edwards, Mario Gallo, Luchino Visconti
Directed by Luchino Visconti
See Venice and die… or isn’t it supposed to be ‘see Rome and die?...
Death in Venice
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 962
1971 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date February 25, 2019 / 39.95
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Romolo Valli, Mark Burns, Nora Ricci, Marisa Berenson,
Carole André, Björn Andrésen, Silvana Mangano.
Cinematography: Pasquale De Santis
Costume Designer: Piero Tosi
Art Direction: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Music selections: Gustav Mahler, Beethoven, Mussorgsky
Film Editor: Ruggero Mastroianni
Written by Luchino Visconti, Nicola Badalucco from the novel by Thomas Mann
Produced by Robert Gordon Edwards, Mario Gallo, Luchino Visconti
Directed by Luchino Visconti
See Venice and die… or isn’t it supposed to be ‘see Rome and die?...
- 2/23/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
“Scarface,” which opened Dec. 9, 1983, made money at the box office but wasn’t immediately profitable. In the 35 years since then, the film has been embraced as a classic. On April 6, 1982, Variety announced star Al Pacino and director Sidney Lumet were working on a remake of the 1932 film, but before long Brian De Palma stepped in as director. The original budget was $13 million-$14 million. When production wrapped in summer 1983, the cost had ballooned to $37 million.
Just before its holiday launch, Universal held a New York premiere screening and a party at Sardi’s, with guests including Cher, Raquel Welch, Lucille Ball, Eddie Murphy and Kurt Vonnegut, “who walked out during the grisly chainsaw shower scene,” Variety reported. The story added that an on-screen dedication at the end to Ben Hecht and Howard Hawks of the 1932 original “elicited a few angry boos from the mainly trade audience.”
The project started as a 1929 pulp novel by Armitage Trail,...
Just before its holiday launch, Universal held a New York premiere screening and a party at Sardi’s, with guests including Cher, Raquel Welch, Lucille Ball, Eddie Murphy and Kurt Vonnegut, “who walked out during the grisly chainsaw shower scene,” Variety reported. The story added that an on-screen dedication at the end to Ben Hecht and Howard Hawks of the 1932 original “elicited a few angry boos from the mainly trade audience.”
The project started as a 1929 pulp novel by Armitage Trail,...
- 12/7/2018
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
"The Furniture," by Daniel Walber, is our weekly series on Production Design. You can click on the images to see them in magnified detail.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Barry Levinson’s Toys, a film you don’t hear about very much anymore. It wasn’t exactly beloved at the time, certainly, and wound up with a Razzie nomination for Worst Director. However, it also showed up at the Oscars, receiving nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. At the very least, it remains a pleasant reminder that sometimes even flops are given a fair shake by the Academy’s craft branches.
And now, in the dramatically different context of 2017, it deserves some renewed attention. Its critique of militarism and toxic masculinity has aged surprisingly well, as have the more committed of the performances. Joan Cusack’s absurd turn as the eternally childlike Alsatia is at the top of the list.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Barry Levinson’s Toys, a film you don’t hear about very much anymore. It wasn’t exactly beloved at the time, certainly, and wound up with a Razzie nomination for Worst Director. However, it also showed up at the Oscars, receiving nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. At the very least, it remains a pleasant reminder that sometimes even flops are given a fair shake by the Academy’s craft branches.
And now, in the dramatically different context of 2017, it deserves some renewed attention. Its critique of militarism and toxic masculinity has aged surprisingly well, as have the more committed of the performances. Joan Cusack’s absurd turn as the eternally childlike Alsatia is at the top of the list.
- 12/18/2017
- by Daniel Walber
- FilmExperience
Need a break from violence, misery, and injustice? Or maybe just the network TV news? Billy Wilder’s last great comic romance is an Italian vacation soaked in music, food, scenery and sunshine. It’s the best movie ever about Love and Funerals.
Avanti!
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1972 / Color/ 1:85 widescreen / 140 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, Clive Revill, Edward Andrews, Harry Ray, Guidarino Guidi, Franco Acampora, Sergio Bruni, Ty Hardin.
Cinematography: Luigi Kuveiller
Film Editor: Ralph Winters
Art direction: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Music Arranger: Carlo Rustichelli
Italian standards by Gino Paoli, Giuseppi Capaldo, Vittoriao Fassone, Don Backy, Detto Mariano, Sergio Brui, Salvatore Cardillo, Umberto Bertini, Paolo Marchetti.
Written by I.A.L Diamond and Billy Wilder from a play by Samuel L. Taylor
Produced and Directed by Billy Wilder
When Billy Wilder was reaching advanced old age, good friends rallied to make sure...
Avanti!
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1972 / Color/ 1:85 widescreen / 140 min. / Street Date October 10, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, Clive Revill, Edward Andrews, Harry Ray, Guidarino Guidi, Franco Acampora, Sergio Bruni, Ty Hardin.
Cinematography: Luigi Kuveiller
Film Editor: Ralph Winters
Art direction: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Music Arranger: Carlo Rustichelli
Italian standards by Gino Paoli, Giuseppi Capaldo, Vittoriao Fassone, Don Backy, Detto Mariano, Sergio Brui, Salvatore Cardillo, Umberto Bertini, Paolo Marchetti.
Written by I.A.L Diamond and Billy Wilder from a play by Samuel L. Taylor
Produced and Directed by Billy Wilder
When Billy Wilder was reaching advanced old age, good friends rallied to make sure...
- 10/7/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The Conformist
Written and directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
Italy, 1970
When first introduced to the improved quality of Blu-ray technology, there were about a dozen films I couldn’t wait to see in the format. These were movies of extraordinary beauty that I knew would surely benefit from the enhanced visual resolution. Now, with the arrival of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist on a stunning new Raro Video edition, another one of those titles can be scratched off the list. What makes this an exciting release, however, goes beyond the look of the picture (though that is paramount). This is, in every regard, one of the greatest films ever made.
The Conformist is a complex chronicle of the tormented, ruthless, and devious Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a rising-through-the-ranks Fascist enforcer. The film is a fascinating look at the extent to which one will go to escape the past, fit in with the present,...
Written and directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
Italy, 1970
When first introduced to the improved quality of Blu-ray technology, there were about a dozen films I couldn’t wait to see in the format. These were movies of extraordinary beauty that I knew would surely benefit from the enhanced visual resolution. Now, with the arrival of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist on a stunning new Raro Video edition, another one of those titles can be scratched off the list. What makes this an exciting release, however, goes beyond the look of the picture (though that is paramount). This is, in every regard, one of the greatest films ever made.
The Conformist is a complex chronicle of the tormented, ruthless, and devious Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a rising-through-the-ranks Fascist enforcer. The film is a fascinating look at the extent to which one will go to escape the past, fit in with the present,...
- 12/3/2014
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
Marlene Dietrich Grandson J. Michael Riva, Robert Clatworthy, and Harper Goff: Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame 2014 Production Designers Robert Clatworthy, Harper Goff, and J. Michael Riva will be posthumously inducted into the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame at the 18th Art Directors Guild Awards ceremony, to be held on February 8, 2014, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Photo: Production designer J. Michael Riva.) J. Michael Riva J. Michael Riva (1948-2012), grandson of Marlene Dietrich (The Blue Angel, Shanghai Express, A Foreign Affair), was production designer for Stuart Rosenberg / Robert Redford’s 1980 socially conscious drama Brubaker. Later on, Redford hired Riva as the art director for Ordinary People, also released in 1980. Riva’s other production design credits include the Lethal Weapon movies starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; A Few Good Men (1992), with Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore; The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), with Will Smith; Spider-Man 3 (2007), with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst,...
- 9/12/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The Conformist
It's easy to see why this 1970 film from Bernardo Bertolucci is held in such great regard. It shows such a high level of ambition, style and care that it's impossible not to be impressed.
Jean-Louis Trintignant plays the aristocratic Marcello, a man who strives to be normal and unnoticed following several traumatic childhood incidents of unwanted attention. He gets a civil service job and marries a woman he considers dull, everything expected of him in order to blend in. He joins Mussolini's fascist party, the popular choice at the time. But he joins them not out of belief or fear, simply to follow the herd, arguably even more unforgivable. The film is more philosophical than political, as Marcello is assigned a mission to assassinate his old professor, who has been vocal against the fascists. His lack of stance and character makes him an increasingly pathetic and empty figure,...
It's easy to see why this 1970 film from Bernardo Bertolucci is held in such great regard. It shows such a high level of ambition, style and care that it's impossible not to be impressed.
Jean-Louis Trintignant plays the aristocratic Marcello, a man who strives to be normal and unnoticed following several traumatic childhood incidents of unwanted attention. He gets a civil service job and marries a woman he considers dull, everything expected of him in order to blend in. He joins Mussolini's fascist party, the popular choice at the time. But he joins them not out of belief or fear, simply to follow the herd, arguably even more unforgivable. The film is more philosophical than political, as Marcello is assigned a mission to assassinate his old professor, who has been vocal against the fascists. His lack of stance and character makes him an increasingly pathetic and empty figure,...
- 2/25/2012
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
The Hurt Locker, Avatar and Sherlock Holmes were the big winners at the Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday.
The Hurt Locker claimed the Best Contemporary Film award, while Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes was named Best Period Film and Avatar landed the Best Fantasy Film honour at the annual prize-giving in Los Angeles.
Weeds, Mad Men and Hell’s Kitchen ruled the TV categories.
Warren Beatty was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Cinematic Imagery Award and Oscar-winning production designer Terence Marsh received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while three production designers - Malcolm F Brown, Bob Keene and Ferdinando Scarfiotti - were inducted into the Adg Hall of Fame.
The Hurt Locker claimed the Best Contemporary Film award, while Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes was named Best Period Film and Avatar landed the Best Fantasy Film honour at the annual prize-giving in Los Angeles.
Weeds, Mad Men and Hell’s Kitchen ruled the TV categories.
Warren Beatty was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Cinematic Imagery Award and Oscar-winning production designer Terence Marsh received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while three production designers - Malcolm F Brown, Bob Keene and Ferdinando Scarfiotti - were inducted into the Adg Hall of Fame.
- 2/15/2010
- WENN
The Art Directors Guild (Adg) gathered for the 14th Annual 'Excellence in 2009 Production Design Awards' February 13, @ the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills.
Established in 1937, The Art Directors Guild (Iatse Local 800) represents 2,000 members from the Us, Canada and internationally, as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors, Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists, Illustrators, Matte Artists, Set Designers and Model Makers.
Over 700 attended the event, presided by Adg Chairman Thomas A. Walsh, with comedian Paula Poundstone hosting, starting off with a short film by director Cindy Peters.
Honorary awards were presented to Production Designer Terence Marsh for 'Lifetime Achievement', to Warren Beatty for 'Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery' and to Production Designer Michael Baugh for 'Creative Leadership'.
Presenters included Kevin Alejandro ("Southland"); director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker"); Jim Bissell (Governor, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences); Albert Brenner (Production Designer); Rick Carter (Production Designer); Richard Chamberlain ("Shogun...
Established in 1937, The Art Directors Guild (Iatse Local 800) represents 2,000 members from the Us, Canada and internationally, as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors, Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists, Illustrators, Matte Artists, Set Designers and Model Makers.
Over 700 attended the event, presided by Adg Chairman Thomas A. Walsh, with comedian Paula Poundstone hosting, starting off with a short film by director Cindy Peters.
Honorary awards were presented to Production Designer Terence Marsh for 'Lifetime Achievement', to Warren Beatty for 'Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery' and to Production Designer Michael Baugh for 'Creative Leadership'.
Presenters included Kevin Alejandro ("Southland"); director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker"); Jim Bissell (Governor, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences); Albert Brenner (Production Designer); Rick Carter (Production Designer); Richard Chamberlain ("Shogun...
- 2/14/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
"Avatar," "The Hurt Locker" and "Sherlock Holmes" were the feature winner's at the Art Directors Guild's 14th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards, where they topped the categories for fantasy, contemporary and period film, respectively.
ADG Awards recognition goes to the production designer, art director and assistant art director of each nominated and winning project.
Winners "Avatar" and "Sherlock Holmes" are both nominated for Oscars in art direction. At the Academy Awards, that category is rounded out by "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," "Nine" and "The Young Victoria."
ADG winners in the television categories included "Mad Men," "Grey Gardens," "Weeds" and "Hell's Kitchen."
Held Saturday evening at the Beverly Hilton, the ADG Awards attracted an estimated 700 guests, including "Avatar" director James Cameron and "Hurt Locker" helmer Kathryn Bigelow, who was also a presenter.
Gene Wilder presented the lifetime achievement award to Terence Marsh -- who earned Oscars for "Oliver!" and "Doctor Zhivago.
ADG Awards recognition goes to the production designer, art director and assistant art director of each nominated and winning project.
Winners "Avatar" and "Sherlock Holmes" are both nominated for Oscars in art direction. At the Academy Awards, that category is rounded out by "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," "Nine" and "The Young Victoria."
ADG winners in the television categories included "Mad Men," "Grey Gardens," "Weeds" and "Hell's Kitchen."
Held Saturday evening at the Beverly Hilton, the ADG Awards attracted an estimated 700 guests, including "Avatar" director James Cameron and "Hurt Locker" helmer Kathryn Bigelow, who was also a presenter.
Gene Wilder presented the lifetime achievement award to Terence Marsh -- who earned Oscars for "Oliver!" and "Doctor Zhivago.
- 2/14/2010
- by By Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two of the top contenders for best picture at the Oscars -- "The Hurt Locker" and "Avatar" -- were also named two of the best-looking films of 2009 over the weekend.
The two movies were winners at the Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday (Feb. 13). "Avatar" won for excellence in production design for a fantasy film, while "The Hurt Locker" took the honor for contemporary film. "Sherlock Holmes" was given the award for period film.
In the TV categories, "Mad Men" won for single-camera TV series, "Weeds" for half-hour single camera series, "Grey Gardens" for TV movie/miniseries and "Hell's Kitchen" for multi-camera, variety or unscripted show. The 2009 Grammy Awards won the honor for awards, music or game shows.
The night's final award, for commercials and music videos, went to an Absolut vodka ad, "In an Absolut World."
The guild also inducted three members into its Hall of Fame: Malcolm F. Brown ("The Twilight Zone,...
The two movies were winners at the Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday (Feb. 13). "Avatar" won for excellence in production design for a fantasy film, while "The Hurt Locker" took the honor for contemporary film. "Sherlock Holmes" was given the award for period film.
In the TV categories, "Mad Men" won for single-camera TV series, "Weeds" for half-hour single camera series, "Grey Gardens" for TV movie/miniseries and "Hell's Kitchen" for multi-camera, variety or unscripted show. The 2009 Grammy Awards won the honor for awards, music or game shows.
The night's final award, for commercials and music videos, went to an Absolut vodka ad, "In an Absolut World."
The guild also inducted three members into its Hall of Fame: Malcolm F. Brown ("The Twilight Zone,...
- 2/14/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
The lush and iridescent forests of "Avatar," the sooty Victorian London of "Sherlock Holmes" and even the trashed, morning-after Vegas suites of "The Hangover" all caught the collective eye of the Art Directors Guild, which announced its nominations Friday.
The Adg, which will hold its 14th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 13 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, unveiled noms in nine categories, covering movies, TV, commercials and music videos.
In the category of fantasy film, "Avatar" will do battle with two other sci-fi titles -- "District 9" and "Star Trek" -- as well as the book adaptations "Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince" and "Where the Wild Things Are."
The nominees for period film range from "Sherlock Holmes," set in the 19th century, to the Depression-era America of "Public Enemies" to the World War II France of "Inglourious Basterds" as well as the post-war France of "Julie & Julia" and...
The Adg, which will hold its 14th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 13 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, unveiled noms in nine categories, covering movies, TV, commercials and music videos.
In the category of fantasy film, "Avatar" will do battle with two other sci-fi titles -- "District 9" and "Star Trek" -- as well as the book adaptations "Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince" and "Where the Wild Things Are."
The nominees for period film range from "Sherlock Holmes," set in the 19th century, to the Depression-era America of "Public Enemies" to the World War II France of "Inglourious Basterds" as well as the post-war France of "Julie & Julia" and...
- 1/8/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warren Beatty will receive the Art Directors Guild’s Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award, "given to an individual whose body of work in the film industry has richly enhanced the visual aspects of the movie-going experience," at the ADG Awards ceremony on February 13, 2010, at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Nine other ADG awards will also be presented, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award for production designer Terence Marsh (Mary Queen of Scots, A Touch of Class, Clear and Present Danger, The Green Mile). Additionally, three production designers will be inducted into the Adg’s Hall of Fame: Malcolm F. Brown, Bob Keene, and Ferdinando Scarfiotti. Among the 72-year-old Beatty’s [...]...
- 11/10/2009
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
An Italian film director sets out to recreate an epic Chinese story as an independent film and entirely in English and goes on to win nine Oscars. Sound unlikely? Well, in most cases it probably would be, but Bernardo Bertolucci did just that with The Last Emperor in 1987 as he set out to tell the story of a 3-year-old boy who became Emperor of China with 400 million people as his subjects on an unlikely path to becoming a gardener in Peking. The success of the film is almost as unimaginable as the story behind it and Criterion has set out to ensure you know Everything there is to know about this movie and its place in history with a Blu-ray edition that takes three (of the four) DVDs worth of material and places it all on one disc. Speak ill of the high-definition format no more as the thought of...
- 1/5/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
With nearly an hour of extra footage, mostly in added shots and small sequences, Bernardo Bertolucci's much-honored "The Last Emperor" is even more impressive in distributor Artisan Entertainment's "original director's cut" -- a sumptuous feast in Los Angeles at the Nuart and for cineastes in San Francisco and Chicago.
Now running 219 minutes (and shown disappointingly without an intermission), this winner of nine Academy Awards including best picture was released in 1987 and boldly portrays the life of Pu Yi with unparalleled access to the Forbidden City, where the young emperor lived for 16 years. Few movies before or since have so successfully combined the showmanship of widescreen filmmaking with rigorous, literate storytelling and delicate psychological characterizations.
Comparing the two versions is startling, with the longer captivating one in a more satisfying, big-movie fashion -- particularly in the first two hours. Along with more exquisitely beautiful scenes from Pu Yi's youth, including the entirely new story of how his beloved wet nurse (Jade Go) came to the Forbidden City, the present version has more details of the lead's harsh transformation through imprisonment and interrogation, including his complex relationship with the prison governor (Ying Ruocheng).
While the cutting between the adult Pu Yi (John Lone) as a war criminal and his coming of age in the turbulent early years of this century is the same in both editions, this preferred length allows one to fully digest the flavors and themes of Bertolucci and Mark Peploe's Oscar-winning screenplay. Historical but dramatic and highlighted by luminous performances (Peter O'Toole, Joan Chen) and breathtaking crowd scenes, "The Last Emperor" is a masterpiece with a few reservations that are not dismissed in either case.
The interrogators themselves hurry up the story by having Pu Yi move on to his involvement with the Japanese in the 1930s and World War II. The provocative Eastern Jewel (Maggie Han) still shows up out of the blue to create a new threesome for the playboy emperor in exile, and the Cultural Revolution, near the ironic conclusion, is not as well-explained as other eras portrayed.
Also winning Academy Awards for direction, editing, art direction, cinematography, costume design, scoring and sound, "The Last Emperor" is without question a tremendously impressive work of entertainment and art that soars on the big screen and makes a handsome home-viewing collector's item.
THE LAST EMPEROR ORIGINAL DIRECTOR'S CUT
Artisan Entertainment
In association with Recorded Picture Co. Hemdale Film Corp.
A Jeremy Thomas production
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer: Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriters: Mark Peploe, Bernardo Bertolucci
Director of photography: Vittorio Storaro
Production designer: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Editor: Gabriella Cristiani
Costume designer: James Acheson
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, Cong Su
Color/stereo
Cast:
Pu Yi (adult): John Lone
Wan Jung: Joan Chen
Reginald Johnston: Peter O'Toole
The Governor: Ying Ruocheng
Chen Pao Shen: Victor Wong
Eastern Jewel: Maggie Han
Ar Mo: Jade Go
Running time -- 219 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Now running 219 minutes (and shown disappointingly without an intermission), this winner of nine Academy Awards including best picture was released in 1987 and boldly portrays the life of Pu Yi with unparalleled access to the Forbidden City, where the young emperor lived for 16 years. Few movies before or since have so successfully combined the showmanship of widescreen filmmaking with rigorous, literate storytelling and delicate psychological characterizations.
Comparing the two versions is startling, with the longer captivating one in a more satisfying, big-movie fashion -- particularly in the first two hours. Along with more exquisitely beautiful scenes from Pu Yi's youth, including the entirely new story of how his beloved wet nurse (Jade Go) came to the Forbidden City, the present version has more details of the lead's harsh transformation through imprisonment and interrogation, including his complex relationship with the prison governor (Ying Ruocheng).
While the cutting between the adult Pu Yi (John Lone) as a war criminal and his coming of age in the turbulent early years of this century is the same in both editions, this preferred length allows one to fully digest the flavors and themes of Bertolucci and Mark Peploe's Oscar-winning screenplay. Historical but dramatic and highlighted by luminous performances (Peter O'Toole, Joan Chen) and breathtaking crowd scenes, "The Last Emperor" is a masterpiece with a few reservations that are not dismissed in either case.
The interrogators themselves hurry up the story by having Pu Yi move on to his involvement with the Japanese in the 1930s and World War II. The provocative Eastern Jewel (Maggie Han) still shows up out of the blue to create a new threesome for the playboy emperor in exile, and the Cultural Revolution, near the ironic conclusion, is not as well-explained as other eras portrayed.
Also winning Academy Awards for direction, editing, art direction, cinematography, costume design, scoring and sound, "The Last Emperor" is without question a tremendously impressive work of entertainment and art that soars on the big screen and makes a handsome home-viewing collector's item.
THE LAST EMPEROR ORIGINAL DIRECTOR'S CUT
Artisan Entertainment
In association with Recorded Picture Co. Hemdale Film Corp.
A Jeremy Thomas production
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer: Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriters: Mark Peploe, Bernardo Bertolucci
Director of photography: Vittorio Storaro
Production designer: Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Editor: Gabriella Cristiani
Costume designer: James Acheson
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, Cong Su
Color/stereo
Cast:
Pu Yi (adult): John Lone
Wan Jung: Joan Chen
Reginald Johnston: Peter O'Toole
The Governor: Ying Ruocheng
Chen Pao Shen: Victor Wong
Eastern Jewel: Maggie Han
Ar Mo: Jade Go
Running time -- 219 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/30/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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