Change Your Image
dwflarson
Reviews
The Tudors (2007)
Sets and Costumes
The drama is based on so much sexual activity that it rather spoils the look for those who want to see also History without quite such great liberty taken.
Costuming is less than stunning; and hair and make-up do nothing but enhance the physical beauty of the actors. Nice for them but dull for a history buff. This is more a lusty, 'busty' romance novel come to screen - the costuming, hair and makeup, especially of the women, looks right off the cover of a 1967 Harlequin Romance paperback novel and I'm wondering about those carriages - they looked awfully 'spry' for the early 16th century. They weren't on long enough to examine closely but surely they are not representative of this period but the late 18th and early 19th century - so how much is really Tudor?
Is Henry's youth without portraits? Holbein only painted him as an old man? Are we only to watch women's breasts bounce about while the 'king's' buttocks do likewise? Don't misunderstand me - sex and violence are what sells, and certainly add to the story, but must they BE the story? That's all I see here - and I'm a fan of Showtime's programing generally.
HBO's ROME has much greater feeling of authenticity, and hair and costumes are far more true to history overall, which, at least until we arrive in Egypt, seems important to the producer and director. Lots of sex and violence here, too - but not so pretty. And the not so pretty and very gritty realism are far more gripping in my opinion than the far too many flowing tresses, gossamer gowns and sugary sweetness of the love-making of the Tudors. Perhaps it will yet mature into a drama and make the lithe limbs worth waiting to see: a glimpse please, not soft porn.
Giorni (2001)
A Fine 'Love in the Age of AIDS' Drama
I regret that I do not speak Italian because I believe there is a wealth of subtle texture I'm missing by viewing the dubbed version of Giorni. However, despite the language barrier I found this to be a true to life representation about living and loving with HIV/AIDS. I have seen no other film to date in which the day to day struggles of maintaining an HIV positive individual's health, adhering to a burdensome medical regiment and the various psychological battles involved in doing so is as well expressed. Claudio's hope for and despair of finding understanding and love, and his many unexpected losses and rewards are portrayed with the empathy of someone who has obviously seen the battle up close. It is a sober film but it contains truths that anyone who has made this journey, either with loved ones or themselves, will surely recognize and appreciate.