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The Cat’s Meow
by Christian De Matteo
Wimpy
I was looking forward to seeing this, expecting
a clever little independent about a wild and reckless prohibition
party amongst America’s 20s royalty. And I supposed
that’s what I did see.
But at what cost?
The cost of two hours of my life, for what
could have been a very clever human condition story that ended up
being a rather dull retread of so many stories I’d seen before.
And Kirsten Dunst didn’t even look as good as
she normally does.
The basic plot line is about a true boat party,
hosted by William Randolph Hearst for the Hollywood elite, that
like some many other things, is not a three hour tour. It
is, instead, a two hour bore.
On this boat ride filled with partying,
adultery, duplicity and, eventually, murder, we meet the likes of
Charlie Chaplin, W.R. Hearst, and other 20s celebs.
Weed is smoked, sex is had, and alcohol is
imbibed. It’s Gosford Park on a TV budget with a TV
script… but not meant for TV, where it might be considered above
par fare.
As always, Meg Tilly does a good job and Helen
Mirren is fine. Dunst does a good job with a rather limited
roll and Eddie Izzard is quite good as Chaplin.
Unfortunately, none of this matters because the film simply
doesn’t.
Don’t bother.
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