Julie Taymor's The Tempest [Archive]

Spinal

07-09-2010, 05:14 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/the_tempest01.jpg

Or rather Prospera ...

In addition to Taylor Hackford's wife, the cast (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1274300/fullcredits#cast) includes Alfred Molina, Alan Cumming, Russell Brand, Chris Cooper, Djimon Hounsou (see below), David Strathairn, Ben Whishaw, Felicity Jones and Tom Conti.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/Picture-8.jpg

Fezzik

07-09-2010, 05:20 PM

Mara

07-09-2010, 05:21 PM

Hmm. Color me interested. I'm a huge fan of the play.

lovejuice

07-09-2010, 11:46 PM

I had to look up who Taylor Hackford's wife was, but I approve :)

Hmm. Color me interested. I'm a huge fan of the play.

ditto. ditto.

Spinal

07-09-2010, 11:55 PM

You guys don't recognize a picture of Helen Mirren when you see it?

Raiders

07-10-2010, 12:47 AM

I did, but was unaware she was married to Taylor Hackford. Is it wrong that my dislike of him as a director has bled into my thinking he doesn't deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

Derek

07-10-2010, 12:50 AM

Is it wrong that my dislike of him as a director has bled into my thinking he doesn't deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

Not at all.

Spinal

07-10-2010, 03:10 AM

I can only assume that Taylor Hackford has a gigantic penis.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/oscar5B15D.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/YakovSmirnoff.jpg

Sven

07-10-2010, 03:15 AM

This is definitely the right vehicle for her to win her back into my favor. Titus rocks. And this cast is solid. I didn't realize til now that I've always wanted to hear Chris Cooper doing Shakespeare.

Spinal

07-10-2010, 03:17 AM

And this cast is solid. I didn't realize til now that I've always wanted to hear Chris Cooper doing Shakespeare.

Yes, this is definitely one of the most appealing parts of this venture.

Qrazy

07-10-2010, 03:21 AM

I've never cared much for The Tempest. As per usual with Shakes there's a ton of superb dialogue but I've always found the narrative of the play fairly pointless.

Sven

07-10-2010, 03:30 AM

I've never cared much for The Tempest. As per usual with Shakes there's a ton of superb dialogue but I've always found the narrative of the play fairly pointless.

Really, it is the quality of prose which defines a work of Shakespeare for me. His control of plot I frequently find unsatisfying, but I rarely watch for the drama. It is a good production that makes me care about the drama, ie, Titus, which is not one of his more interesting works, language-wise, but was made into an insanely artful and exciting film by Ms. Taymor.

Sven

07-10-2010, 04:01 AM

... was made into an insanely artful and exciting film by Ms. Taymor.

And I don't think its quality is attributable only to cinematic technique, just to clarify. Harry Lennix's Aaron is one of my favorite interpretations, period. The narrative execution in general was tight, intense and, while admittedly sexed and souped up, was not so "modern"ized as to be off-putting.

Qrazy

07-10-2010, 04:51 AM

Really, it is the quality of prose which defines a work of Shakespeare for me. His control of plot I frequently find unsatisfying, but I rarely watch for the drama. It is a good production that makes me care about the drama, ie, Titus, which is not one of his more interesting works, language-wise, but was made into an insanely artful and exciting film by Ms. Taymor.

I liked the first 3/4's of Titus well enough, hated the ending with a passion.

B-side

07-10-2010, 04:54 AM

I enjoyed Across the Universe.

*dodges rocks*

Philosophe_rouge

07-10-2010, 05:02 AM

I saw a production of the Tempest at the Stratford festival in Ontario, and I fell in love. So I'm excited to see what Taymor does with it.

[ETM]

07-10-2010, 05:08 AM

Is it wrong that my dislike of him as a director has bled into my thinking he doesn't deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

Does anyone really deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

B-side

07-10-2010, 05:10 AM

;271577']Does anyone really deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

I do.

[ETM]

07-10-2010, 05:13 AM

I do.

I said "really".

B-side

07-10-2010, 05:39 AM

;271581']I said "really".

I've worked hard, damn it.:evil:

Qrazy

07-10-2010, 05:51 AM

I saw a production of the Tempest at the Stratford festival in Ontario, and I fell in love. So I'm excited to see what Taymor does with it.

Which production?

dreamdead

07-10-2010, 04:42 PM

I is super-excited for this. The Tempest is usually my favorite Shakespeare, so this should redeem AtU.

Philosophe_rouge

07-11-2010, 02:16 AM

Which production?

It was in 2005. William Hutt as Prospero and directed by Richard Monette.

Qrazy

07-11-2010, 02:43 AM

It was in 2005. William Hutt as Prospero and directed by Richard Monette.

Pretty sure I saw that one also. I wish both Hutt and Brian Bedford had had better film careers. They deserved it.

Fezzik

07-11-2010, 02:46 AM

You guys don't recognize a picture of Helen Mirren when you see it?

When I read the post, I was at work. The picture was blocked :)

Wryan

07-11-2010, 02:58 AM

Goddamn I loved Titus. And I like this work, though I'm consistently trying to drum out of my mind that fucking eyeball-gougingly irritating droplet of water at the beginning of Greenaway's PB.

Philosophe_rouge

07-11-2010, 05:36 AM

Pretty sure I saw that one also. I wish both Hutt and Brian Bedford had had better film careers. They deserved it.
I don't see how we could have seen different shows, if I remember, Hutt said at some point that it was the only time he did the Tempest. I loved Hutt, such presence... adorable man. I unfortunately haven't been to Stratford since, I might make a trip in the next year or two, it was a lot of fun.

Qrazy

07-11-2010, 06:43 AM

I don't see how we could have seen different shows, if I remember, Hutt said at some point that it was the only time he did the Tempest. I loved Hutt, such presence... adorable man. I unfortunately haven't been to Stratford since, I might make a trip in the next year or two, it was a lot of fun.

Best production I've ever seen was at Stratford... Henry V set in WWII. It was incredible.

I also watched a post-apocalyptic Macbeth which was just good, but I loved the approach.

Mara

07-11-2010, 11:06 AM

;271577']Does anyone really deserve Helen Mirren as a wife?

Did you see she recently did a topless shoot? That lady still has some serious bosoms.

The best production I've ever seen of "The Tempest" was at Stratford-Upon-Avon. But I've seen the show a half-dozen times and it's never been bad. See? I'm an educated, theater-watching lady. I don't always mention womens' racks. Just Helen Mirren's, because it's kind of awesome.

Duncan

07-18-2010, 12:01 AM

Best production I've ever seen was at Stratford... Henry V set in WWII. It was incredible. I saw that. Remember loving it.

Saw Julius Caesar last year, and they tried to do an almost sci-fi take on it, but I thought it fell pretty flat.

Qrazy

07-18-2010, 02:21 AM

I saw that. Remember loving it.

Saw Julius Caesar last year, and they tried to do an almost sci-fi take on it, but I thought it fell pretty flat.

Nice to the former, bummer about the latter. I haven't been in 2-3 years but I'm excited to go again in the not too distant future.

Dukefrukem

08-20-2010, 05:31 PM

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/tempestsmall.jpg

Mara

08-20-2010, 05:33 PM

I pulled out The Tempest this weekend to look up a quote and ended up paging through most of it. I think it's underrated or dismissed as a comedy-- it's actually a very polished and mature work.

Qrazy

08-20-2010, 10:41 PM

I pulled out The Tempest this weekend to look up a quote and ended up paging through most of it. I think it's underrated or dismissed as a comedy-- it's actually a very polished and mature work.

I think it's fairly highly regarded as his swan song and allegory for his retirement. I just happen to think that it's probably his least interesting narrative.

EyesWideOpen

08-21-2010, 01:24 AM

That's a pretty great poster.

number8

10-01-2010, 02:19 PM

I saw this yesterday. It was a mixed bag of amazing and hilariously bad. The worst parts of Across the Universe are present.

Also, the dude who plays Ferdinand, the guy who's playing Spiderman in her Broadway show, is FUCKING AWFUL.

number8

10-01-2010, 02:22 PM

The rest of the cast are awesome experiments, though. She had Chris Cooper do Shakespeare in his usual voice and demeanor, and it's jarring but great, especially contrasted with Alan Cumming.

Highlight was the pairing of Russell Brand and Alfred Molina as Trinculo and Stephano. They were hilarious together, and it's amusing to see Brand play the same character from his other movies (basically himself)... except speaking in Olde English.

Mara

10-01-2010, 02:29 PM

I saw this yesterday. It was a mixed bag of amazing and hilariously bad.

Dagnabbit.

I guess I'll wait for Netflix.

Mara

10-01-2010, 02:31 PM

Was it Weitzman who back in the day said that Miyazaki should tackle The Tempest?

I STILL WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

Spinal

10-01-2010, 03:03 PM

Was it Weitzman who back in the day said that Miyazaki should tackle The Tempest?

I STILL WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

Ahem. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?t=351048&page=8)

Mara

10-01-2010, 03:08 PM

Ahem. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?t=351048&page=8)

Dude. Seriously. That was six years ago and I still daydream about how awesome it would be.

Much belated rep.

number8

10-01-2010, 03:34 PM

Dagnabbit.

I guess I'll wait for Netflix.

But there were lots of amazing.

Mostly, the CG effects are just terrrrrible. And Taymor insists on using as many as possible. Ariel is never shown normally. He's always transparent, or flying, or split into multiple bodies, or moving in superspeed, or made out of bees, or superimposed as a giant destroying a burning ship like an 80's rock ballad video.

I really think Taymor is pretty horrid with a camera. She knows how to deal with actors and make great looking sets/costumes/props, but she films them insipidly. I don't know why we keep having to watch Ariel taking off into the sky like Superman shot from behind and under, as his naked ass slowly disappears into the clouds.

Mara

10-01-2010, 03:43 PM

Something has to be really amazing to tempt me to the theaters these days, because I'm afraid of bedbugs. "Made of bees" ain't gonna cut it.

Aren't you afraid of bedbugs? The theaters in New York are rumored to be crawling with them. You should totally get a Hazmat suit.

Sven

10-01-2010, 07:22 PM

That was one of my all time favorite threads. Thanks for reminding me of it.

Spinal

10-01-2010, 07:36 PM

That was one of my all time favorite threads. Thanks for reminding me of it.

It's amazing how much effort I put into threads in those days. Man, it was like I was doing homework or something.

Qrazy

10-01-2010, 09:47 PM

Dude. Seriously. That was six years ago and I still daydream about how awesome it would be.

Much belated rep.

Ponyo is fairly tempestuous.

Dukefrukem

10-05-2010, 07:10 PM

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/miramax/thetempest/

Boner M

10-06-2010, 12:39 AM

Holy mother of god that does not look appealing.

B-side

10-06-2010, 03:40 AM

Holy mother of god that does not look appealing.

I watched it several hours ago and still don't know how to respond.

Milky Joe

10-06-2010, 03:59 AM

Highlight was the pairing of Russell Brand and Alfred Molina as Trinculo and Stephano. They were hilarious together, and it's amusing to see Brand play the same character from his other movies (basically himself)... except speaking in Olde English.

That's an epic pairing. Might see just for that.

monolith94

10-06-2010, 05:24 AM

Dude, I thought of Tim Burton for Pericles too! It's like we're psychic.

Sven

10-06-2010, 08:28 AM

I am so sad that this looks mega retarded.

lovejuice

10-06-2010, 05:06 PM

it's still my favorite Shakespeare. damn it!!

Kurosawa Fan

10-06-2010, 07:06 PM

Felicity Jones is just stunning. Pretty sure that was my only comment the last time I saw her in a trailer.

Spinal

01-11-2011, 08:42 AM

Whew, this was pretty bad. Really cheap looking and lacking the invention of Taymor's other work. Hard to rate it too low because of Mirren, but scene after scene is leaden and dull. Tom Conti and Alfred Molina fare best amongst the supporting cast, but there's not a whole lot here to recommend. Pointless, dull and instantly forgettable.

Sven

01-11-2011, 09:04 AM

number8

01-11-2011, 02:29 PM

At least it didn't try to maim or kill the cast.

Wryan

01-11-2011, 03:49 PM

Damn it all.

Spinal

01-11-2011, 04:24 PM

Just makes me appreciate what Greenaway did even more. There's a vision that truly captures the play's magic and complex themes.

Yxklyx

01-11-2011, 09:29 PM

Just makes me appreciate what Greenaway did even more. There's a vision that truly captures the play's magic and complex themes.

Have not seen Prospero's Books but I loved Jarman's version.

lovejuice

12-18-2011, 02:57 PM

The Tempest seems exactly the project for Taymor, but man, does she screw this up.

I like it that Taymor underplays the fantastic elements. If done right, this could have been one of those outdoor Shakespeare's performances where scenery work along with actors for the total effect.

But Ariel is so badly realized that his appearance jars any scene in which he features. By comparison, Caliban is too dry. Any metaphorical connection between them is lost; here they are just two characters in the same movie.

I don't mind if Taymor went overboard to the camp like she did with Titus. As it is, the movie seems stuck in the middle, not stylistic nor grounded enough.