A Different Loyalty

I recently saw A Different Loyalty. The film is based on the true story of Kim Philby. He was a high-ranking member of British Intelligence. Unbeknown to his wife, Eleanor Brewer, he was a spy for the Soviet Union.

In the actual film, Rupert Everett plays Leo Cauffield. He meets Sally Tyler (Sharon Stone) while in Beirut. Both have been married before, but are also both truly happy for the first time with each other. After a brief period, the film goes back and forth in time and shows the destruction the occurs after Leo is exposed as a traitor.

I did not expect much prior to seeing this film, and I wasn't really disappointed or surprised. The film worked to pass the time, but is definitely not a must-see.

Dream Cast Thursday! Oscar Wilde

I have been really excited about unveiling this Dream Cast Thursday for a while.This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Oscar Wilde themed! This week, I will be recasting An Ideal Husband and the Importance of Being Earnest. Both were originally comedic stage plays by Wilde, but there have been many adaptations. An Ideal Husband was performed for the first time in 1895. The Importance of Being Earnest also premiered in 1895. When choosing my cast, I looked at adaptations that came out in 1999 and 2002.

The first character that I recast from an Ideal Husband was Lord Arthur Goring. He was played by Rupert Everett. For my adaptation, I cast Michael Fassbender.

The second character that I recast was Miss Mabel Chiltern. She was played by Minnie Driver. For my adaptation, I cast Anna Friel.

The third character that I recast was Sir Robert Chiltern. He has been played by Jeremy Northam. For my adaptation, I cast David Tennant.

The fourth character that I cast was Lady Gertrude Chiltern. She was played by Cate Blanchett. For my adaptation, I cast Rosamund Pike. 

The last character that I recast from an Ideal Husband was Mrs. Laura Cheveley. She was played by Julianne Moore. For my adaptation, I cast Rebecca Hall.

The first character that I recast from the Importance of Being Earnest was Jack Worthing. He was played by Colin Firth. For my adaptation, I cast James D'Arcy.

The second character that I recast was Gwendolen Fairfax. She was played by Frances O'Connor. For my adaptation, I cast Kate Winslet.

The third character that I recast was Algernon Moncrieff. He was played by Rupert Everett. For my adaptation, I cast Lee Pace.

The last character that I recast was Cecily Cardew. She was played by Reese Witherspoon. For my adaptation, I cast Juno Temple.

So what do you all think? Have you read/seen the plays? Which are your favorite adaptations and who would be in your cast?

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

I just finished watching Les Liaisons Dangereuses. It is based on four volumes published by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos in 1782. I have seen several adaptations for this story and have like all of them (including Dangerous Liaisons, Valmont and Cruel Intentions), so I was pretty eager to see this one. I was especially eager to see Rupert Everett in a French-speaking role. Overall, I must say that I was completely disappointed from beginning to end. The story and the performances were flat and rushed, the actors did not seem believable in the roles, and the editing made it all feel a little too much like a telenovela.

I would definitely not recommend this film. It is definitely not a must-see.