Category: costume in cinema

I’ve just posted new costume movie reviews, with a raft of 20th c. films (who knew?). Fanny Hill, Wuthering Heights, Affinity, Australia, Brideshead Revisited, Kitt Kittredge, and The Reader. And the Upcoming Movies page has been brought up to date.

In other news, I’ve been hibernating a bit since Costume Con, both due to being wiped but also to force myself to stick to my no-more-last-minute-frenzied-event-sewing mantra (which has been hard, but good). It’s actually worked out well, as I recovered a parasol (one of those many projects I mean to get to but never do as I’m too busy making The Next Big Dress), and am almost done with a new camicia (my just finished last year one was accidentally dyed pink in the wash; faire season is starting up, so it’s important I have everything functioning!). Speaking of which, I’ll be out at Valhalla Faire 2nd weekend (June 6-7) with Bella Donna – maybe I’ll see some of you there?

Updates & links! I reviewed the new BBC Oliver Twist (starring Timothy Spall as Fagin). I’ve updated the upcoming films page with a lot of new listings, and found that PBS (what used to be Masterpiece Theatre and is now) Masterpiece Classics has announced their 2009 lineup; they’ll be showing some repeats, along with the new Tess of the d’Urbervilles (BBC), Wuthering Heights (ITV? does anyone know which production this is?), Oliver Twist (BBC; the one I just reviewed, Little Dorrit (BBC; I’ve seen two episodes and so far I like it), and the Old Curiosity Shop (ITV).

Also, in fixing a few links I reread my review of Dangerous Liaisons and realized that I really needed to update it with this note: Okay, it had to be said. This movie hasn’t aged too well. It’s still really really good, but comparing the costumes to those in more recent/accurate films makes these appear a bit shabby and theatrical. In particular, some of the color choices are off in the women’s gowns (most French gowns of this era were one color in dress, petticoat, stomacher, and trimmings), and the hairstyles are very 1750s (with costumes being 1770s). Which makes me wonder — which costume movies did you used to think were just the be all/end all, and now have been replaced with more interesting/accurate/well done costume movies? While Dangerous Laision used to be mine for 18th century, now I’d say it’s Marie Antoinette and The Duchess.

I managed to get to see The Duchess this weekend, and just posted a pretty detailed review. Short answer – I loved it! What did you think? I am just DYING to wear a really big hedgehog wig now… And I finished and reviewed Lost in Austen (FYI to US viewers, it hasn’t yet aired here yet).

I’ve finally gotten organized enough to write some long overdue movie reviews (and had some time to actually watch movies, too!). Reviews are up for Moliere; Cranford and The Shadow in the North; A Room With a View (2007 miniseries version); Ballet Shoes and Lilies. In other movie news… last weekend we recorded a new Frock Flicks podcast for the Mira Nair Vanity Fair — I’ll link to it when Trystan posts it. And I am watching Lost in Austen (currently being broadcast in the UK), about a modern day woman who ends up in Pride & Prejudice, and altho the costumes are semi-bad and the lead’s refusal to wear her hair in a period style is DRIVING ME CRAZY – I am totally loving it!

I think it’s because I expected it to tell the P&P story with interjections of, “oooo modern girl being ‘modern’ and shocking!” — and while it’s doing this, she is also having an unexpected effect on the story (screwing things up, really, but I’m interested to see what else she’ll screw up and how it’ll get resolved). Also, I’m liking how they are focusing on showing bits that AREN’T told in the novel (and how characters are different when seen “for real” rather than as written, rather than simply reenacting the novel’s scenes).