The Tempest (Julie Taymor, 2010)

[Fiery Angel]

Chosen as the NY Film Festival Centerpiece

NEW YORK, July 31, 2010 -- The North American premiere of Julie Taymor's The Tempest will be featured as the Centerpiece film at the 48th New York Film Festival on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 in Alice Tully Hall, the Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today.

"Julie Taymor is one of the boldest, most innovative artists working in American theater and film, and her elegant adaptation of The Tempest is a perfect illustration of her unique artistry," says Richard Peña, Selection Committee Chair & Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center.

Academy Award®-nominated Julie Taymor (Across the Universe, Frida, Titus) brings an original dynamic to a 400 year-old story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar® winner Helen Mirren. Prospera's journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.

Taymor's provocative fantasy-drama The Tempest is the director's big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's final masterpiece and in addition to Helen Mirren, features Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Ben Whishaw. The Tempest was adapted and directed by Taymor. The film is produced by Taymor, Robert Chartoff, Lynn Hendee, Julia Taylor-Stanley and Jason K. Lau. The original music is by Oscar-winning composer, and Taymor's long-time collaborator, Elliot Goldenthal. Costumes were designed by three-time Oscar winner Sandy Powell. The film was edited by Oscar winner Françoise Bonnot. Touchstone Pictures will release the Miramax Film on December 10th in New York and Los Angeles.

[Finch]

I found Titus Andronicus one of the better Shakespeare adaptations (and also the last decent film Hopkins has made in the past 15 years) so I'm quite intrigued by this. But what's Russell Brand doing in this?

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Brand plays Trinculo and Whishaw plays Ariel. Quite interested in seeing Mirren here, however.

[Tommaso]

Definitely interesting. "The Tempest" seems to be a play that is very much liked by directors either doing 'experimental' work or, if "Titus" was an indication, at least flirting with it. However, topping Jarman's and Greenaway's versions will be very difficult, so I'm curious whether Taymor will bring a new perspective to the play apart from the sex change of Prospero. I'm still sad that Powell never managed to get his version done, unless you count "Age of Consent" as some sort of remnant of that project. In any case, that film had Helen Mirren, too...

[matrixschmatrix]

I'm really hoping this will be a return to form for Taymore- I thought her Lion King on stage was great, and Titus is one of my favorite Shakespeare adaptations (one of the few that arguably improves upon the play) but her last few movies have been at best a mixed bag. If this isn't at least better than Across the Universe, I'm giving up on her.

[Svevan]

Don't want to drop in to shit on everyone's good time, but I have never found Taymor's Titus to be that enthralling. Lots of psychedelic montage sequences and some bizarre (and temporary) intrusions of modernity. I found some of the perfs to be unbearable (Alan Cumming, Jessica Lange), and the whole thing just reeked of deliberate po-mo ugliness. But, as repeated over and over, it's a terrible terrible play so I guess it could've been worse (like, they could've played it straight). I wonder what she'll be able to do with a "good" Shakespeare play, but between this and Across the Universe's literal-minded thematically-empty version of adaptation, my hopes ain't up.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

The great GREAT WS that's never been filmed proplerly (if that's possible) is 12th Night.

What did you find lacking in Trevor Nunn's film version?

[Numero Trois]

and some bizarre (and temporary) intrusions of modernity.

Taymor wanted to reflect the anachronisms that are found in some of Shakespeare's plays. I think this was a good decision on her part. Didn't hurt the film at all.

But, as repeated over and over, it's a terrible terrible play so I guess it could've been worse (like, they could've played it straight). I wonder what she'll be able to do with a "good" Shakespeare play, but between this and Across the Universe's literal-minded thematically-empty version of adaptation, my hopes ain't up.

Actually, I thought Titus was ok. Like you say, it may be impossible to do an excellent film version of that play. Anyway, the banquet scene towards the end was certainly good for a laugh. And at least the film as a whole didn't feel emotionally stunted like something by that other director with a penchant for stunning set designs, Tim Burton. What probably best exemplies Taymor's priorities isn't what she put in the film, but what she left out. Namely, what is the best passage in the play- [Lucius requests assistance from the Goths in attacking the Queen, to which they reply]:

First Goth: Brave Slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,
Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort;
Whose high exploits and honorable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold in us: we'll follow where thou leads't,
Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day
Led by their master to the flowered fields,
And be avenged on accursed Tamora.

Didn't realize that Taymor previously directed The Tempest both on stage and in truncated form in this PBS series.

I think Across the Universe is her best film. It's by far her most balanced film to date. The more freewheeling narrative gave her as much room as she needed to play to her strengths. The fine vocal performances served as a nice counterpoint to the visuals and were hardly perfunctory. I guess musicals are Taymor's forte. It's just too bad they didn't use the film's singers on the soundtrack CD.

[HarryLong]

I found some of the perfs to be unbearable (Alan Cumming

Has there ever been a good Alan Cumming performance?
(Or is it just me?)

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Eyes Wide Shut?

[HarryLong]

Nah.

[Svevan]

Has there ever been a good Alan Cumming performance?

You may be onto something there, but I do think Eyes Wide Shut plays with his self-conscious and mannered smugness, in the characteristic way that Kubrick molds expressionistic performances to "fit" into his worlds.

Taymor wanted to reflect the anachronisms that are found in some of Shakespeare's plays. I think this was a good decision on her part. Didn't hurt the film at all.

The post-modern mish-mash of eras and ideas in Titus is my least favorite part of the whole thing. The "anachronisms" of W.S. are none so grave and never so obvious as Taymor's stylistic masturbation (here it was a replacement for anything actually of interest to the audience). Anyways, I feel abused when one is so stylistically inconsistent and so ugly. However, my experience with the play was on the under-grad level so I can't claim to be an expert, or have read the entirety of Shakspar. I'll just say that the worst one I read, as a young reader of literature/poetry way over my head, was Andronicus.

[domino harvey]

Has there ever been a good Alan Cumming performance?

Reefer Madness: the Movie Musical

[John Cope]

Has there ever been a good Alan Cumming performance?

Rudolph's Investigating Sex.

[Brian C]

I thought Cumming was OK in Sweet Land. Mannered and smug, sure, but more endearing than usual. Didn't have a problem with him in X2, either.

That's all I got, though.

[Markson]

I found some of the perfs to be unbearable (Alan Cumming

Has there ever been a good Alan Cumming performance?
(Or is it just me?)

His Nightcrawler could have been worse. And EWS. But, yeah, the dude is generally precious and insufferable.

[colinr0380]

I thought Cumming was just right for the Titus performance, with that keyed up self-entitled megalomaniacal paranoia that allowed him to be easily 'guided' into taking various actions. He plays Saturninus as someone whose obviously changeable moods makes all of Titus's sacrifices seem far less noble, and more foolishly blinkered, simply for being performed in his name.

Though I would rate Titus Andronicus generally much more highly than most in this thread. Even if it is much coarser and brutal that provides an interesting contrast to some of the understatement of the other plays.

And I hate to admit to having watched them, but Cumming's quite good in films like Spy Kids and Son of the Mask (the best thing in that otherwise woeful film), since he has that kind of cartoony quality about him anyway. The last thing I remember seeing him in was presenting the programme The Real Cabaret as part of BBC4's recent 'Twenties Glamour' season.

"The Tempest" seems to be a play that is very much liked by directors either doing 'experimental' work or, if "Titus" was an indication, at least flirting with it. However, topping Jarman's and Greenaway's versions will be very difficult, so I'm curious whether Taymor will bring a new perspective to the play apart from the sex change of Prospero.

And to add to Tommaso's list of previous radical cinematic visions of The Tempest (even if there is not much fidelity to the original text!), Taymor also has to compete against Forbidden Planet!

So this isn't like the relatively virgin cinematic territory that adapting Titus Andronicus presented. I'll be curious to see what she brings to her version.

[solaris72]

And to add to Tommaso's list of previous radical cinematic visions of The Tempest (even if there is not much fidelity to the original text!), Taymor also has to compete against Forbidden Planet!

That's the one to beat in my book.

Also there's a western version! William Wellman's Yellow Sky.

[manicsounds]

Maybe just me, but I found "Titus" as one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Left the theater thinking, "What did I just pay for?! What was with that boy lurking around? Like a lost Where's Waldo..."

"Across The Universe" was disjointedly bad too, I guess her films just don't do it for me. I'll most likely give this one a pass...

[Markson]

[Murdoch]

dear lord

[tavernier]

oy vey

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Julie, WTF?

(just kidding)

Three stills to go with that poster, folks.

[Fiery Angel]

looks good for a few chuckles (inadvertent, methinks)

[knives]

If you didn't like Titus don't bother clicking.