Rating: 
Summary: I didn't feel the magic
Review: This is a diverting movie, but a disappointment nonetheless. The acting was just fine, especially Kirsten Dunst, who is quite three-dimensional as the surprisingly strong and willfully charming actress Marion Davies who was Wm. Randolph Hearst's mistress. The rest of the cast is fine, too, except for the horribly annoying Jennifer Tilly as Louella Parsons. (Time for Ms. Tilly's gold watch. Enough's enough.) The sets, the look--all of that was done with a fine devotion to period accuracy and style. Music, too. So it's well-done. But the script misfires in a few areas. Its depiction of Hearst is as mean-spirited in its own way as Orson Welles', but far less compelling as it portrays Hearst as a helpless, paranoid buffoon, which he most assuredly was not. The man Davies describes to other characters is a far more interesting character than the man you see. Chaplin's ardor is not particularly believable, but other characters seem to believe it despite evidence to the contrary. Ditto Thomas Ince's role as a movie mogul. He's so weak, dumb and whiny, you can't imagine that he ever scaled the heights from which he is now tumbling. So, in the end, I think it's worth seeing, but I really was hoping for something much better.
Rating: 
Summary: a little known gem
Review: this movie slipped right by me. i'm usually up on everything that comes out but i was barely aware of this lil' gem.
kirstin dunst portrays perfectly the care-free actress marion davies. she could've taken home a statue for her role in this. edward herrmann is a great WRH........mr. izzard issues a smart charlie chaplin.....carey elwes-all excellent, right on down to the 2nd tier players and bit parts.
this movie makes me feel good about the director peter B.
something similar to david lynch with his excellent mulholland drive which burst forth from the sleeping giant like a fresh daisy-i'm sure Peter is very proud of this little gem.
must make mention of the exciting bonus's on the dvd. interviews, featurette, a chaplin short, making of.........many goodies and juicy treats for the cat's meow.
Rating:
Summary: a olden type movie
Review: This movie takes place in the past, the 50's I think and on a boat. It's just a bunch of actors and writers and rich people. Kirten Dunset plays a young actress, I think Maryln Monroe (I think the other characters call her Maryln). She is very good int his role because it requires her to ACT! SHe has to be both serious and funny when people arent looking. Alos on the boat is an actor named Charlie who is having an affair with Kirsten. Overall a good movie, but its a who dun it?! A who dun it is when theres a crime and nobody knows who did it and the audience has to figure it out like a puzzle. American Beauty was a who dun it and so is this movie. It hink its a cheat cause the writers theysleves dont know who dun it, but if yoiu can ignore that and you are a fan of old movie type ACTING, then The cat's Meow is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: The cat's litter box
Review: This movie was boring. There was no chemistry between the actors and it dragged on way too long. The only thing that made it interesting was that it was based on a true story. I've been to the Hearst castle and I think they could have done so much more to it than they did. Kirsten Dunst, once again, shows off her talent for picking stupid movies and then giving them her all.
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: 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. --This text refers to the DVD edition
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.
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