This is the second piece that I will write for the Glamalan contest hosted by Malan Breton. In this article, I will identify my choices as the top ten period recreation films that I have ever seen. This list is in no particular order as all of them are equally magnificent in their constructions of the couture and style of the eras they represent. I am very sorry to report that I have found no pictures to go with my review.
1.. Far From Heaven- I think this film is the best of recent times in terms of recreating a historical period. Sandy Powell’s designs for the gowns worn by Julianne Moore are modish and truly take the film back to the era of haute couture in the 1950s.
2. Anne Of A Thousand Days- Anne Of A Thousand Days is the most sensuous film done in the style of Renaissance period films. The costumes worn by Genevieve Bujold designed by Margaret Furse, are among some of the most captivating and imperious costumes to appear on screen. The entire film is the best recreation of the Tudor period in England ever brought to film, but the costumes, particularly those worn by Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn, are stellar on their own as some of the most powerful fashion statements to make it to screen.
3. Desiree- As in Anne of A Thousand Days does with the Tudor Period in England, Desiree offers some magnificent displays of French couture in the Napoleonic era. Jean Simmons appears in some elegant outfits as Bernadine Eugenie Desiree Clary and creates some classic moments on film.
4. The Cotton Club- This film is a delicious throwback to the 1930s and they heyday of the Cotton Club and the Jazz era in New York. With fabulous recreations in terms of setting, the costumes worn by Lonette McKee and Diane Lane are incredible and truly display the posh style, grace, and elegance of the 1930s.
5. The Age of Innocence- This film, set during the Edwardian era in the United States, masterfully exudes the essence, style, and values of the gilded rich in the early 20th century. The costumes worn by Michelle Pfeiffer are spectacular representations of the era and quite possibly the best examples of period costume on film. Not only are the women’s costumes spectacular, particularly those worn by Pfeiffer and Wynona Ryder, but the men’s outfits are also stunning in their revival of the grace of men’s clothing during that period. Michelle Pfeiffer, Wynona Ryder, and Daniel Day-Lewis all cut striking figures in this film. This is perhaps the best period piece of the modern era
6. Chicago- This film, along with The Cotton Club, is one of the best representations of the 1930s Jazz Age ever to come to film. Some of the outfits worn by Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellwegger, and Queen Latifah truly capture the essence of the period being depicted in the film.
7. Marie Antoinette – Mounds of praise must be given to Sophia Coppola for her intuitiveness and vision in making Marie Antoinette. The food, the sets, and the costumes worn by Kirsten Dunst are extraordinary in the ways in which they define the 18th Century aesthetic in the film. Melina Canonero truly deserved the Oscar that she won for Best Costume Design in this film.
8. My Fair Lady- Sir Cecil Beaton rightfully won his Oscar for his designs worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. The entire ensemble of costumes worn by Hepburn are splendid and delicious examples of 19th century haute couture. The entire film, in terms of set and costume designs, brilliantly portray the various pockets of 19th Century British society.
9. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever- the period scenes in this fabulous shtick comedy starring Barbra Streisand provide some of the best examples of period costuming. Again, Cecil Beaton offers spectacular recreations of 18th century high fashion, providing Barbra Streisand with some of her most exquisite scenes on the screen.
10. The Josephine Baker Story- The Josephine Baker Story is a wonderful tribute to one of the most dazzling, awe-inspiring, and sensational entertainers of all time. This film does an excellent job of recreating the panache and flair that was La Josephine. Lynn Whitfield masterfully recreates this character and provides some of the most memorable and exquisite images on screen.
No comments:
Post a Comment