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Reviews
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Perfection on Celluloid
While Edith Wharton may not be to everyone's taste it is hard to argue with the attention to detail and love Scorcese put into the entire film. From the meticulous casting of even the minute roles to the details in upper class living give a flavor to this film that is difficult to find in most other period pieces. Day-Lewis and Pfieffer have very different acting styles and it shows to the advantage of all - the film, the two of them and the movement of the picture. There is not one character who does not have a significant connection with one or the other or both of these characters. While Winona Ryder's performance hits the marks it is the performance of the actress playing Granny Mingott that stays. I see this film at least once a year and never tire of it. No wrong notes in this one!
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)
Close - but not quite there.
In opening up the play Mr. Kelley has lost some of the intimacy which in turn does not allow the fullest expression of grief. Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Danes seem to know this and so are a bit labored in their otherwise good and consistent performances. Michelle Pfiefer (Mrs. Kelley) seems to be mis-cast and appears also not to be giving her all to her performance of the late Gillian. It would be interesting to know how she might of played it with different direction or what another actress may have been able to do with the role. Still it is an excellent portrait of the ways loss and grief influence our lives and become part of who we are. Supporting cast is fine.
Dreamchild (1985)
Lovely, dreamy haze - a visual treat
Coral Browne- supported by an excellent cast plays an aged woman who as a child was the author's inspiration for "Alice in Wonderland". We see a picture of the author via her recollections and her reactions in her current day to the memories. A dream of a film as a viewer is taken along by Coral Browne's character through her long ago experiences with insights into Lewsis Carroll. Presents a unique manner of insight into an historical figure. In this case through the eyes of an old woman who was a child when she knew the author. This is both Alice's story and Mr. Carroll's. Enjoyable for anyone who loved "Alice In Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass". May drag for younger children.