tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post4792149819318968059..comments2024-03-22T11:43:15.466-07:00Comments on Oscargasms: Bette Davis, The LetterAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964977693763983338noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-43040193464104164342017-02-11T16:12:10.661-08:002017-02-11T16:12:10.661-08:002017 edit:
Strike that, she's fabulous :)2017 edit:<br />Strike that, she's fabulous :)Alex Constantinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09940311552608814201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-11922872837651568862017-02-09T14:26:59.755-08:002017-02-09T14:26:59.755-08:00I think Davis is rather good here, though I'll...I think Davis is rather good here, though I'll be damned if I knew that was an English accent until I read so after the fact. I just thought she talked funny. Anyway, her Leslie is no villain but she's one lousy liar. I didn't buy her early explanation, although I don't think we're meant to (other characters' comments inadvertently express ambivalence about it). In fact, I think ambivalence is the theme here. Davis is ambivalent about her husband and her crime, her attorney is ambivalent in defending her ... and her character induces ambivalence in the viewer. You can't hate her because she's not a villain but she's culpable in a murder so you don't fully sympathize either. It's a risky interpretation that I think Davis pulls off because she's not playing the obvious. Yes, it's low burner work without the typical Davis theatrics but, seeing as I dislike the typical theatrics, I'm fine with her here. It's not her very best but I think it's very good indeed.Frank/click5https://www.blogger.com/profile/03605293626729520817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-31778012100129702362014-10-28T09:22:50.823-07:002014-10-28T09:22:50.823-07:00Well, I for one never cheered for her in Dark Vict...Well, I for one never cheered for her in Dark Victory, I was just saying that the best (my favourites, at least) of hers are yet to come. Eve, Little Foxes and Baby Jane are easily my 3 favs from what I've seen of hers. :)Alex Constantinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09940311552608814201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-60820891702793089302014-10-27T18:35:54.479-07:002014-10-27T18:35:54.479-07:00Hmm interesting that you prefer Bette to Kate and ...Hmm interesting that you prefer Bette to Kate and Joan, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised because you love Bette :D I've been waiting for that AHA! performance where Bette full on electrifies me to 5 statues but it hasn't come yet :\ I'm starting to wonder if it's because her kind of acting just do it for me, but she has done a pretty good job at differentiating her characters a little (evil and loud Bette, manipulative Southern-Belle Bette, sensitive dying Bette, evil but restrained Bette, etc...)Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964977693763983338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-54480109113044754652014-10-27T18:32:11.335-07:002014-10-27T18:32:11.335-07:00I definitely agree with your critique that she'...I definitely agree with your critique that she's boring. This Leslie isn't as overtly interesting as 1929's Leslie. <br /><br />As for The Little Foxes...I will go into it with caution. I've been anticipating the last 3 of Bette's performances and have exited more or less underwhelmed!Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964977693763983338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-55690107255760743192014-10-27T13:47:35.025-07:002014-10-27T13:47:35.025-07:00I haven't seen this in a long long time, but i...I haven't seen this in a long long time, but it was never Top 3 of Bette's for me. (I think I might prefer it to Kate & Joan though).<br />anyway, I think we've all oversold Little Foxes. If anything, when time comes, I think you'll at least appreciate that it's completely unlike her previous nominated performances.<br /><br />So far I'm doing fine with my predictions. Hope Rebecca doesn't crush the party in the acting categories (though it's such a captivating film/book) :)Alex Constantinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09940311552608814201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-30035867624562626812014-10-25T17:03:58.775-07:002014-10-25T17:03:58.775-07:00I think Bette Davis was able to be a very entertai...I think Bette Davis was able to be a very entertaining actress, mainly in her villains, but in my book she's a bit boring here.<br /><br />Ah... and be prepared for her exceptional performance in The Little Foxes <3.GMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07058868751501120504noreply@blogger.com