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Review of Stage Beauty: Boring. Disjointed and uneven. Still hate Claire Danes. Worth watching for those interested for only a few reasons. First, and most importantly, Billy Crudup not only in drag but amazing in drag as reknown 17th century actor/actress Mr. Kiniston. He's the last of his kind as the king (Charles II) removes the ban on women actors in England. Claire Danes is his dresser who replaces him on the stage. And then he has to learn how to act like a man. It's set a few years before IOS, so if you want to see costumes and things it's worth it. Rupert Everett is also good as the King, and his mistress at the time, Nell Gwyn, is pretty damn funny as well. It's based on a play, so some of the lines are quite amazing. (i.e. "Whenever we are going to do something terrible, we always say, 'They've been doing in France for years'.")
But honestly, there is *no* sexual tension between Billy and Claire at all. (I hear they are dating in RL, which would explain that). And the movie couldn't decide if it was about gender relations, the nature of gender, the first woman actress, or about his development as "a man trapped in the form of a woman, without a woman's feeling". I wish it had been the last one, because Billy Crudup as Kiniston reminded me a lot of Tai-shan from Lian Hua's epic. (and being Julien from Charlotte Gray hotness didn't hurt him there any. not at all). The scene at the end, where they do Othello justice was amazing...the only moment where Claire Danes was actually *acting* (and no I don't mean her character, I mean her). A woman wouldn't die like that! A woman would fight! heh heh.
"Do you know the five forms of Female Subjugation?" --when he asks it, and then acts it out, its offensive...but soooo Shanny.
Overall...if you can watch it free, go for it. Don't make a special trip for it.
But honestly, there is *no* sexual tension between Billy and Claire at all. (I hear they are dating in RL, which would explain that). And the movie couldn't decide if it was about gender relations, the nature of gender, the first woman actress, or about his development as "a man trapped in the form of a woman, without a woman's feeling". I wish it had been the last one, because Billy Crudup as Kiniston reminded me a lot of Tai-shan from Lian Hua's epic. (and being Julien from Charlotte Gray hotness didn't hurt him there any. not at all). The scene at the end, where they do Othello justice was amazing...the only moment where Claire Danes was actually *acting* (and no I don't mean her character, I mean her). A woman wouldn't die like that! A woman would fight! heh heh.
"Do you know the five forms of Female Subjugation?" --when he asks it, and then acts it out, its offensive...but soooo Shanny.
Overall...if you can watch it free, go for it. Don't make a special trip for it.
