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| Released in 1996 and directed by the late Anthony Minghella who also wrote the screenplay and based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje. Den Stylist Extraordinaire Trudye and I have resolved to finally read the novel to our favorite movie this winter. |
Some of you may be aware that The English Patient, along with Doctor Zhivago and Casablanca, is my favorite movie. I also know there are many people whose opinions I value that thought it plodding and too long; I get that and know it's a movie you must be in the right mood for. In reflecting back, I now realize that a perfect set of circumstances was necessary for that first viewing to be far and away the best movie experience of my life. More often than not, I attend movies and cultural events alone as I hate being distracted when trying to focus on something I have planned a day or week around.
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| While in Iraq during 2007-2008, every paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division knew that Juliette Binoche was GSL's aka 'Pappy' great love |
During a performance or movie, my senses are on high alert so muffled yawns, excessive fidgeting, and persistent watch checks can ruin the experience making GSL quite cranky and has on occasion exposed my rougher edges. I also recognize that attending a movie or performance with agreeable company can greatly enhance the experience.
The night I saw the just released English Patient was with that most agreeable company...two young ladies (actually 3-4 years my senior) I met under amusing circumstances just a couple months prior. Adding a little frisson to the evening was that I found both ladies quite attractive, charming, interesting, and wasn't at all averse to the possibility something of a romantic nature could develop with one of them...only I wasn't sure which one and later found out that similar possibilities were being entertained by them regarding me and one of my friends. Even better was that all parties were quite comfortable with those potentialities sorting themselves out in due course.
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| 'Pappy' was more discreet regarding his KST crush... all pics from Pinterest |
My friends knew of my big crush on Juliette Binoche going into the movie and they had a very favorable impression of Ralph Fiennes and 162 minutes later they were madly in love with Count Almasy (RF) and I was only beginning to recover from Hana's (JB) betrayal of me looking at frescoes with Kip but also had a new crush in Katharine Clifton (KST) who I'd love to be marooned in a sandstorm with.
My friends and I still stay in touch (they each now happily married with kids living far away) and we see each other once a year or so and when we do get together we always talk about that night we saw The English Patient.
Which movie experience has been most special to you?
Yes, one of my fav all time movies! I can see that some may have felt that it was too long, but not me! I was completely drawn into this sweeping, epic film, beginning to end! I do remember that it opened at Thanksgiving that year and that saw it with family that was visiting.
ReplyDeleteToo many memorable movie experiences to single out just one! I have been lucky to attend the Telluride Film Festival for many a year and have seen Oscar winners and contenders and many films that never get U.S. distribution.
One of the best memories to take away from there is standing in line and talking to people from all over the world about the films they have seen!
Yes, going to read The English Patient this winter! Now is as good a time as any to get started!
Happy New Year, G! Wishing only the best for you in 2015!
My dear Trudye, my spies have spotted you in T-ride quite recently strutting around in some RL Fancy Pants they tell me...? I know their film festival isn't until September so you must be doing the ski-bunny scene and dodging all the Daily Mail paps.
DeleteI find it such a pity that KST has decided to not do many films anymore,if any! Given the lack of films for women of a certain age,it is very understandable!! Love her!
DeleteI know; you sent me that interesting article a while back where she talks about her disillusionment with film and finds so much more interesting roles and experiences on stage. I'm dying to see her on stage but am presently on very short rations and will have to wait until I can afford the scalped king's ransom prices it'll take to get there.
DeleteThis is one of my favorite movies as well. I found the story haunting and compelling, the performances top-notch, and a cast that's not too hard on the eyes. ;-)
ReplyDeleteUF, I've watched it at least a dozen times and never tire of it and in addition to all you say the scenes are gorgeous even without the cast.
Deletebtw: thanks again for suggesting 'The Judgment of Paris'; it was a great read and very insightful regarding the dawn of Impressionism, Manet, Monet, Meissonier, et al and Paris during that time.
get ready for it - I have never seen all three of those movies. I have seen snippets of Casablanca, Dr Zhivago and a trailer for english patient. have a vague idea about what it's about. I know i know and i will.
ReplyDeleteMy best movie going years were when I lived in Melbourne. For some reason, they have some of the best movie theatres in the world, better than here and better than NY. They had so many foreign language movie theatres that were also dedicated to alternative films. There are too many to mention but once there was a Zhang Yimou marathon. Raise the red lantern and Qiu Ju and Red Sorghum. to this day i can remember the feeling i had walking out into the street and my friends and i were all just touched, moved and changed by his works. If you haven't seen them you should at least try raise the red lantern. PS I loved J Binoche too but dont you think she's just become really odd lately with her modern dance stuff? Akram Khan saved her bc i reckon he has a crush on her but her interviews the past years have been a bit off.
Naomi, I am indeed stunned you are 0 for 3 with my nearest and dearest but I do envy what you have ahead of you! I haven't seen that many foreign films but did see Raise the Red Lantern but was distracted so should give it another go....you really do need to be in the right receptive mood to properly watch those more intricate and/or slower developing movies or can't ever be taken away.
DeleteJB does give some odd interviews and the whole modern dance thing she's into doesn't much interest me much either nor have I been clamoring to see many of her recent movies. Like Trudye mentions above, there really aren't that many interesting romantic lead roles for women once they reach 40 and I place half the blame on men.
Would have to add that for a woman in Hollywood, once you are just past puberty...you are history! Such a shame! It will take women forming their own production companies to really begin to see a change! So proud of Reese Witherspoon for doing just that so she could move beyond the typecast and get Wild into production!
DeleteI don't know why more women haven't done it...and quit using excuses as Mary Pickford was a co-founder of United Artists back in 1919. I'll never forget how Barbara Streisand was complaining about how she couldn't get financing to make movies and she had a net worth of about $200mil...she expects a studio to front her the money yet she won't risk her own? All it takes is some women hitting a home run and the flood gates will open.
DeleteAgree GSL, loved all three and have seen many times. Also other classics like "War and Peace" (Audrey Hepburn/Ferrer one, though there's a great Russian version too) and "Gone with the Wind". Agree about "The Talented Mr Ripley", partly I suspect because of glorious settings and cinematography. But also cast was so good, including our own Cate. Also "Gosford Park". - There are just so many good movies - more spring to mind all the time!
DeleteAgree with Naomi - love Zhang Yimou movies - such artistry, cinematography and colour - and emotion. We're lucky here in Canberra as well - we get great foreign movies and filmed versions of opera and ballet, particularly from Paris and Covent Garden.
Some other faves include French movies, eg: "Jean de Florette", "Manon des Sources", "My Mother's Castle", "My Father's Glories" and particularly the French/Polish Three Colours trilogy, Juliette Binoche was absolutely brilliant in "Blue". My favourite Italian movie last year was "The Great Beauty". Loved it so much we went back two days later and saw it again. It helps if you love Italy, Rome and Fellini. So pleased when it won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Movie.
Our great tragedy in Oz is the retirement of the two movie reviewers David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz. Their last TV program was before Christmas when they left the darkened set holding hands and just walked away. We all loved them: so passionate, articulate and so expert on films from all over the world. Their disagreements were legendary and part of the entertainment and attraction we felt for them. There can be other movie reviewers but there will never be anyone like them ever again.
Sorry to hear KristinST won't be appearing much more on big screens. She's a genuine diva - also Charlotte Rampling, who still seems to star in intriguingly good movies with a dark edge from time to time, like "The Swimming Pool" and "Under the Sand". It's great to see women who are actually more than "un certain age" starring in high quality movies and not just relegated to the role of dotty old Mum or grandmother. It's also good to see our Oz actress, Jackie Weaver, having now twice been nominated for an Oscar, appearing more often in dramatic supporting roles. Not sure of her age but probably well into her 60s. She became noticed originally in a minor role in "Picnic at Hanging Rock", in the early 80s I think, and her career seems to have blossomed lately now she's so much older.
Happy New Year GSL! Best wishes, Pammie
Pammie, you mention a lot of good ones and I started to watch the Audrey/Ferrer/Henry Fonda War & Peace just recently but decided to wait til I was less distracted. Gosford Park was a little gem and brought Julian Fellowes (and of Downton Abbey fame) into prominance with the writing Oscar. Loved my dear JB in 'Blue'.
DeleteI've never heard of Jackie Weaver but will look her up.
Have just seen "The Imitation Game" - escaping from the afternoon heat. It was brilliant. Great story and screenplay, though truth apparently adapted a bit, and wonderful actors. Cumberbatch just so good! Should be a serious contender for Best Actor, however since he's English may not even be nominated. Pammie
DeleteCumberbatch is a great actor and I will very likely see the The Imitation Game. I couldn't care less about the Oscars as with many awards these days it's no longer about excellence. The fact that Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington have won 2 each and Gary Oldman and Ralph Fiennes haven't won any renders them meaningless.
Delete"The Talented Mr. Ripley," also by Minghella, is one of my favorite movies, and I read "The English Patient," so I have no explanation for why I've never seen the movie. (Checking to see if amazon has HD on demand.) If you liked "Ripley" be sure to check out "The Two Faces of January," which didn't get the release it deserved.
ReplyDeleteHex,
DeleteI loved that Ripley movie that was so beautifully shot with a spectacular cast (even Matt Damon was good) with Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance especially memorable and all the more impressive when you compare that with his miscast but still impressive, and Oscar winning, role as Truman Capote. There was another even more obscure Ripley movie with John Malkovich, 'Ripley's Game', shot on a shoestring budget that was also superb.
I'll definitely look into 'Two Faces of January'
Before Sunrise was pretty special, it was my first movie date with now hubby. I knew he was the one when he genuinely liked this "talking movie". Ended up honeymooning in Vienna, pretending we were Julie and Ethan. Good taste, GSL, Juliette B is lovely. CSW, I'm also a fan of Zhang Yimou and at one time had a girl crush on Gong Li.
ReplyDeleteMarie,
DeleteLove your connection to this movie and will now have to see it (very highly rated on imdb too btw) based on your charming backstory. I always ask couples who seem very well matched how they met and invariably one of them will have an incident and revelation such as you mention. One of the great gals that I mention above had a very charming moment like yours on a clam dig and she immediately called for GSL's wise counsel.
I loved that series too and gave watched them all! I can't wait for the next one! It might now have to be after sunrise etc
DeleteI learned everything I need to know about handling men; from reading Gone With The Wind when I was sixteen, and seeing the revival of the movie at the cinema, when I was seventeen. lol. Just kidding. I think?
ReplyDeleteDonna,
DeleteMy 'Estella' has watched that movie maybe a hundred times and can deliver every Scarlett O'Hara scene chapter and verse quite convincingly although for her this is no stretch.....GSL does a mean 'Mammy' shuffling around and telling Miss Scarlett not to "eat like a field hand..."
......"and gawble like a hog." Im with Estella-I can recite almost every line of Scarletts. Loved that film when I was a teen.
ReplyDeleteI find that I often like a movie that plods a bit. I enjoyed the English Patient. Not among my favorites but I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers.
I agree with you-Nothing grates on my nerves more than missing out on something wonderful because Talky McChatty has no sense of appreciation.
I'm going to have to see you do Scarlett one day Bebe and I still want to hear about one of your favorite movie experiences with a detail or 2 if you please....???
DeleteThis is one of my favourite movies based on one of my favourite books (written by a canadian!). The loss of minghella is still keenly felt chez wendy...
ReplyDeleteI thought Minghella was about the best Wendy and do see his Mr. Ripley (as Hex notes above) if you haven't already.and such a shame as I'm sure he had several masterpieces left in him.
DeleteIt's a beautiful film and I remember it fondly but have yet to revisit it. I must! I was a long time film festival goer (as a starving student, volunteer, patron and later with film company clients) so have lots of fun film viewing memories. My favourite was the Rushmore premiere as it introduced me to all things Wes Anderson. That was a fun night!
ReplyDeleteI am only a recent fan of Wes Anderson because he is the opposite end of the spectrum as Minghella at least from what little I;ve seen but his Grand Budapest Hotel was more a collection of brilliant vignettes (demonstrating Ralph Fiennes comedic brilliance and versatility) rather than storytelling. I even like it better going back and watching a few of those scenes. Rushmore, I haven't seen but have heard good things about it and being introduced to WA so early on had to be a treat.
DeleteThought about you the other day as I watched James Cagney in captains of the clouds (1942 ) - I am with you on Dr Zhivago and Casablanca but I would also include Midnight Cowboy and Cabaret - I am still angry that fiennes cad left his beautiful partner in real life- idiot. Otherwise you and I are ad idem. I do so enjoy your writings. How is Mr Poulos?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've seen Captains of the Clouds or haven't in ages and can't remember. Midnight Cowboy very well done but I can't really connect with a movie (or book) if I don't connect with the protagonist and Cabaret is a classic and all the more poignant with Liza ('with a z') with so much talent, spitting image of her mother, and also inherited her troubles...I reluctantly saw her perform live in Chicago back in 1993 and she was sensational.
DeleteI never heard anything about why RF left the significantly older Francesca Amis and it's not like he's always carrying on with much younger girls. I've heard from those who've known him over 20 years that he's quite likable, respectful to all women he works with, and they adore him.
Mr. Poulos turned 98 just last week and the Good Doctor and I were tried arranging a b-day lunch but his very dutiful nieces had already overbooked his itinerary and we're supposed to raincheck one day soon.
RF got an Aussie air hostess fired a couple of years ago when they joined the Mile High Club together in the plane loo! Not all his fault of course, it seems the hostess was only too willing. But clearly he's not a model of propriety, nice though he might be. Pammie
DeletePammie, I did remember something like that happening and you make it sound that RF actively got her fired when in fact she was a 38yo air hostess on duty serving him drinks, chatting him up, and went into a lav with him for sex...it was her co-workers who reported her and 'got her fired' if anybody else did but she knew that behavior is a firing offense and she says she'd do it again. RF had already split from Francesca Amis when this happened and the air hostess talks about how he said he'd had a horrible year because of it. Here is her account (I don't know whether she sold her story or not) and I don't think RF comes off bad at all given that is was just a weekend tryst.
Deletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-436846/Air-stewardess-secrets-mile-high-sex-romp-Ralph-Fiennes.html
I do love this movie!! I watch very little television and most of it is on TCM, in black and white! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and won't get into more mischief than you like on New Years Eve!
ReplyDeleteWith Fondness,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I think we were separated at birth! My Christmas thrill was getting a box set of Errol Flynn movies from the 30s....
DeleteJennifer, you, Wendy and I should do a snowy TCM Marathon Weekend in all B & W including our attire. I don't have telly either but when at my mother's TCM is about all I watch and loved a Freddy Bartholomew day they had last year.
DeleteI totally agree Wendy! But Mum loved me best:) Errol Flynn...one of my many favorites. They just aren't making them like that anymore.
DeleteI've certainly got the black and white wardrobe for it GSL! Sounds like a blast. Happy New Year!
Darling G,
ReplyDeleteHow can we thank you for all your kind wishes?
We have been ill for an absolute age....too boring to give details..... but are now recuperating in hot and sunny Montevideo. We had flights booked a year ago and did not know if we would make it. But, the sun, sea and sand are definitely doing good. We hope to return to our darling blog chums and the keyboard in mid January.
We have missed the Blogosophere and all our chums that we hold so close to our hearts, such as you, darling G.
Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas are definite favourites with us, so this film is a winner in our book.
We wish you every joy and success in 2015 and only hope that a real life encounter will happen sooner than later. All love, J and L xxx
Dearest Darlings Jane and Lance,
DeleteJust a dispatch and news you are on the mend gives me the strength of *10 men and I do hope the sun, sea, and sands of Montevideo hasten your body and beautiful souls back to vibrant health.
*please allow your Darling G an occasional hyperbolic flourish as he gets carried away when waxing poetic regarding his adored Beacons of Budapest...since he's recently crossed the half century mark the strength of 7 or 8 men is likely more accurate....in the currency of Hungarian Greco-Roman wrestlers
xxx ~Your most humble and devoted G
Happy New Year G! xo
ReplyDeleteMy dear Cynthia,
Delete2015 is going to be a very big year for you and darling Alice, Mark my words!
~G
That was a great movie. Funnily enough my Husband and I were watching "Four Weddings and a Funeral" on TV the other night, and it was the first movie date we went on 20 years ago. Brought back a lot of memories!! Not necessarily the best or my most favourite movie of all time, but sometimes the memories associated with the actual attendance can colour your whole feeling on something. Perhaps that happened to you with the English Patient too?
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't get any blog commenters saying "The Notebook" is the best movie of all time. Sappy romanticism at its best, and it made me laugh through most of the dramatic romantic parts and snort with derision at the ending. I'm far too pragmatic perhaps…!
I've never seen 'The Notebook' and haven't heard much but see that it does have a high imdb rating for whatever that's worth. I liked 4 Weddings in spite of my deep distaste for Hugh Grant. You hit on my main point that it's often the externalities that greatly impact how we view movies or Art. I'm sure the future Mr AV's Charm Offensive was at full battle stations well before soda & popcorn were procured and I'll bet he snuck a glance over what he no doubt then suspected was the love of his life to see your smile and laugh footlighted.
DeleteI can barely remember seeing this movie so thanks for reminding me G! In fact I need to re-watch many movies as coming up 22 years with The Rascals has seemingly fried my brain, I remember so few movies. Not like my Sis who is an encyclopaedia of movies much the same way MrBP is with sports statistics. How do they do it?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Dani, when you're in the right mood do give English Patient another 162 minutes of your time; it will be well spent. Now you need to send sis over to the Den as I already love her bloodlines and if she's a movie whiz then that's a great place to start.
DeleteHappy new year to you dearest GSL, and I do hope 2015 brings you much joy and happiness and inspiration to continue with your marvelously entertaining blog. This was a cracking post and I so enjoyed sharing in your best movie experience. I've all but given up attending the cinema (for the same reasons that irk you), but do on occasion attend a screening given the company.
ReplyDeleteBy far my very favorite movie experience (well, a television experience actually) was the serialization of Brideshead Revisited. Every cell in my body was totally and absolutely absorbed in the story telling, the set, costumes, language, just everything. I could barely wait for the week to be over until the next installment. In fact, I had to get the book and read it before the series was over, it was that good. I jumped with joy when the series was released on DVD several years ago, and rushed out to buy myself a copy. I was thrilled to see that the production has stood the test of time and is as good today as it was back then. Jeremy Irons' superb narration (what a dreamy voice!) is simply outstanding.
Don't even bother with the wimpy movie version, which does no justice to Waugh's beautiful book.
Dearest CD,
DeleteYou didn't even notice I've been re-arranging the furniture here in the Den and have even added on staff. Anthony Blanche is now our Den Senior Artistic Adviser and I've assured him, dear, that GSL doesn't do simple, creamy, English charm or don false whiskers.
I have only recently read Brideshead for the first time and all 11 installments are presently available on youtube for free. The Jeremy Irons adaptation is as scrupulous to the text as can possibly be and I snickered every time I saw John Mortimer's name given a screenplay credit because he did nothing and then I researched that the director was literally using the book for all the scenes and Mortimer was contracturally obligated to get writing credit.
Jeremy Irons also narrates the audiobook and is superb.
Sorry GSL, back for a third time - but couldn't resist as I loved the serialised Brideshead with Jeremy Irons so much! His elegiac voice over is mesmerising. So haunting and sad.
DeleteEvelyn Waugh was brilliant - first read his works when a teenager, starting with "Decline and Fall" - perhaps his funniest book - and still occasionally re-read him. Also, naturally, he led me to Nancy Mitford and the entire Mitford family, so have to thank him for that as well! Pammie
Pammie, I do love EW and 'Scoop' was the funniest novel I've ever read (and will be Dani's next book club selection over at her MopPhil salon). I've told Den staff to always make you feel right at home so kick up your feet stay awhile and return whenenver you like. I hope nobody ever feels the slightest hesitation to chime in even if it's to take issue with something they've read. I try to make every post leave off with an opening to discussion as I really like to engage.
DeletePammie, have you noticed our new Artistic Advisor in the right margin?
Agree, "Scoop" really is hilarious. Waugh had such a deft touch - love his dark humour. Can remember whole passages from the novel.
DeleteBut having once, for a year long ago been an English/French mistress in a girls' boarding school can really relate to D and F when re-reading it. It brings back so many v funny memories about life in what was virtually a cloistered community staffed by a bunch of geriatric eccentrics who took on new blood staff once a year only to have them flee as fast as they could at end of Michaelmas term. I didn't even stay for the last two weeks! The dragon Headmistress was a kind of Bessie Bunter but one who was given to psychoanalysing all the girls and to much hymn singing - and with a dog she felt was an excellent judge of character (luckily the dog liked me - so I passed muster) - St Agnes (Aggie) helped her in her decision making. At night dogs that were male attack trained patrolled the grounds. But a male, presumably during the day, managed to get in and steal all the girls' underwear that was drying on the clothes lines. One of my poor students was summoned from class by an excited junior who cried "Miss, the police have found Fiona Bassingthwaite's gym pants. She's wanted in the office." Poor Fiona turned quite puce from mortification, having to retrieve her unmentionables from the police.
Yes, saw your new "Artistic Advisor" - Nickolas Grace was brilliant as Blanche, he completely inhabited the character Waugh created. Quite alarming really. Pammie
Pammie, your school experience sounds like a Jeeves & Wooster episode and you can be sure GSL would be a paragon of discretion should Fiona Bassingthwaite return to collect her knickers...
DeleteLove both these woman but as I've bored you with before, because Kevin is disturbed by Kristen ST's veins, it's damaged some of the enjoyment watching her.
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud!!! please don't mention that again as I had forgotten all about that and will now have to forget it all over again!!!!
DeleteYou had fab pics from NZ and hope you post again soon; need update on Petra too!