17 thoughts on “WCW: Annette Bening

  1. Love Richard III ! There was much made of the casting of Annette Bening and Robert Downey Jr. because they were names recognizable to American audiences, but I feel they both held their own very nicely. :)

    1. I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!

      Also, Benning’s American-born Queen Elizabeth brought a dash of Wallis Simpson glamor to the piece.

    1. From IMDB: “Many of the characters are combinations or alterations of characters from the novel, to make for a smaller cast and a less confusing plot.” Now, the 1978 version did that too,but for some reason it didn’t bother me.

      1. It didn’t bother you because the ‘78 version is a good movie and Branagh’s version is too serious, no fun and awful.

  2. I love Chekhov… but it’s hard to get it to work in film because it’s all about words, not action or pictures.
    Bening is good though, even in not so good films.
    The ‘30s Richard III is yummy and great evil fun, especially if you’re familiar with the traditional staging.

  3. I have to say, she is one woman who aged so perfectly. She looks just like her beautiful self only like someone should in her 60’s.

    1. Agreed. I hate to see once-beautiful and distinctive performers become unrecognizable. A.B. is still her own cool self.

  4. I know it’s not a popular opinion around here, but (despite the costuming!) I love Valmont and vastly prefer it to Dangerous Liaisons, probably mostly because of Annette Benning.

    1. Never forget Colin Firth was the louche seducer, as opposed to John Malkovich (not the world’s most renowned panty dropper).

      Also Fairuza Balk was the literal young virgin Cecile (the Uma Thurman role), and …. looks so much more juvenile and childish it makes the whole thing vastly more squicky.

  5. Oooh I love the costumes in Being Julia. It’s a very underrated movie. Lucy Punch, Juliet Stevenson, and Miriam Margolyes are hilarious in it, too.

    1. This movie is delightful, particularly if you like revenge served with OODLES of drama!

      (also Bruce Greenwood looking so very suave and dapper)

  6. Totally agree with you that she’s always seemed like a grown-ass woman. Also appreciate it seems like she’s allowed herself to age naturally. In interviews and even on screen in her various characters, she exudes self-confidence. I think that quality is even more attractive than her looks. Of the films listed above that I’ve seen, she’s always down a great job. So, it’s hard to answer your question. I’ll choose Bugsy as my favorite. She was also EXCELLENT in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool as Oscar-winner Gloria Grahame. The bulk of the movie takes place near the end of Grahame’s life in 1981 (after FF’s cut off date), but there are some flashbacks in which Bening stars (instead of a younger actress). I don’t know the years of the flashbacks, but they might qualify for FF. Anyway, it’s a very intriguing movie and Bening, as usual, was great–so was the rest of the esteemed cast. Great WCW choice!

Comments are closed.