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Amazon.co.uk Review
Jennifer Love Hewitt is a beautiful and talented actress with style and charm. She is not, however, Audrey Hepburn, and try as she might, she is unable to embody the gamine actress in the made-for-television biopic The Audrey Hepburn Story.
Making the Hepburn bio was a gutsy move for Hewitt, and one has to admire her chutzpah. But the role, if it was to be dared, would have been better off in the hands of an unknown. As it is, it's difficult to shake the image of Hewitt in her television and teen roles, and while she mastered the wide-eyed look, her eyes are not doe-like enough and her accent borders on ludicrous. If you can move past this, though, the story of Hepburn's life--even given her do-gooder qualities--is interesting fodder for exploration, although at times the script feels as if it's trying to create tension where there is little. Desertion by her father, a brief stint in the resistance in wartime Netherlands, and affairs with fellow actors create drama, but not enough to enliven the film. Part of the problem is the entire film is told from flashback from the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, so much of Hepburn's great work is left untouched.
Yet, despite the flaws, fans will appreciate the paean to Hepburn, as we glimpse into the difficulties of her early career and her budding stardom. The two girls who play the childhood Hepburn excel in their roles, and the strong supporting cast--including Frances Fisher as her mother and Eric McCormack as Mel Ferrer--brighten the film, which ultimately brings a touch of Hepburn's elegance to our own humdrum lives. --Jenny Brown
Product Description
Starring JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT (Party Of Five I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Audrey Hepburn, and featuring FRANCES FISHER (Titanic) as her mother, this mini series reveals the dramatic life lead by this most appealing of performers her childhood in Holland during the Nazi occupation, her meteoric rise to stardom on Broadway and in films, her doomed love affair with William Holden, her troubled marriage to Mel Ferrer, and her life long search for her father, a collaborator during the War. Concealed behind the dazzling smile of Audrey Hepburn was a woman who had known great difficulties, and overcame them to become the top international film star in the world, an Academy Award winning actress, and a fashion designers dream. Her every change of hair-style was copied by young women all over the world. Featured in the series are her teenage years during the war, in which deprivation and hunger forged her determination to survive and her work with the Resistance almost cost her life. After the war, she and her mother fled to London, where Audrey supported them dancing in revues until she was spotted by the famous French author Collette, who personally chose her to play Gigi on Broadway, in which she became an overnight sensation. She then went on to star in such films as Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck (for which she won an Academy Award), Sabrina with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, who would become her lover, Funny Face with Fred Astaire, and perhaps her crowning role , Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffanys, where she clashed with its author, Truman Capote. Her affair with the womanizing star William Holden was threatening to her new success but he was perhaps the great love of her life and their break up drove her into the arms of Mel Ferrer, who was to become her first husband. As his own career was on the wane, Audreys was spiraling ever upward and Ferrer devoted himself to being her protector and sometimes, jailer. He did fulfil her long dream of having a child but the marriage eventually terminated. Her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffanys best described Audreys own life; a lost beauty looking for love in the arms of the protector/father she never had known.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn, and so, I was only looking to enjoy this when I first saw it advertised on television. I had not read or heard any of the reviews, and I am glad I hadn't, because it meant that I could watch this movie with a totally open mind and heart. Nothng in life is perfect, not even Audrey, so I do not see why so many critics panned this adaptation of her life. This made-for-TV movie doesn't claim to be what it isn't. It doesn't aim to be ground breaking - it's a sweet, sensative portrayal of one of the best loved icons of all time. Who would have been perfect enough to play Audrey ??? Answer: No body really. I don't actually think that anybody could have done it better then Jennifer Love Hewitt. She has a really good go at a challenging role and pulls it off beautifully. This film isn't about inpersonations. I think when watching this movie, you need to forget about the portrayal of individual characters (which I think are great any way) and concentrate on the message of the movie, which was really Audrey's message. I watch this film again and again, and whenever it's finished, it not only leaves me with a warm glow, but also I always feel encouraged - encouraged to live my life the way that Audrey would have wished of all of us - with compassion and kindness, and most of all love - love for our families, for our friends and for our fellow human beings. Audrey's Son by Mel Ferrer, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, said this about his Mother. "Mummy believed in one thing above all: she believed that love could heal, fix, mend and make eveything fine in the end...and it did". This is the message we need to take home from THE AUDREY HEPBURN STORY regardless of who played who and how well. And any movie that makes me feel like that is worthy of 5 stars in my opinion...
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I recently saw this film and was not sure what to expect having read very mixed reviews, including some fairly savage comments by Amazon.com reviewers, particularly about Jennifer Love Hewitt's portrayal of the legend. UK reviewers seem to have been somewhat kinder.
Certainly there are flaws, including factual inaccuracies and omissions and rather poor casting of a few characters, and yes the whole thing very much has the feel of the 'TV movie' that it is. That said, it is still a very enjoyable film and the portrayal of Audrey Hepburn by Jennifer Love Hewitt is not among the points that can be criticised. It would be extremely difficult for anyone to capture the enchanting qualities that made Audrey one of the best-loved icons of the 20th Century. Hewitt makes a very creditable attempt, and in many scenes succeeds in giving viewers at least some insight into the 'magic', particularly in her portrayal of 'off-screen' Audrey.
Of particular note, though, is the performance of Emmy Rossum. Her portrayal of the star as a young girl is touching and appealing, and she seems to have a fair sprinkling of the 'Factor X' which sets some entertainers (like Audrey Hepburn)apart from the rest. I had not previously heard of this young actress and I would guess she is only 15 or 16 years old now, but I expect to see her face and hear her name a great deal more in the future.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Love-Hewitt captures the essence of what Hepburn was about, how she felt, acted and lived.
The screenplay was excellent and truly gives justice to the unbeliebebly eventful life of Audrey Hepburn; her torrid life in the war as a messenger, her adventurous and heartbreaking life of marrage and nearly marrage and an insite to her passion, flair and drive which made her one of her ages greatest actors.
Hewitt was an intregal part in ensuring that this bio-pic was one of the most successfull made.
The screenplay was excellent and truly gives justice to the unbeliebebly eventful life of Audrey Hepburn; her torrid life in the war as a messenger, her adventurous and heartbreaking life of marrage and nearly marrage and an insite to her passion, flair and drive which made her one of her ages greatest actors.
Hewitt was an intregal part in ensuring that this bio-pic was one of the most successfull made.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
GORGEOUS
i AM A HUGE aUDREY FAN - SO THIS WAS A MUST. I SAW IT ONLY TV ONCE AND HAD TO HAVE MY OWN COPY - I LOVE IT X
Published 12 months ago by L. J. Bailey
For Jennifer fans
Jennifer Love Hewitt is amazing- as always in this beautiful movie. She may not be perfect, but she's really good, better than alot of other actresses could have been playing this... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2003 by Ms. R. E. Gibson
A delightful and charming narrative...make up your own mind!
Call me a snob but I approached the 'The Audrey Hepburn Story', somewhat tentatively, due to the all-round panning by the critics (especially as regards the attempt at an English... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2000 by tonguetied2@yahoo.co.uk
Back to bygone days
This is an excellent film. Jennifer Love Hewitt not only looks like Audrey Hepburn but recreates the settings and manners of bygone days to create a biography that has the warmth... Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2000 by tl8043@qmw.ac.uk
Some of the best acting I have seen in years
Jennifer Love Hewitts portrayal of Audrey Hepburn was so refined you would think they were sisters. Her attempt at a British accent was one of the best I have ever heard from an... Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2000 by J. Dunning
The acting was very good!
The acting was very good in this film especially Frances Fisher who was excellent as Ella, Audrey's mother. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2000 by butterfly_queen00@excite.com
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