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Londra, 1660. Edward 'Ned' Kynaston, il più famoso interprete teatrale di ruoli femminili, vede andare in frantumi il suo mondo scintillante quando il re Carlo II, stanco di vedere sempre gli stessi attori, decide di cambiare la legge e di permettere anche alle donne di calcare le tavole del palcoscenico. Caduto in depressione, Ned medita il suicidio. In suo aiuto accorre Maria, la fedele costumista personale che lo ha sempre ammirato, anche se con un pizzico di invidia, che divenuta a sua volta attrice, gli insegnerà come tornare a recitare e a vivere da 'vero' uomo...
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By pgagge
Format:DVD
Cross dressing Shakespearean actors on the Restoration scene. The eternal questions of rôle and identity. Wit and vulgarity. A scene-stealing Merry Monarch and his delectable Nellie. The bustle, filth and sheer energy of 17th century London. Not least, a light touch and clear sense of fun from the entire cast, with some outstanding performances. What's not to like?
I can live with the artistic license taken with the period -- at times, one gets the impression that Bardolatry was anywhere near as widespread as it is today, and the post-Brando acting at the end would probably have elicited boos rather than cheers from its audiences -- but anything true to its time would be alien to us. And, hey, the ever-iterated Desdemona death scene really does finally work!
On the minus side, the four-plus initial minutes of unskippable commercials and previews definitely robs this DVD issue of one star. Would that there were a warning system -- or better, that DVD producers recognized simple politeness as a selling point.
I can live with the artistic license taken with the period -- at times, one gets the impression that Bardolatry was anywhere near as widespread as it is today, and the post-Brando acting at the end would probably have elicited boos rather than cheers from its audiences -- but anything true to its time would be alien to us. And, hey, the ever-iterated Desdemona death scene really does finally work!
On the minus side, the four-plus initial minutes of unskippable commercials and previews definitely robs this DVD issue of one star. Would that there were a warning system -- or better, that DVD producers recognized simple politeness as a selling point.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Foroyar
Format:DVD
Without knowing why, I was intrigued by this film from seeing it advertised. I consider myself thoroughly intrigued now I've seen it! "Stage Beauty" possess a magestic grace and effortless wit that even "Shakespeare In Love" did not possess. A riot of colours, rich fabric and make-up and a splatter of absorbing characters (not to mention the intelligent acting behind it) makes Stage Beauty one of the best films I have had the pleasure to see this year. The sets are glorious, the costumes quite exquisiste and there is a fresh humour in the script I haven't seen the like of since Moulin Rouge.
the two leading actors. (Clare Danes and Billy Crudup) give a superb performance, particularly as Crudup would have been greatly challenged to find the awkward character of Ned in himself. Danes, of course, is quite on form and is truly excellent as Ned's dedicated dress mistress. A fresh, honest film about love, truth and the true meaning of beauty. Buy it.
the two leading actors. (Clare Danes and Billy Crudup) give a superb performance, particularly as Crudup would have been greatly challenged to find the awkward character of Ned in himself. Danes, of course, is quite on form and is truly excellent as Ned's dedicated dress mistress. A fresh, honest film about love, truth and the true meaning of beauty. Buy it.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By David Henry
Format:DVD
As a non-English native speaker, it is difficult for me to express my enthusiasm for this magnificent movie - especially since it deals with one of the richest, unique elements of English culture - the world of Shakespeare.
But I'll try, because the movie is just extraordinary.
Stage Beauty is conceived much like a play by Shakespeare, with its layers of complexity behind the apparent simplicity of its powerful story, its well-crafted characters, and its underlying themes (interactions between genders, definition and pursuit of Excellence, disorder versus order). In fact, it is highly reminiscent of Othello in its central themes - and, not surprisingly, Othello the play is at the heart of the movie.
The performance of the actors is simply stunning - they effortlessly take viewers from one emotion to the next; and watching them portray players who in turn play roles (of their own gender or not) is an absolute delight.
However, acting skills are enablers - what really allows the cast to deliver such a compelling performance is the movie's overall structure, and the consistent way in which it deals with its core themes. In fact, the movie progresses in such an irresistible way that it culminates with a man and a woman simply greeting each other before a rehearsal - the masculine Excellence and the feminine Excellence, finally defined, and facing each other at last - after a period of disorder and conflicts.
An absolute jewel.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's London in the 1660's when women were forbidden by law to appear on the stage. Female roles were played by male actors who were raised and trained for this specialty. The greatest of them is Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) and we meet him on stage while he's playing Desdemona's death scene. Maria (Claire Danes), his dresser, wants two things...to be an actor and to have Ned. When Charles II issues a decree that henceforth women only may play women's roles, Ned's world crashes to the ground. As he says, "Where's the art in a woman playing a woman?" Maria's world changes just as radically.
Stage Beauty is a terrific movie about theater and gender. Kynaston is a man who plays women who now must learn to play men. He's gay, he's straight, he's bi, and he doesn't think seriously about all that...only that he must act. Maria is a woman who wants to play women but only knows how to play men playing women because that's all she's ever seen. Eventually, Ned shows Maria how to be a woman playing a woman, and Maria shows Ned how to be a man playing a man. And while Ned's nature may not make him a candidate for heterosexual monogamy, it's likely that Ned and Maria will enjoy each other's pleasure and company for a while, as well as new fame. "Who are you now?" she asks him, after their triumph on the stage, she as Desdemona to his Othello. "I don't know, I don't know," he says, and they both laugh and kiss.
Crudup does an extraordinary job. He plays Desdemona in full costume, he plays Othello, he plays bi, he plays straight, he plays gay. He's believable. He has the looks, the masculinity and the screen presence to become one of Hollywood's pretty star leads like Tom and Brad and Leo, but he spends his time acting in New York and taking quirky screen roles like this one.... Read more ›
Stage Beauty is a terrific movie about theater and gender. Kynaston is a man who plays women who now must learn to play men. He's gay, he's straight, he's bi, and he doesn't think seriously about all that...only that he must act. Maria is a woman who wants to play women but only knows how to play men playing women because that's all she's ever seen. Eventually, Ned shows Maria how to be a woman playing a woman, and Maria shows Ned how to be a man playing a man. And while Ned's nature may not make him a candidate for heterosexual monogamy, it's likely that Ned and Maria will enjoy each other's pleasure and company for a while, as well as new fame. "Who are you now?" she asks him, after their triumph on the stage, she as Desdemona to his Othello. "I don't know, I don't know," he says, and they both laugh and kiss.
Crudup does an extraordinary job. He plays Desdemona in full costume, he plays Othello, he plays bi, he plays straight, he plays gay. He's believable. He has the looks, the masculinity and the screen presence to become one of Hollywood's pretty star leads like Tom and Brad and Leo, but he spends his time acting in New York and taking quirky screen roles like this one.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Carry On Desdemona
Billy Crudup has a whale of a time in this film. He gets to be the last male Desdemona of 17th Century theatre, and then he gets to be (in any medium, probably) the last-ever... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Merget
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Film
One of those films you expect to be a reasonably enjoyable watch, only to find out you've found a gem of a film. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2011 by PDM
5.0 out of 5 stars
I just loved it!
I am not a movie critic; therefore all I will say is that I loved the film from beginning to end. I enjoyed the characters, (their stories and complexity), the costumes, the story... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2006 by M. Spilman
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Saturday, Othello...the other one..."
Comparisons between "Stage Beauty" and "Shakespeare in Love" are inevitable, but this 2004 film does not suffer much by the contrast to that Oscar winner for Best Picture. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2005 by Lawrance M. Bernabo
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem
I didn't see that film at the cinema because of some bad reviews I had read! I should have gone! Anyway, now I have the DVD and keep playing it... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2005 by H. Lacroix
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crudup's amazing, but the film lacks depth and chemistry
As a general rule, I try to avoid movies featuring men dressed as women. In the case of Stage Beauty, though, the cross-dressing is built upon the historic foundation of male-only... Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2005 by Daniel Jolley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect - one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen
As a non-English native speaker, it is difficult for me to express my enthusiasm for this magnificient movie - especially since it deals with one of the richest elements of English... Read more
Published on 25 April 2005 by David Henry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good film - shame about the master
A good film (if you enjoy "historical romps" and stage stuff) shame about the poor quality of the mastering and also poor quality of the sound. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Heaven
Not since the film Elizabeth have I seen a film I have enjoyed so much. This one is a dark horse - it'll make you laugh, cry and everything else. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2005 by Freespirit
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stage Beauty
A battle of the sexes when both women and men face challenges due to their sex.
Ned Kynaston has made his fortune through acting as a woman on the stage. Read more
Ned Kynaston has made his fortune through acting as a woman on the stage. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2005 by Jenny Stuart
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