Skip to main content

New Release Birb: Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Starring: Annette Benning and Jamie Bell
Directed By: Paul McGuigan
US Release Date: December 15th, 2017
My First Viewing: January 26th, 2018
Image Credit

Annette Benning (20th Century Women, American Beauty) and Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) star in the romantic drama Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, which follows Benning's portrayal of actress Gloria Grahame in the last few years of her life. 

Based on the memoir by Peter Turner (who Bell portrays in the film), the story follows Turner and Grahame's relationship in a non-linear style. Jumping between the past and the present, we see the highs and lows of the relationship, the underlying stories, and what one will do to not hurt the ones they love. Benning's version of Grahame is near spot-on, down to the soft pouty voice, movements, and lip curls. Bell and Benning have great chemistry together, but the story overall for some reason felt safe and a little by-the-numbers. 

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is rated R for language and sexual content. Have you seen the film? Please post your comments below and as always, be civil. 
-birb 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Best Picture Birb: The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, and Richard Jenkins Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro US Release Date: December 1st, 2017 Most Recent Viewing: March 3rd, 2018 Image Credit: movieposter.com Garnering the most nominations at the 90th Academy Awards with thirteen, The Shape of Water  gives us Guillermo del Toro's best film since Pan's Labyrinth. This cold war fairy tale is a visual tour de force and a compelling story, all of which was told through the eyes of the main character who doesn't say a word.  Sally Hawkins stars as Eliza, a mute janitorial worker at a secret government facility who is trying to find her place in the world. When an Amazonian monster is brought to the facility by the head of security Richard Stickland (Michael Shannon), Eliza and the monster (Doug Jones) build a bond. Octavia Spencer plays Eliza's workmate and friend Zelda, and Richard Jenkins plays Giles, Eliza's neighbor, and best friend. Jenk...

New Release Birb: Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2 Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin Directed by David Leitch US Release Date: May 18th, 2018 My First Viewing: May 17th, 2018 image credit: movieposter.com Nearly two and a half years after turning the superhero/comic book genre on its ear with the original, Ryan Reynolds returns with a new director, but with the familiar quips and fourth-wall breaking in Deadpool 2.  Taking place after the events of the first film, we follow the Merc with the Mouth as he continues his mercenary ways. However, after a hit goes wrong, Mr. Pool tries to turn a new leaf by trying to help a young mutant Russell (Julian Dennison, Hunt for the Wilderpeople ) while also becoming an X-Man (trainee) . On the hunt for Russell is Cable (Josh Brolin), traveling back from the future to try and kill Russell.  This is a much different movie from the first Deadpool. While I preferred the first due to it's more spontaneous nature, the sequel had a lot to live up to, and f...

New Release Birb- The Strangers: Prey at Night

The Strangers: Prey at Night Starring: Bailee Madison and Christina Hendricks Directed by Johannes Roberts US Release Date: March 9th, 2018 My First Viewing: March 8th, 2018 image credit: imdb.com Ten years after the release of The Strangers  (starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman), The Man in the Mask, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl are back in The Strangers: Prey at Night.  In an unknown timeframe after the events of the first Strangers, we see at the beginning of the film picking off an older couple. While making a trip to drop their daughter off at boarding school, Cindy (Christina Hendricks), Mike (Martin Henderson), and their kids Kinsey (Bailee Madison) and Luke (Lewis Pullman) stop by a family members trailer park, where they are soon terrorized by the three masked murderers. The reason the trio is going after them, much like in the first film, was because they were there. There are some fun callbacks to the first film, and some of the scares were earne...