#92: The Cat’s Meow (2001) August 23, 2007
Posted by badblokebob in : Drama, 2000s, adaptations, 3 stars, true stories, Mystery, films about films, 2007 , trackback2001 | Peter Bogdanovich | 109 mins | DVD | 12 / PG-13
Possibly-true ‘murder mystery’ set in 1920s Hollywood. As with the similar Gosford Park, the point lies less in plot and more in characterisation — there are some good performances, especially from Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley and Edward Herrmann, though Kirsten Dunst seems a bit flat in comparison. The era’s style suits her though, and the whole period is beautifully evoked; for my money the prettiest scenes are the black & white bookends.
Sadly the similarity to Gosford Park is the film’s main shortcoming: once realised, it’s clear that Cat’s Meow doesn’t have the same subtle complexity in its story or performances. In its own right, though, there’s much to like.
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