The Tempest

[funthing29]

I just noticed that the Telegraph screening at the Mayfair Hotel includes an introduction by Helen Mirren and Felicity Jones.

You're kidding? Where's it say that?

This month we are offering an exclusive opportunity to see a preview of The Tempest introduced by Helen Mirren and Felicity Jones at The May Fair Hotel, London on March 3rd at 7.15pm

In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's mystical thriller “The Tempest,” Academy Award®–nominated Julie Taymor (“Across the Universe,” “Frida,” “Titus”) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar® winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”). Prospera’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.

The Tempest, directed by Julie Taymor and starring Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Ben Whishaw is at cinemas from March 4.

http://www.media-promotions.com/telegra ... elcome.php

[Preston1990]

To see a trailer or rate this film, please click here »



Directed by Julie Taymor.
Starring: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn, Ben Whishaw.

Plot: In Julie Taymor's version of 'The Tempest,' the main character is now a woman named Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor's version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it's a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.

IMDB

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[ejwrank]

I just noticed that the Telegraph screening at the Mayfair Hotel includes an introduction by Helen Mirren and Felicity Jones.

Picture of Helen Mirren leaving LA and coming back to London in Tuesday's Standard. Do you think that's because she has to turn up at The Mayfair Hotel tomorrow? Or will there just be a recorded introduction?

Looking forward to this.

[June]

Is anyone going to this screening? It sounds like it will be a really good night.

[JMP]

I can't find anything about the screening in the telegraph. Does anyone have the link?

[Rainey]

This was just described on BBC's Film 2011 as 'The most unfathomably misguided honker' lol

[Beate]

And as "a Ken Russell Rock Opera, but without the fun". Oh dear.

[June]

This was just described on BBC's Film 2011 as 'The most fabulously misguided honker' lol

Hmmm, interesting! I won't be missing too much by going to Monsters instead then

[Kaybeelon]

This was just described on BBC's Film 2011 as 'The most unfathomably misguided honker' lol

Ouch!!!

[Beate]

As I had been to a trade show earlier, OH and I arrived at Green Park at 5pm already so had a meal in Henry's Bar which takes the Taste card and has the exact same menu as Bar 38 in West India Quay.

We arrived at the May Fair Hotel at 6.15pm and were let in a short while later. We had to run the gauntlet of two guest lists, one at the top of the stairs, one at the entrance to the screening room. We were asked to fill up from the front (what's people's obsession with that lately?) but roundly ignored it and took residence in the second row from the back. Watched the arrival of several FMUKers who dotted themselves all over the place. When I went to the toilet a few minutes later I heard the bloke at the entrance tell people there would be a Q&A with Helen Mirren and to budge up and not leave empty seats as they were oversubscribed. Also, could people please fill in from the front, but no trouble if not? Looks like he mellowed slightly since we got in, ha. He got of course rebuffed straight away by the guy with the walking stick who said he didn't do front row.

At first they had three chairs put up in front of the screen but suddenly they took them away again and at about 7.30pm Felicity Jones and Helen Mirren finally made their entrance. Now, I would expect a lot of things from Helen Mirren but I would not expect her to describe Russell Brand as a "sex God". I can't stand the man. The film was shot in Hawaii (the Volcanic part) and I can't honestly remember anything else interesting anyone said, maybe apart from the fact that Ms Mirren was very astonished to learn that this was Felicity Jones' first Shakespeare production. Doesn't she look like Gemma Arterton? During the trailer in TV the other day I was convinced that it was her. How extraordinary.

Anyway, at 7.40pm we finally got the film - and I didn't think much of it. In fact I thought it was overwrought and boring at the same time. Why did the Prince have to break out into song? A naked Ben Wishaw as Ariel is not really a great sight either, and generally I thought it was a waste of some decent actors (Russell Brand excluded, my God who cast him). Was astonished to find Eli Gold from The Good Wife play Sebastian.

4/10