Reel Insight Episode 56: Helena Bonham Carter

This is one of my favorite episodes of late - we recorded it early and at night, so margaritas were present!  Of course that made the whole thing more fun (and even provides for a bonus star of the week after the credits!).  We discuss The Ramen Girl, Captain America and of course "Twin Peaks".  Then our wonderful star of the week - Mrs. Tim Burton - who had a tempestuous past with her other leading actors that gets discussed too.  Lots of fun was had by all.

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New Movies for Helena Bonham Carter (HBC):

Lady Jane - This movie really appealed to me as I adore The Tudors, and this fits in right after Edward VII takes over from Henry VIII, and passes the crown to Lady Jane Grey (HBC), his cousin, rather than his half sisters - the Catholic Mary and Protestant Elizabeth.   Of course, that means there are a lot of plots against Jane and her husband Guilford Dudley (and very young Cary Elwes).  The movie seems to take a lot of liberties with their relationship (they hated each other, but in the movie eventually fall in love and want to rule together).  The super-overdramatic score makes the whole movie a bit crazy, but it fills a gap in the Kings and Queens of England story particularly well given she only served 9 days!  3 of 5 stars/lambs

Sixty Six -  HBC stars as the mother of Bernie Reubens, a young invisible Jewish boy about to have his Bar Mitzvah, which he assumes will be the greatest day of his life.  Unfortunately, 1966 is the year of the world cup, and the Bar Mitzvah is scheduled for the same day as the finals.  Bernie is convinced no one will come so he prays for England to not make the finals.  To complicate things his father's grocery store fails and he  has to find new work.  His dad (Eddie Marsan) is an odd OCD father who has never really gotten his son.  So with little money, the plans for the Bar Mitzvah keep getting smaller and smaller. You really feel bad for Bernie and his attempts to find identity by making a big deal out of becoming a man.  A very sweet coming of age/sports story as Bernie becomes obsessed with soccer following England's progress.  2.5 of 5 stars/lambs

A Room with A View - Based on the book by E.M. Forster, in her first major movie, HBC plays Lucy Honeychurch who is visiting Florence with her chaperone (Maggie Smith) and they meet very nice men who swap rooms with them so they may have a view of Florence.  This complicates HBC's marriage plans back in England when she gets engaged to a VERY effeminate Daniel Day-Lewis.  A good movie, particularly if you like British dramas.  But somewhat slow-paced if you're not into that kind of thing.  4/5 stars/lambs