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THE FILM STRIP: Natalie Portman blows up and the buzz is strong for Larry Fisbburne’s ‘Bee’ movie
Last week Natalie Portman, aka Queen Amidala from “Star Wars,” showed her rapping skills on SNL. This week she will be seen blowing up a London tunnel that ultimately brings down the British Parliament. As the reluctant heroin in “V for Vendetta,” (Evey) Portman, is pulled into V’s subversive web of intrigue when rescued from the hands of two unsavory characters by the masked man. The government, thinking Evey is an ally of V (Hugo Weaving), makes life hell for her.
This controversial, cautionary political commentary is fodder for fiery attacks. The Film Strip asked Portman if she is concerned about the public’s opinion of her. “I’m just trying to do stuff that’s different all the time,” she explained. “Something new and interesting for me that will hopefully be interesting for other people to watch. I definitely want to make movies that people like. I mean, the point of creating a movie is to interact with an audience and to give them some sort of entertainment and some sort of feeling.”
Emotions will run high as V’s wrath wreaks havoc on the British bureaucratic regime because of its political persecution and treatment of homosexuals. The acts of violence take on special meaning in the light of the attacks that not only struck America on 9/11, and other parts of the world, but the bomb that killed commuters who rode the London transit system July of last year.
Some of the rage Portman expressed in the film was not hard to tap into. Her hair is still growing in from being cut on camera, but it was an act of which she is proud. “I was very focused on being where the character is at that moment, which is in a very traumatic place with this violence being committed against her. We only had one shot to do it because you can't go back and re-shave the head. We had several cameras on and we had rehearsed the head shaving with volunteer guys from the crew. But, for me personally it was a choice I was happy to make.”
There was just as much drama going on off the set as on. “The Matrix” media shy Wachowski Brothers were unavailable to answer rumors that were running rampant. In press materials on the film, one story mentioned that older brother, Larry, left his high-school sweetheart and wife of nine years for a dominatrix and liked to dress in women’s clothing.
Then there was the matter of two V’s. The first V, James Purefoy, it was reported was dissatisfied performing behind a mask because it disguised his talents. Hugo Weaving, Agent Smith in the “Matirx” movies, flew into action. The other matter involved Alan Moore, the author of the graphic novel, that was illustrated by David Lloyd. Unhappy with the film’s version, he distanced himself from the project and refused have his name attached. Even Lloyd has misgivings in the beginning.
“When I was first sent the script, I was kind of disappointed that it wasn't more faithful to the original, Lloyd revealed. “But the changes they made were quite valid, and I think they kept the core of it completely… So I think they did a fantastic job.
“Allen had strong views about it. If you check out the Internet, you know. Allen's not happy with most film translations. Interesting thing about ‘League’ and also ‘From Hell’, they were both made by people who weren't actually fans of the original product, which is completely different in this case. And I was very optimistic and that optimism has been justified. And Allen's viewpoint is his own and he's entitled to it, but it's not mine.”
On the subject of all the politics and violence, Portman put it succinctly. “I guess I'm politically aware, but I think I get sick of the news after a while because I'm a pretty optimistic person. So I like to go back to personal joys too.”
“V” might be the most talked about film so far this year, but one of the best films I’ve seen this year is “Akeelah and the Bee,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer and Angela Basset. It’s an inspirational and uplifting story about an eleven-year-old from south Los Angeles with a gift for wards. The film opens in April and a must see.
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