The Royal Tenenbaums: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Tennis Dress
Posted by
Chris Laverty – February 1, 2010
Gwyneth Paltrow is an external rather than internal actress, meaning she has a sponge like ability to soak up characterisation through dress, make up and hair. She is, first and foremost, how she looks.
In playing literary prodigy Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Gwyneth adopted a sultry bohemian vibe (apparently based on sixties fashion model Nico) that she was not then remotely known for in real life. Whatever emotional connection she brought to the part, her performance was defined by her clothes.
More…
Double Feature: Rosemary’s Baby – KB’s Thoughts
Posted by
KB – January 8, 2010
Part two of a new Double Feature film review.
Based on the 1967 novel by Ira Levin, Rosemary’s Baby is a story about a young couple that is (voluntarily, on the part of the husband, and unwittingly on the part of the wife) lured into a satanic cult. The wife, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) is unknowingly impregnated with Satan’s spawn, and she slowly figures out what is happening to her as the movie progresses. This film gave me nightmares last night. It’s pretty creepy. A warning: do not watch this film if you are pregnant!!
Image courtesy of FrockTalk.com
The young couple, Rosemary and Guy (John Cassavetes), moves into a beautiful Gothic apartment building (The Bramford) in New York City. The building has a shady history according to their old neighbor Hutch (Maurice Evans) – tales of witches’ covens, children being cooked and eaten, people dying and the like. Undaunted, they move in. Rosemary stays at home while her actor husband goes to work. She makes the home comfortable, and soon meets Terri (Angela Dorian), a former junkie who was saved by, and now lives with, the neighbors, Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman (Sidney Blackmer) Castevet. Terri wears an amulet (given to her by Minnie) that contains a stinky substance.
More…
Rosemary’s Baby: Chris and KB Chat About the Film
Posted by
Chris Laverty – January 4, 2010
As a preamble for costume designer Kristin Burke’s upcoming analysis of Rosemary’s Baby (1968), here is an (edited) chat we had about the film, US/UK insults, rude knitting and the Virgin Mary. It’s worth a read.
Kristin Burke: So what I thought was interesting about your review was that it focused on fashion – I think that the film was terribly fashionable, especially for the time. At first glance, the meaning, the purpose of the costumes was lost for me in terms of its fashion. And you really addressed it in talking about Mary Quant.
More…
Double Feature: Rosemary’s Baby – Chris’ Thoughts
Posted by
Chris Laverty – January 1, 2010
Part one of a new Double Feature film review.
Costume designer Anthea Sylbert was prolific following Rosemary’s Baby. Roman Polanski’s atmospheric horror was essentially her big break and apparently one of her toughest challenges too.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) tells the story of young newlyweds Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse (Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes) who move into an apartment building that turns out to be a haven of witches lead by old timers Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer). On the promise of a big career, Guy allows the witches to impregnate Rosemary with the seed of the devil. Rosemary is trapped and alone, surrounded by an evil conspiracy and forced to drop the spawn of Satan on her due date.
More…
