Greetings again from the darkness. In the mode of "Beaches" and "Ghost", though definitely a step up in depth and class from either of those pure chick flicks. Sure this one is filled with women, but the enchanting story is truly about living one's life to the fullest and recognizing that regrets or "mistakes" are really not that at all.
Vanessa Redgrave plays Ann on her death bed and Claire Danes is the twenty-something Ann in flashbacks. Redgrave's real life daughter Natasha Richardson plays one of her daughters along with Toni Collette. Meryl Streep plays Ann's lifelong friend Lila and Streep's real life daughter Mamie Gummer plays bride to be young Lila in the flashbacks. If that isn't enough women for you, a truly frightening looking Glenn Close plays young Lila's well-bred mother and Eileen Atkins is terrific as the night nurse, who doubles up as Redgrave's personal angel.
OK, there really are a couple of guys in the film. Patrick Wilson ("Little Children") plays Harris, the doctor whom both Lila and Ann carry a lifelong torch for. Wilson needs to be careful or his career will be defined as the "other man". In a tremendous performance, up and comer Hugh Dancy plays Buddy, Lila's brother who pines for Ann through the bottom of a bottle.
Redgrave is magnificent in her role and the scenes with she and Streep in bed are truly moving. In a film with nice performances, Claire Danes again steals the spotlight. She is absolutely amazing. Two scenes really stand out for her. Seeing her come alive after singing at the wedding as she rambles on about her dreams is mesmerizing. At the opposite end of emotions, when she lights into Buddy at the cliff, we can really feel her pent up frustrations. Happy and Mad done very well.
This one will be classified as a chick flick, but it is much more. A well written story, beautifully filmed by first time director and long time cinematographer Lajos Koltai, and incredibly well acted throughout. This is quality film-making.
Vanessa Redgrave plays Ann on her death bed and Claire Danes is the twenty-something Ann in flashbacks. Redgrave's real life daughter Natasha Richardson plays one of her daughters along with Toni Collette. Meryl Streep plays Ann's lifelong friend Lila and Streep's real life daughter Mamie Gummer plays bride to be young Lila in the flashbacks. If that isn't enough women for you, a truly frightening looking Glenn Close plays young Lila's well-bred mother and Eileen Atkins is terrific as the night nurse, who doubles up as Redgrave's personal angel.
OK, there really are a couple of guys in the film. Patrick Wilson ("Little Children") plays Harris, the doctor whom both Lila and Ann carry a lifelong torch for. Wilson needs to be careful or his career will be defined as the "other man". In a tremendous performance, up and comer Hugh Dancy plays Buddy, Lila's brother who pines for Ann through the bottom of a bottle.
Redgrave is magnificent in her role and the scenes with she and Streep in bed are truly moving. In a film with nice performances, Claire Danes again steals the spotlight. She is absolutely amazing. Two scenes really stand out for her. Seeing her come alive after singing at the wedding as she rambles on about her dreams is mesmerizing. At the opposite end of emotions, when she lights into Buddy at the cliff, we can really feel her pent up frustrations. Happy and Mad done very well.
This one will be classified as a chick flick, but it is much more. A well written story, beautifully filmed by first time director and long time cinematographer Lajos Koltai, and incredibly well acted throughout. This is quality film-making.