My comments are based on the video release of this film. I only just learned through the IMDb that a three-hour and even a four-hour version of this film exists, so some of my criticisms may not apply to those longer edits. There may be some spoilers, but since the film more-or-less follows Audrey's well-known life, there's little surprise to ruin.
Based on negative reviews I had read of Jennifer Hewitt's performance, I decided to reserve judgement on this movie until i actually watched it. For one thing, I knew any project attempting to cover the life of such a beloved star is doomed to failure based on impossibly high expectations. That's why we haven't seen a Cary Grant or Ingrid Bergman movie and only recently did Judy Garland's story make it to the screen.
The Audrey Hepburn Story could have been so much better, even with JLH in the lead. There were so many opportunities for dramatic payoffs that were ignored. In the 134-minute edit, Audrey is shown moaning about her dancing and singing ability -- yet the production of Funny Face is IGNORED, even though it would have been a perfect payoff to these worries (since the producers end the show at Breakfast at Tiffany's and ignore My Fair Lady). Also ignored is the animosity towards her on the set of Sabrina by the worst Bogart impersonator ever to appear on film. This would have been a nice preamble to Audrey's later attempts to woo Truman Capote, but it doesn't happen. There are a couple of throwaway lines, but there could have been some real tension shown between Audrey and Bogie, but they didn't bother.
I was also not impressed at some of the sloppiness and factual errors. Audrey is shown playing a succession of cigarette girls in her early films when in fact she only played ONE. They also show Roman Holiday being filmed in what appears to be a Hollywood studio when everyone knows it was shot on location in Rome. And they have Audrey's miscarriage happening immediately after her accident on the set of The Unforgiven when it happened months later -- while her earlier miscarriage during War and Peace seems to be ignored completely.
Jennifer Love Hewitt's performance is variable. In the opening few minutes she DOES do a good job of imitating Audrey. Her look and her voice work really well and she gets to deliver some good lines. BUT ... it's not enough to sustain an entire movie.
I was much more impressed with the young actress who played teenage Audrey. They should have waited a few years and hired HER for the main role.
Frances Fisher was OK as Audrey's mom, though she came across as playing a variation of Kate Winslet's mom from Titanic. Kier (2001) Dullea is good as Audrey's dad, but the way this subplot is approached is all wrong and completely different from reality. (Spoiler alert): in this movie, Audrey leaves her father saddened and estranged, but in real life she maintained close ties with her dad until he died.
To sum up: The movie misses a lot of opportunities, makes sloppy factual errors, and relies too heavily on an actress who is not right for the role (but then I don't think anyone would be considered good enough). On the good side, the Breakfast at Tiffany's recreations work well (though "Blake Edwards" looks like he's fresh out of high school and the Capote imitator is hilarious), and there are a few other moments where the film ALMOST works. But it's not enough. It's not a good sign when the 10 seconds of REAL footage of Audrey Hepburn seen at the end outshines the previous 133 minutes.
Here's hoping someone -- like Sir Richard Attenborough -- someday tries again to give Audrey's story justice.
Based on negative reviews I had read of Jennifer Hewitt's performance, I decided to reserve judgement on this movie until i actually watched it. For one thing, I knew any project attempting to cover the life of such a beloved star is doomed to failure based on impossibly high expectations. That's why we haven't seen a Cary Grant or Ingrid Bergman movie and only recently did Judy Garland's story make it to the screen.
The Audrey Hepburn Story could have been so much better, even with JLH in the lead. There were so many opportunities for dramatic payoffs that were ignored. In the 134-minute edit, Audrey is shown moaning about her dancing and singing ability -- yet the production of Funny Face is IGNORED, even though it would have been a perfect payoff to these worries (since the producers end the show at Breakfast at Tiffany's and ignore My Fair Lady). Also ignored is the animosity towards her on the set of Sabrina by the worst Bogart impersonator ever to appear on film. This would have been a nice preamble to Audrey's later attempts to woo Truman Capote, but it doesn't happen. There are a couple of throwaway lines, but there could have been some real tension shown between Audrey and Bogie, but they didn't bother.
I was also not impressed at some of the sloppiness and factual errors. Audrey is shown playing a succession of cigarette girls in her early films when in fact she only played ONE. They also show Roman Holiday being filmed in what appears to be a Hollywood studio when everyone knows it was shot on location in Rome. And they have Audrey's miscarriage happening immediately after her accident on the set of The Unforgiven when it happened months later -- while her earlier miscarriage during War and Peace seems to be ignored completely.
Jennifer Love Hewitt's performance is variable. In the opening few minutes she DOES do a good job of imitating Audrey. Her look and her voice work really well and she gets to deliver some good lines. BUT ... it's not enough to sustain an entire movie.
I was much more impressed with the young actress who played teenage Audrey. They should have waited a few years and hired HER for the main role.
Frances Fisher was OK as Audrey's mom, though she came across as playing a variation of Kate Winslet's mom from Titanic. Kier (2001) Dullea is good as Audrey's dad, but the way this subplot is approached is all wrong and completely different from reality. (Spoiler alert): in this movie, Audrey leaves her father saddened and estranged, but in real life she maintained close ties with her dad until he died.
To sum up: The movie misses a lot of opportunities, makes sloppy factual errors, and relies too heavily on an actress who is not right for the role (but then I don't think anyone would be considered good enough). On the good side, the Breakfast at Tiffany's recreations work well (though "Blake Edwards" looks like he's fresh out of high school and the Capote imitator is hilarious), and there are a few other moments where the film ALMOST works. But it's not enough. It's not a good sign when the 10 seconds of REAL footage of Audrey Hepburn seen at the end outshines the previous 133 minutes.
Here's hoping someone -- like Sir Richard Attenborough -- someday tries again to give Audrey's story justice.