The Cat's Meow

Rating:
Summary: Not good
Review: This movies tries to represent a time in the golden age of Hollywood, but they can't represent it. In occassions actors don't know what to do, how to play their characters. Kirsten Dunst play an older when she looks like a teenager, she's a good actress but far to bee the best one, and able to play any character. The story is weak and a bad plot for what it seems something real.

Rating:
Summary: Wish I could give it no stars
Review: What a blatant piece of garbage. As an avid moviegoer, I am always fond of movies that attempt to give life to mysterious events, but it seems that, despite what the "Amazon.com's Description" might say about this movie, it truely is *not* a mystery. Not when the victim of the murder is killed in the last 5 minutes of the movie. What you do get with this is about an hour and a half of nonesense, lacking any sort of structure or climax. The script is horrible, and wastes the talents of many of the cast. While the cast members do try to put up a good act, it can't give life to a script that is obviously without structure. When I rented this movie, it was brand new and there was only one copy at a rather large Blockbuster. There's reason for that. In fact, I don't think even the one should have been there. So if you're looking for a night of intrigue, romance, mystery and suspense, don't look towards the Cat's Meow.

Rating:
Summary: A delicious slice of historical Hollywood gossip.
Review: What DID happen on William Randolph Hearst's yacht that night in 1924? That has been a matter of speculation for decades, and "The Cat's Meow" dramatizes what is probably the most scandalous answer to the question. The yacht setting gives Peter Bogdanovich two advantages: he makes the production look lavish on a limited budget, and he exploits the claustrophobic, slightly hysterical atmosphere on board for all it's worth. Above all, Bogdanovich is a superb actor's director, and he gets excellent performances from the large ensemble cast, particularly from Edward Herrmann as Hearst and Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies. Herrmann gives a complex, surprisingly moving portrait of a man who finds that all his money and power can't protect him from jealousy and despair. As for Dunst, it's like the sun rises AND someone opens a bottle of champagne every time she makes an entrance. There's one scene--in which Hearst shows outtakes from one of Marion's ponderous costume dramas--that neatly demonstrates both Marion's incompetence as a dramatic actress and her enormous charm as a comedienne; only a great actress could have brought it off, and Dunst, at 19, shows she has what it takes to become one of the legendary Hollywood leading ladies. Also worth noting are British comedian Eddie Izzard, charismatic and surprisingly solemn as Charlie Chaplin; Cary Elwes, virtually oozing slime as producer Thomas Ince; and Joanna Lumley, the elegantly amusing voice of reason as novelist Elinor Glyn. The movie drags somewhat toward the end, when the cover-up of the crime occurs, but the film's muted coda is touching and resonant. "The Cat's Meow" is a fascinating, lovingly detailed mini-tour of Hollywood Babylon.

Rating:
Summary: What's the catch about the PG-13 rating?
Review: What I like about this movie is its good adapted screenplay (featuring a nice narration) and the fine performance of its entire cast (Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Tilly being my favorites). What I don't like is that the producers were seemingly liable to some (interpersonal or legal?) restrictions, thus forced themselves to make this film a PG-13. Come on, what parents would think of bringing their young kids to the theater for this movie? Given the inherent mature theme (sexuality and violence involved) why not take the liberty to make a more realistic and convincing R-rated film? It would have been much more entertaining to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: OF WHISPERED LORES AND LOVES
Review: What really happened during this 'scandal' on a yatch where a film producer met his abrupt end amid a wild weekend of booze, charleston swinging, and dope?

We'll never truly know, but the film is a peppy cavalcade of big name stars playing big name stars. It's a character-heavy motion picture so let's discuss the impersonations.

Dunst is the flavour of the month, she makes Davies look like an attractively complex figure. While reflecting the verve of a young privileged woman at an exciting time, she maintains a moral core without really being certain of precisely what she wants, which rings true.

The flamboyant Eddie Izzard was a surprise in the cast but made an atypically understated Chaplin. You see the intelligence and yearning in his eyes, the sly wit dripping from his casual tilts of the head.

Personally, I felt these two were the only admirable actors in the film. The rest of the crew members acted as though they were in a much dopier movie. Herrmann for instance plays Hearst, the big tycoon, as a buffoon channeled through Bill Murray, huffing and puffing when he feels betrayed, grinning goofily and almost cross-eyed when he appears giddy.

The film overall is a very watchable one though, particularly if you can overlook a needlessly sepia tone across the board giving a pseudo-noir look. The idea clearly was less to weave a murder mystery yarn and more to splice together the interactions among people at the scene of a high-society and thus hush-hush crime.

Rating:
Summary: All Style, no Substance
Review: While Kirsten Dunst and Edward Herrmann both give fine performances, this movie is essentially just a fluffy (and historically inaccurate) costume drama. There is little evidence to support this interpretation of the events that took place on Hearst's yacht that weekend, and plenty to contradict it -- e.g. the fact that Hearst and Chaplin remained friends for years afterward. And, while Kirsten Dunst is fun to watch, she's way to young to play the part of Marion Davies at that time. Also, too much of the dialog seems "scripted" -- like people reciting clever lines, rather than like real conversations.

Nice sets and costumes save the movie from being a complete waste of time, but unless you're a big Kirsten Dunst fan, you'll do better watching something else!

Rating:
Summary: Wish I could give it 10 Stars
Review: While there are many different styles of movies that can entertain, this one is pure pleasure to watch and experience. It tells us the story of what may have happened aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924, and shares "The Whisper Told Most Often." Of course it may or may not have happened in this exact manner, but you will lose yourself in the magic of that time in our history.

The acting is superb - all of it. Herrmann actually becomes W.R. Hearst. Jennifer Tilly, Eddie Izzard, and Joanna Lumley are perfect. Kirsten Dunst is absolutely luminous as Marion Davies. She brings her to life with a vivacity that makes you want to learn more about the real Marion.

As the story unfolds, you will be mesmerized by not only the acting, but the "to die for" costumes, the wonderful music and the great sets. I've seen the movie 3 times and have ordered the DVD. Can't wait to see it again. I also have the sountrack - great music.

Do yourself and a friend a favor and see if it you can still find it anywhere. If not, order the DVD. You won't be sorry. I've read far more estatic reviews than unfavorable. You would have to be a very "jaded" person to dislike this movie.


Rating:
Summary: Death at Sea
Review: William Randolph Hearst--know to his friends as WR--invites a group of friends--including Charlie Chaplin--to wile away a weekend aboard his luxury yacht. Accompanying Hearst is his mistress, Marion Davies, who apparently has more than a passing interest in Charlie Chaplin.

At the end of the film I found myself wondering just what the "truth" really was--what really happened that weekend. I couldn't help but wonder if Bogdanovich had exaggerated events. "The Whisper Most Often Told" is the one played out in front of us--costumes and all--and yet really perhaps there was no big hidden, secret drama to this little weekend sail. I am not defending Hearst's character, but feel, rather, that we may have been "had" by this presentation of "the truth." This thought bothered me enough to give the film 3 stars.