Grey Gardens (DVD)

Step into the enchanting world of "Grey Gardens," where Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange deliver a captivating duet as they breathe life into the peculiar but utterly fascinating Beale women. This biographical drama is a symphony of eccentricity and elegance, offering a front-row seat to the lives of two reclusive relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.Drew Barrymore's portrayal of Little Edie Beale is a revelation, a whirlwind of emotions and quirks that draw you into her complex universe. Her performance is like an intricately woven tapestry of resilience, vulnerability, and a dash of whimsy. From her iconic fashion sense to her poetic musings, Barrymore shines a spotlight on the enigmatic charm of this unconventional character.Jessica Lange, in the role of Big Edie Beale, delivers a tour de force performance that echoes the echoes of a once-glamorous past. Lange's portrayal is like a haunting melody, a portrayal of faded beauty and fractured dreams. Her chemistry with Barrymore is the beating heart of the film, creating a mesmerizing dynamic that ranges from touching to tumultuous."Grey Gardens" is an exquisite blend of art direction and cinematography, transporting viewers back in time to a decaying mansion that mirrors the lives of its inhabitants. The attention to detail is like a work of art, with every frame capturing the faded grandeur of a bygone era and the intimate moments that unfold within its walls.While the film beautifully captures the essence of the Beale women, some viewers might find the pacing slow, reflecting the languid rhythm of their secluded lives. The story unfolds like a gentle ebb and flow, inviting you to immerse yourself in the subtleties of their relationships and emotions.In the grand tapestry of biographical dramas, "Grey Gardens" stands as a remarkable piece, carried by the remarkable performances of Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. It's like an invitation to peek behind the curtains of history and glimpse the intricate threads that weave the lives of extraordinary yet misunderstood women. So, embrace the eccentricity, savor the elegance, and let "Grey Gardens" transport you to a world where reality and mythology intertwine in a mesmerizing dance. 🎭🏰🎬

For anyone who's been fascinated and compelled by the original "Grey Gardens" documentary, this is the movie for you! Writer/director Michael Sucsy has revived Little Edie, her mother Edith Bouvier Beale and their cat-ridden East Hampton home for the 2009 HBO television movie GREY GARDENS, which takes us beyond the documentary to explore possibly how and why these women transformed into the unique counter-culture icons captured on film in 1975 by the Maysles brothers.Shifting back and forth between the familiar scenes of the classic documentary and their past in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, we follow Edith (Jessica Lange), the colourful, bohemian wife of New York banker Phelan Beale (Ken Howard), and their free-spirited, namesake daughter "Little" Edie (Drew Barrymore), as their relationship is seared beyond that of the typical mother/daughter bond. Wheras Edith willingly married for money and security, a loveless union with a husband who prefers an accommodating secretary in New York; Little Edie instead yearns for an independant world, perhaps as an actress on the stage or maybe even a dancer. Just as she looks sure to get her big chance with producer Max Gordon, Phelan learns of Edie's affair with a married man and packs her off to her mother at Grey Gardens...Michael Sucsy took as his starting point the original "Grey Gardens", making careful note of the conversations where Edie and her mother argued and talked about the events which led/forced Edie back to the family bosom never to emerge, and crafted a drama which may or may not depict what really happened in the complicated relationship of the Beales. Sucsy was also granted access to the original diaries and correspondance belonging to Little Edie. Whether or not it rings true in a historical sense hardly matters. One important thing does: the Beales are alive again.Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore are absolute perfection as Edith and Little Edie respectfully. They are so spookily accurate in the re-creations of the documentary, that I often found myself thinking I'd popped the 1975 DVD in by mistake! No wonder Jessica Lange just recently walked away with an Emmy Award for her performance as Edith; she's spellbinding and really gives us a picture of how Edith must have carried herself in her 1930s heydey.True love and appreciation of the Beales was the main drive behind this movie. The incredible, joyful, proud message of Little Edie lives on. She's a heroine for the ages.Strongly recommended.TECHNICAL DETAILS:Widescreen 16:9 enhancedsoundtracks: English (5.1), Spanish (2.0)subtitles: English, French, Spanishclosed-captionedextra features: audio commentary with executive producers Michael Sucsy, Lucy Barzun Donnelly and Rachael Horovitz; "Grey Gardens: Then & Now" featuretteDisc format: DVD-9 (single-sided, dual-layer)