Grace of Monaco

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:30am

I saw a screening of this a couple of days ago and thought it was pleasant enough. It was dry in spots and the stakes weren't very high for whatever plot they introduced, but Nicole was great and gets to wear a cavalcade of dresses of wigs that will excite.

I couldn't tell if it wanted to be a My Weekend With Marilyn type biopic or something a more serious. I don't think it will be a serious awards contender for much except costumes.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 12:27pm

That's interesting, Whizzer. Thanks for the sneak peek. They released a teaser a couple days ago that made it look like a perfume ad. When the production was announced, they were selling it as a sort of political story in the vein of THE QUEEN, but absolutely nothing about the promotional material suggests that, so I imagine they are either downplaying that aspect or they went in a different direction.
Most people that have seen footage from it have a similar reaction to yours, Whizzer. It seems like it's not really an awards player, even for Kidman. I strongly disliked MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, so I was hoping it wouldn't turn out like that, but it doesn't even seem like it matches the low bar set by that film. A shame since I think Kidman is turning out some of her best work in ages lately.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 1:34pm

I will never forgive her for stealing Judy's Star Is Born Oscar for her overrated performance in The Country Girl.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 1:37pm

It's too bad they couldn't make a compelling film out of the subject matter. Grace is a fascinating person, and that point in her life should have lent itself to more than fluff.

I will be interested to hear what others think.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 2:01pm

Well they do try to take a turn away from the fluff about 3/4 into the film when it becomes very political, but as only seen through Grace's eyes. I wouldn't say it was confusing, but not being intimately familiar with the conflict between France and Monaco made it less than engaging.

Ray- ha about the perfume ad comment! Sometimes it felt like that, but those dresses ARE amazing!!

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 3:58pm

In my humble opinion, Grace Kelly was the most beautiful women to ever walk the Earth.

She left Hollywood at the top of her game for true love, you have to love that

Updated On: 9/18/13 at 03:58 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 4:18pm

According to legend, Judy Garland was asked if she thought Grace Kelly was a nymphomaniac, and her response was, "Maybe if they calmed her down."

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 4:22pm

Well lets face it, Judy probably isnt the best choice to comment on anothers personal conduct!!

thats like today, Lindsey Lohan commenting on Jodie Foster

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 4:41pm

And was it Ray Milland's wife who called her the biggest homewrecker in Hollywood?

At any rate, I agree that she was a complex woman who doubtless had a fascinating life. I hope this isn't just a fairy princess story.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 4:50pm

in all fairness to grace kelly she was voted the best actress by her peers, so be mad at them not at her for winning her oscar for 'the country girl'.

i personally would have given it to dorothy dandridge for 'carmen jones'.

i personally don't know what she saw in ray milland.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 4:51pm

It feels like there are a lot of biopics and the like coming out soon.

This; Saving Mr. Banks; Diana

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 5:23pm

in all fairness to grace kelly she was voted the best actress by her peers

Yes, but who else but Grace could play the flute that well?

Updated On: 9/18/13 at 05:23 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 5:27pm

Damn few. Updated On: 9/19/13 at 05:27 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 5:30pm

I'm sorry. That was slut-shaming, and we do no engage in slut-shaming on BroadwayWorld.

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 5:51pm

Eww paljoey that's vile and disgusting not to mention disrespected

ETA. Thank you for removing thathMisogynist comment paljoey

Updated On: 9/18/13 at 05:51 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 6:55pm

Exactly. If she was a sexually empowered woman in that time and place, AND wound up an actual princess, good for her.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 7:29pm

I had no idea Grace Kelly was a nympho. Now that would make an interesting angle for a biopic!

Kelly is portrayed as a romantic in Grace of Monaco, but never as an overtly sexual being. She definitely doesn't use sex to get her way. Her beauty yes, but sex no.

She's definitely in love with Rainer, but she realizes that the love will come at a great personal cost.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 7:50pm

Last time checked, people can't vote themselves an Oscar. What a strange comment. Grace won that year because Judy gave a terrific performance in a bloated overlong, heavy-handed film that Warner Bros. lost all faith in and hacked to pieces right after it opened, making her performance incoherent and her choices odd, due to so much missing information from the story.

She has the studio to blame for sabotage a lot more than Grace Kelly's magical powers in bed with the entire voting membership of the Academy.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 7:55pm

I believe PJ was making a joke or two.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 7:58pm

Okay.

Judy Garland was a pill-popping drunken whore.

Ha ha.

Just a joke.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 8:01pm

I used to hate Grace Kelly for winning over Judy Garland, then I saw her performance in COUNTRY GIRL, and thought she was splendid in it. It's like when I used to be outraged that Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis lost in 1950; I believe I actually had some uninformed comment about it on here and maybe Besty or someone else encouraged me to watch Judy Holliday's performance first, and I did. I still wish Davis or Swanson had won, but I think Holliday gives an accomplished performance that is absolutely winning.
I was hoping this would be better than DIANA, which by all accounts is a disaster. SAVING MR. BANKS has excellent buzz. GRACE OF MONACO has zero buzz, it probably just kind of sits there, a real shame again, since Dahan gave us such a visceral take on Edith Piaf in LA VIE EN ROSE.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 8:09pm

If Garland had had her full performance seen by all the voting members and had Warner Bros. fully backing her and that movie for an Academy win, I believe she would have beaten Grace Kelly.

Grace gave a wonderfully restrained "non glamorous" performance that Oscar voters still love to choose today---a person who sacrifices their own life and dreams for someone else. It's noble and admirable and praiseworthy. And it has won many, many Oscar statues for Best Actress nominees.

Judy played the hell out of a part she was over a decade too old to play, did a brilliant job with it anyway, and then watched the studio pull the rug out from under her right after it opened.

But Grace of Monaco has nothing to do with any of that.

Hey, did anybody see "End of the Rainbow?" I heard it was hilarious!

Updated On: 9/18/13 at 08:09 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 8:17pm

Some of it was. And her Tony nom was hysterical.

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 8:49pm

Judy garland pill popping heroin shooting while pregnant is probably why Liza Minnelli is such a mess and has drug problems.

Oops just. A joke or two har har har

No harm no foul right grace bashers?

Updated On: 9/18/13 at 08:49 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:09pm

These comparisons are not even apt. Judy had soul and Grace had ice in her veins. Two totally different iconic images.