Author Archives: Joan

W.E. is a splendid film that is part biopic and part soap opera.  The tandem story lines revolve around the true drama of Edward VIII of England and his scandalous affair with twice divorced American, Wallis Simpson, and the fictional account of Wally Winthrop (named after Mrs. Simpson) a well-to-do socialite trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage.  The two themes merge as Wally, who is obsessed with all things pertaining to the Duke and Duchess, is drawn to an auction at Sotheby’s where the sumptuous artifacts of the Windsor estate are on display.  She fingers the elegantly monogrammed linens, eyes the sparkling dinnerware and admires the dazzling jewelry. She is so taken with their love story, and consequently with anything that belonged to them, because she desperately seeks to know what it must be like to be loved so passionately. Because she is so lonely and vulnerable it’s no surprise that Wally (Abbie Cornish) opens herself to the flirtations of a Sotheby’s security guard.  We can all guess where that is going.

But the tale of Wally and her paramour (Oscar Isaac) pales in comparison to the compelling romance of Edward and Wallis.  It is said Edward was not only dominated by Wallis, but was possessed by her.  So enthralled was he with Mrs. Simpson that he renounced the throne, and all that went with it,  in favor of “the woman I love.”

W. E. gives us a sweeping view of the privileged lives of Wallis and Edward.  The costumes, the sets, the venues of England in the 1930s, and the attention to detail are so delicious that we’re embraced by a lifestyle that is at once stylish and chic. It’s a world where no hair is ever out of place, and one wouldn’t think of reaching for the inappropriate utensil at a dinner party.  Wallis (Andrea Riseborough)  is luminous in her pale skin and rouged lips, set off by her dark tresses.  But we see her as the French might see her, as a jolie laide*, because it is her charisma, and not her beauty that captures the heart of the would-be king.

History views the affair with a jaundiced eye, since Edward lost everything by abdicating the throne, and making the unpopular choice to marry a foreigner. In a rare turnabout this film raises the question of what Wallis was denied because of her choice to accept his proposal. In a letter, she tells us that she lost her privacy, her reputation and her esteem because she was so reviled once she became the Duchess.

If you were a fan of The King’s Speech, the Weinstein brothers are hoping you’ll also be captivated by W. (Wallis) E. (Edward).  This film has a similar ambiance, a must for historical romance enthusiasts and those who are enamored with the royal family.

Catch a glimpse at the film’s trailer below and see if we have a copy of the film available.

*A woman who is attractive though not conventionally pretty.

Note: This film was co-written and directed by Madonna.

Is it possible that another film about Truman Capote, that appeared after
the Oscar winning Capote is worth seeing?  The answer is a resounding
Yes!

If you enjoyed the 2006 Oscar winning film Capote, you might want to consider complementing your experience by viewing Toby Jones’ portrayal of Capote in Infamous. Because the films were released just months apart, and Capote was
the first on the scene, it grabbed the lion’s share of box office receipts and garnered rave reviews due to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s clone-like performance Infamous was unjustly overlooked.

In Infamous Toby Jones camps Capote’s outrageous mannerisms, and outspoken commentaries which made him the darling of sophisticated  social circles, and everyone’s pet.  Cut to scenes of Truman, surrounded by captivated socialites and movie stars, as he quips one liners.  Infamous provides us with a view of the humorous side of Capote, a man who was never afraid to
be a larger than life caricature  of  himself, and lends a comedic air to an otherwise serious film.

In deciding to write his true crime blockbuster In Cold Blood, Capote was
drawn inextricably into the lives of the assailants.  The soulful relationship between writer and murderer, the  shared childhood abandonment, the need for each to make a lasting  impression, one as famous and the other as infamous,
is exquisitely probed and explored in Infamous.

Capote’s subsequent lapse into alcoholism and depression, exacerbated by  the fact that he never wrote another critically acclaimed book, is now understood in light of the devastation  he suffered in losing his soulmate to the hangman’s noose. Because of Toby Jones’ sensitive portrayal in  Infamous, it becomes apparent  that, because he exploited Perry’s confidences to underscore the realism of In Cold Blood,  and profited from his lover’s demise,   Capote was haunted for the rest of his life.

Infamous leads us to a greater understanding of the unique genius that was Truman Capote.

Infamous. [DVD videorecording]. Widescreen version. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, [2007].