Monday, September 18, 2006

I have been ravished

I watched Birth last night. And then I watched it again. For me, Kidman has occupied the top seat in filmdom since The Hours, but Birth must be the most impressive jewel in her crown. How grand it is to have a movie move you from one place to another. To dare. To reach. To be patient. What a completely engaging experience. Credit goes to Jonathan "Sexy Beast" Glazer, composer Alexandre Desplat and, of course, Kidman. She knows the camera, and Glazer creates a visual panacea around that knowledge. Desplat's score raises the film to high art. And why isn't Anne Heche a bigger presence in movies? She has about 12 minutes in Birth and every one of them resounds like a symphony. Love it or hate it, Birth will rattle you.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your comments on Anne Heche. I don't feel like I've seen people give her enough credit for her performance in this movie. I loved her in it.

J.J. said...

She is striking. I would've given her an Oscar for it. It's a true and deep supporting performance. Just perfect.

Glenn Dunks said...

god, YES! This movie is seriously bewitching (moreso than Kidman's Bewitched, BAM) and it casts a spell over you. It is a visual and aural feast.

Seriously one of my favourite films of all time.

Anonymous said...

Anne Heche is indeed a far better actress than she gets credit for -- and this film proves that point.

Speaking of 'Be{wretch]ed,' I wonder if Anne would have made a better Samantha than Nicole? She has good comic timing and truly lit up the screen in the otherwise dismal 'Six Days, Seven Nights,' her one and only (!!!) foray into romantic comedy. May we have another, please!

Anonymous said...

She has such a pretty face. I love her films.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kidman in this. She's brilliant. And as much as I respect her performances in Moulin Rouge! and The Hours, I find it funny how, in my opinion, the Academy has nominated her for her weakest performances. But they are her most showy so there ya go.

In Birth(and Dogville)she wears her performance in her expressions. That oprea scene stands as one of my favorite scenes in the last 5 years.

And Anne Heche is quite good and thank you for noticing it.

It's a pure shame how underrated Birth is. One can only hope that in a few years time it will be looked upon better like so many of our classics that were not understood at first glance.

J.J. said...

The opera scene is pure cinema. It's almost an adrenaline overload.

As transcendent as Kidman is, I'm wishing I focused on Anne Heche with this post. She'll certainly be the focus of an upcoming one.

Anonymous said...

Completely agree! Too many people hate this film...I think it's a masterpiece. *hides*

Andy said...

A flawed near-masterpiece. Kidman is extraordinary. On a side note, she also deserves respect for, according to Glazer, standing by him when the studio was unhappy with his rewriting of the script during production.

Adi said...

Thank you for shared it.
Oes Tsetnoc | Mengembalikan Jati Diri Bangsa | Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang | Oes tsetnoc | Online Marketing | Electronics Gadgets | etips solution | Travel Guide