Period Drama : Propaganda and Hype

A row with Downton Abbey clearly suggests that Parade's End is up to some desperate PROMOTION! 

The upcoming period drama Parade's End is aiming at cheap publicity as is evident from the remarks and comments made by actor Benedict Cumberbatch (plays lead in Parade's End) on Downton Abbey, the best period drama series in last few years.

As people say, No Publicity is Bad, this trick is definitely working for Parade's End. The first episode goes on TV on 24th August. The story is a love triangle with two women fighting for, alas, Benedict Cumberbatch (come to think of that, at least they could have gone for a better looking actor, English actors are all so good looking and talented).

Since Downton Abbey is  everybody's favorite so what would be better than criticizing the show openly and get some attention. Well, let us see how this parade goes (I have nothing against the actors and the story) with Cumberbatch in the lead and the cheap publicity, my hopes are not very high (IMDb ratings 4.5/10 from 82 voters). 

Downton Abbey and Parade's End

**Define Benedict Cumberbatch in a word - UGLY!**

Do tell me about the first episode!

America Hot on Period Movies

Now fans of the American period dramas won’t be deprived much since movies on American history are releasing this year and the next, let’s have a look:

Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln,
 Licoln (2012)

• Lincoln (16^th November, 2012) – the movie is much anticipated, for two reasons I suppose, firstly, it is directed by STEVEN SPIELBERG (which is quite enough to draw traffic to the screens for about a month) and secondly, Lincoln remains to be a famous figure in American history, having said that, none other than Daniel Day Lewis is playing the part, which makes it official that the movie is going to be a big one at the year’s end.

Bill Murray (as FDR) and Laura Linney,
Hyde Park on Hudson

• Hyde Park on Hudson (7^th December, 2012) - again this movie is about a U.S. President and a very famous one, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). Unlike Lincoln, this movie is going to be a bit away from politics as it focuses on the love affair between FDR and one of his distant cousin. It brags a powerful cast, Bill Murray as FDR and Laura Linney as his lady love.

POSTER NOT RELEASED

• The Butler (2013) – looks like U.S. Presidents and their lives have certainly turned very interesting, as well as the lives of the people around them because this movies centres on the life of a butler of the White House who served EIGHT presidents over a time period of thirty years. Expect good performance since the lead is played by Forest Whitaker (as Eugene Allen) and then there are the presidents, all shiny and handsome.

POSTER NOT RELEASED

• The Normal Heart (2014) – is a movie about the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York in the 80’s and the work done for it by a gay Jewish-American man as he founded a prominent HIV advocacy group. Mark Ruffalo (as Ned Weeks) is in the lead, also, Alec Baldwin and Julia Roberts are starring which makes it good enough for me to watch this one (just that I don’t want Mark Ruffalo gay, he’s so charming).

Well, that’s that, American Period Drama fans won’t be starved for too long now that they have four mighty movies coming their way. Also, just in case you like American period movies (which I am sure you do) and haven’t watched The Conspirator, go ahead and feast yourself.

Happy Birthday Romola Garai

Birthday wishes to Romola Garai as she turned 30 this year!

Romola Garai

We thought we might just be in time to wish a very Happy birthday to Romola Garai - extremely talented actress. 

I am sure almost all of you have seen a period movie with her in the cast. I think I have seen all of her movies and I really like her work. So far my favorites are Mary Bryant and Emma.

Just in case you haven't seen any of her movies or period series, here's a list:

• Nicholas Nickleby
• I Capture the Castle
• Daniel Deronda
• Vanity Fair
• Amazing Grace
• Mary Bryant
• Emma
• Angel
• Atonement
• King Lear
• Glorious 39
• The Hour (comparatively recent)
• The Crimson Petal and the White

I hope this not-so-small list gives the idea of her dominance in the period dramas. You can say that she is one of the most prominent faces of the modern day period movie genre.

We wish her luck and happiness and hope she acts in many many more period movies to come.

A Christmas Carol

Disney’s A Christmas carol is a tale from the wit and greed-filled banter to the ghostly apparitions and finally the grand redemption at the end. Director Robert Zemeckis used the perfect 3-D motion capture animation along with a little creepiness as demanded by the story. Charles Dickens classic novel is framed with marvelous detailed and sharp animation with some frightening scenes as per requirements.

A Christmas Carol

In the story, Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter old money lender is confronted by spirits of Christmas to revel him his miserable existence.  His view on the Christmas holiday can be summed up in his sentiment as, those who celebrate the day with merry and cheer should be boiled in their own pudding and “buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” The story goes through spirit of Christmas Eve of the past, present and Christmas yet to come; all in multiple roles by Jim Carry. Gary Oldman plays Bob Cratchit with a mix of innocence, joy, and devastation, and it all translates well on the screen.

In the classic, some scenes are tear-jerkers, others frightening (few shots may cause audience to jump from their seats); complete eccentricity of scrooge is revealed with the help of terrifying character with facial hair and proper gestures. The tone is joyless, despite an extended passage of bizarre laughter, several dazzling flights in sky of London. Ultimately the movie is well-crafted, laborious but explosion of high spirits at end lacks virtue of entertainment. All we can say is that, Jim Carry and Gary Oldman have done justice with their roles and as Charles Dickens has depicted a sense of morality with the Christmas Eve as backdrop in his book, the same has been shown in the movie. It is a good Christmas Movie, fit for all!


How did you like it? Do tell me.