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The Audrey Hepburn Story

The Audrey Hepburn Story

List Price: $9.95
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Nice, but needs work.
Review: It's an intriguing idea to bring the story of Audrey Hepburn to the big screen, but did it all go well? Pretty much. The Audrey Hepburn Story is an average-and-a-bit film that occasionally frames Hepburn as a bit of a ..., but a likeable one. The TV-movie is a little over-long, but it spends a nice time telling the world what it must have been like through Hepburn's eyes. Jennifer Love Hewitt is good, although she does not have quite the touch to portray a brilliant performance. Better ones come from Frances Fisher as Hepburn's mother and a young actress called Emily Rossum who movingly plays Audrey from 14-16. The script has some really intriguing moments and a touching back-story. But, in the long shot, the film really misses greatness when it flaws itself deeply at the end. Nice work, but misses the mark sometimes.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Audrey Hepburn HALF Story
Review: I really liked this movie, except for Jennifer Love Hewitt. The actress playing the Baroness was absolutely perfect, and the Head Mistress was a strong character as well. But Jennifer, no.
Though they had many items from Audrey's history, they seemed to be missing the most important ones, and getting some other facts wrong. I think what happened was that the author of the script was doing a wonderful job, but then got to 2 hours and realized he couldn't make it any longer, so he just added the finishing touches and cut out a lot from her history.
JLH did have brown hair and brown eyes and was quite skinny, but Audrey was so much thinner. JLH had a very different "body structure"than Audrey did. Also, JLH, if you cannot do a good accent, don't try.
I liked the movie, all in all. But....they didn't put enough emphasis on what she thought was probably her greatest accomplishment, her humanitarian work. They ended in the middle of Audrey's career and just did a small blip on her humanitarian work. Whatever happened to the rest of her movies? I can't wait until someone has enough money to make a movie that goes throughout her life and does it accurately from start to finish. Though it might be four hours, there are people like me who wouldn't care, as long as it was accurate and all there. I think Audrey would have been pleasant about it, yet disappointed at the brief mention of her sons and her humanitarian work. I still love Audrey, though!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I'm still shaking my head...
Review: Why? Why would anyone who loved Audrey Hepburn even think of putting JLH in the title role of the movie of her life? I'll give 2 stars for the effort, but it seems JLH, who apparently calls Hepburn her "idol", cannot do this enigmatic star justice. Although, I don't blame her entirely. Who really could fill those graceful, elegant shoes of AH? Heavy eye makeup and a cheesy replica of Hepburn's unique accent can't carry it. I blame the director, who chose to cash in at times on JLH's curviness (there are a few gratuitous cleavage shots) rather than have Hewitt exude Hepburn's girlish charm that went beyond sexy- she was truly regal (perhaps being the daughter of a wealthy English banker and a Dutch Baronness helps you achieve that). This movie would have been better with an unknown actress- indeed, they used a little known English actress to play the younger Audrey (Emmy Rossum, soon to be seen in the role of Christine in a movie version of "Phantom of the Opera"), so why not do the same with the bigger role? In any event, I'm sorry to say this movie should be skipped. Rent a "Funny Face" or "Charade" instead. This movie stinks.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Give Ms Hewitt some credit
Review: Obviously, Jennifer Love Hewitt has great respect and love for Ms Hepburn, and she should get some credit for taking such a risk. But Audrey is more than an actress, she's an icon, and anyone taking on such a role is bound to offend some people. I was not familiar with Jennifer Love Hewitt's previous work, but I am eager to check it out. She certainly is beautiful and has screen presence, but she is not Audey Hepburn, at least not yet. Ms Hewitt is miscast and it's ironic that the movie takes place during the filming of "Breakfast at Tiffany's", a movie for which Ms Hepburn was miscast. My real objection to the movie isn't the casting or the acting, it's the way the movie was plotted. The subject-looking-back-on his/her-life plot has become a cliche. Someone needs to put some new life into the biography movie.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Boo Hiss
Review: What an awful movie. Audrey Hepburn can never be portrayed well enough by one actress today in a movie. There are many actresses that hold some of her qualities, but never all of them. Certainly not Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Speaking of the "leading lady", it's a sad tale about how she won the role of Audrey in this film. You see, the young actress fancies herself to be an Audrey for the ages, but even she knows it's not true, so she bought the rights to the movie, produced it and cast herself as Audrey. She is no Audrey Hepburn.

Where Audrey always was always so unsure of her looks, Hewitt takes the 'character' and makes her devoid of that emotion. Other qualities of Audrey lack as well. Hewitt should stick with those TV series for FOX; although they'll still fail, they won't be as bad as this movie.

Another alteration for Hewitt's casting was the flashback-from-Breakfast-At-Tiffany's situation. That stunt painted over some of her finest work, including the fabulous 'Wait Until Dark' and tosses it into a small paragraph at the end.

You may think I am being a harsh judge, but worse criticisms have been uttered. Audrey Hepburn, quite possibly the greatest actress to ever work in Hollywood, should never be handled with such, for lack of a btter word, stupidity. This movie handles her with just that.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pure Cinematic Ingratitude
Review: From the moment Audrey Hepburn graced the screen as Princess Anne in "Roman Holiday," the world - as well as the Oscars - began a sparkling love affair with the Dutch born beauty.
Unfortunately, you won't see any Oscar worthy performances in "The Audrey Hepburn Story." Instead, viewers are forced to watch no-talent Jennifer Love Hewitt invade their television sets, spouting very un-Audrey like gibberish in a wretched British accent.
While we're on the subject of Hewitt's accent, it should be made clear that not only is it pretty unbearable to listen to at times, it is also inaccurate. While Audrey Hepburn was born to a half-English father, she herself did not speak with an British accent.
But that's just scratching the surface. Hewitt looks nothing like Audrey at all - the coloring's right, but any resemblance ends there. Audrey's European loveliness cannot be matched by Hewitt's plainness.
Cringe-inducing accent and a major lack in the looks department might be a bit forgiveable if Jennifer Love Hewitt had managed to capture who Hepburn was at all. We wait throughout the entire movie for a glimpse of the Hollywood starlet re-incarnated, only to watch the credits roll two hours later and wonder why Hewitt was cast at all. Audrey Hepburn was reserved, gracious, with a warmth and charm today's stars try to imitate. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays, well, herself - outspoken and bubbly, with a personality bordering on down right obnoxious at times. Look closely at the screen as she speaks - she just SCREAMS "look at me, I'm really acting - look, look, I'm Audrey!" She's sadly mistaken.
On a final note, when Hewitt remakes the famous alley scene from "Breakfast At Tiffany's," die-hard fans will be tempted to rip out their VCRs from the set - its an absolute sham. Did Jenny even watch the original movie? Or any Hepburn film, for that matter? Suffice to say, Hewitt does not re-capture the magic of the scene, or any bit of Hepburn's life. This is truly a shame, because Audrey Hepburn's life would make a wonderful movie, this just isn't it. For a woman who gave so much talent for so many years, interpreting her in this manner is really a kick in the face.
So do yourself a favor: pass on this ridiculous dribble and rent the original "Breakfast At Tiffany's" - or any Hepburn film for that matter - instead.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Too Much Untold
Review: This DVD is a mildly entertaining biopic of Audrey, but it leaves so much of her story--in fact, so much of HER unsaid. Where was the memories of dancing to raise money for the resistance movement as a child? Where were the marrital discords and painful self-doubts, as well as her physical struggles. But, most importantly, how can one even attempt to tell the story of Audrey without even mentioning her work with Unicef, which defined who she was far better than any motion picture or love affair? The work she did to open the eyes of America to the suffering of children in Third World countries was what set her apart from other glamour queens of her time and this was the real Audrey--the angel of mercy, the kind and loving soul that gave until she was all too soon taken from us. Any movie about Audrey that does not even mention this does her and her memory a great disservice. Bottom line: if you want to see a mildly entertaining film, this is one, but if you loved Audrey and really are interested in her rather than her movies, then find a good documentary.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good but not Great
Review: This movie started out slow and not very good. It got a little bit better but not much. It was a bit of a disappointment.I felt that it was rushed and not 100 percent accurate.The movie talked about her childhood then her acting career then her childhood then her love life so it could get confusing.I felt it was a little over dramatic like a soap opera.There were disputes over Jennifer Love Hewitt playing Audrey but she did pretty good but no one can really play Audrey except Audrey herself.I really do like Audrey Hepburn as an actress but I do not like this movie as much as I like her.I suggest you watch her movies instead of this but if you wish to see this do not let my review stop you.I hope I helped.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good but not Great
Review: This movie started out slow and bad.It eventually got a little better but not much.It was a bit of a disappointment.I feel that it was not 100 percent accurate and it was rather rushed.It told of Audrey Hepburn's childhood then went to her acting career then back to her childhood.I really like Audrey Hepburn as an actress but not this movie.So I recommend that you see one of her movies instead of this one but if you wish to see it don't let this review stop you.Hope this review helped.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jennifer as Audrey!
Review: In my opinion, this is one of the best films of 2000. It is about the life of Audrey Hepburn...that is the only way to describe the premise! It takes place during the making of "Breakfast at Tiffani's," and builds itself up be showing flashbacks of Audrey's life. The movie is amazing quality...and everything about it is enjoyable. You do not have to be an Audrey Hepburn fan to enjoy this movie! It is just a film that can be enjoyed by anyone. The acting in this film is wonderful, especially Jennifer Love Hewitt. She does an amazing job here, and I am a huge fan of hers. The other actresses that play young Audrey are great as well. The actress that plays Audrey's mom is one of the best (she also played Rose's mom in Titanic). Eric McCormack (from Will and Grace) also appears here, and does a fine job. This film has many different elements to it that make it what it is. You go through the happy moments with Audrey, and it makes you happy, but then there are the sad moments that make you sad! If you are an Audrey fan, please go into this with an open mind, and you will like it! You can not expect to see Audrey because if you do, you will not enjoy this film. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and I give The Audrey Hepburn Story 5 stars!!!


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