Jason KingTrailer of the Day: Julie Taymor's THE TEMPEST
October 5th 2010 19:09
:
VISUAL SPLENDOUR SHAKESPEARE STYLE
Category: Trailers
In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's mystical thriller The Tempest, Academy Award-nominated Julie Taymor brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Prospera's journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.
JUlie Taymor makes amazing films with Across the Universe and Titus being my two faves. She knows how to do Shakespeare and she knows how to work with a good cast. She also deserves an award for making Jonathan Rhys Meyers look like a good actor (Titus). In this film she again has an incredible, if at times bizarre, cast. Helen Mirren, Russell Brand (who looks a bit out of place), Reeve Carney (is damn hot, and starred in Spread and Snow Falling on Cedars), Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Ben Whishaw.
The decision to switch the gender of the lead character was a diving board to a whole new appreciation of the play. It had everything to do with Helen Mirren and a coincidental exchange that Julie Taymor had with the actress. When Taymor encountered Helen Mirren at a party, she had already envisioned Mirren in the role and their conversation cemented her decision. "We were talking Shakespeare," Taymor recollects, "and she had no idea I was planning this film when she mentioned that the first Shakespeare she ever did was Caliban in 'The Tempest,' and she actually said to me, 'You know, I could play Prospero-as a woman.' And I said, 'Do you want to? Because I've been preparing a film version of "The Tempest" with exactly that in mind.' And, fortunately, she said yes."
This releases on December 10 in the US with no Australian release date announced as yet.
JUlie Taymor makes amazing films with Across the Universe and Titus being my two faves. She knows how to do Shakespeare and she knows how to work with a good cast. She also deserves an award for making Jonathan Rhys Meyers look like a good actor (Titus). In this film she again has an incredible, if at times bizarre, cast. Helen Mirren, Russell Brand (who looks a bit out of place), Reeve Carney (is damn hot, and starred in Spread and Snow Falling on Cedars), Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Ben Whishaw.
The decision to switch the gender of the lead character was a diving board to a whole new appreciation of the play. It had everything to do with Helen Mirren and a coincidental exchange that Julie Taymor had with the actress. When Taymor encountered Helen Mirren at a party, she had already envisioned Mirren in the role and their conversation cemented her decision. "We were talking Shakespeare," Taymor recollects, "and she had no idea I was planning this film when she mentioned that the first Shakespeare she ever did was Caliban in 'The Tempest,' and she actually said to me, 'You know, I could play Prospero-as a woman.' And I said, 'Do you want to? Because I've been preparing a film version of "The Tempest" with exactly that in mind.' And, fortunately, she said yes."
This releases on December 10 in the US with no Australian release date announced as yet.
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