Movie Marathon: 1996-97

Jane Eyre (1996) directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Anna Paquin, Fiona Shaw, John Wood, Charlotte Gainsbourg, William Hurt, Elle Macpherson

One of my favorite books, this adaptation is very accurate. Gainsbourg makes an excellent Jane, quiet, stern, and, somehow, plain, despite the fact that Gainsbourg is a model, and actually very pretty. Hurt is just as he should be: abrupt, gruff, and handsome in his odd way. I love Anna Paquin as young Jane, and Leanne Rowe, who plays my favorite character Helen Burns, is brave and sweet and very touching.

Adele- Will we be happy?
Jane- We will work hard and we shall be content.

Jane- Remember, the shadows are just as important as the light.

Mr. Rochester- Sometimes I have the strangest feeling about you. Especially when you are near me as you are now. It feels as though I had a string tied here under my left rib where my heart is, tightly knotted to you in a similar fashion. And when you go to Ireland, with all that distance between us, I am afraid that this cord will be snapped, and I shall bleed inwardly. Ah, but you're a sensible woman, you'll forget me.
Jane- I'll never forget you.
Mr. Rochester- There are other houses just as fine.
Jane- How can you be so stupid? How can you be so cruel? Just because I'm poor and plain, I'm not without feelings. It is not the house, but the life I lived. I was not trampled on. I was treated as an equal.


The English Patient (1996) directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Defoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Jurgen Prochnow

I don't have words to describe this movie. The novel is one of my favorites, and there are very few movies that live up to the novel, but this is one. I love the music, both the composed material and songs like "Dancing Cheek to Cheek". The visuals are stunning and the characters are rich and subtle. My favorite character is Hana, Binoche does a great job portraying her vulnerability behind the tough facade. Favorite scene is the bathtub scene. It's so well written.

Almasy- When were you most happy?
Katharine- Now.
Almasy- When were you least happy?
Katharine- Now.
Almasy- What do you love?
Katharine- What do I love?
Almasy- Say everything.
Katharine- Hm, let's see. Water. Fish in it. And hedgehogs. I love hedgehogs.
Almasy- What else.
Katharine- Marmite. I'm addicted. And baths. But not with other people. Islands. Your handwriting. I could go on all day.
Almasy- Go on all day.
Katharine- My husband.
Almasy- And what do you hate most?
Katharine- A lie. What do you hate most?
Almasy- Ownership. Being owned. When you leave here, you should forget me.

Almasy- New lovers are nervous and tender, but smash everything. For the heart is an organ of fire.


Evita (1997) directed by Alan Parker, starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce

A good musical, with infectious songs. Madonna is excellent and her on-screen antagonism with Banderas sizzles. I find this movie a little preachy for me. Empty feelings of "democracy" and "justice" always make me itchy. That's why my favorite part is the part Eva sings with Che, when she is struggling to survive in Buenos Aires, before she is the incandescent Evita:

Eva- So what happens now?
Che- Another suitcase in another hall.
Eva- So what happens now?
Che- Take your picture off another wall.
Eva- Where am I going to?
Che- You'll get by you always have before.
Eva- Where am I going to?

And the eventual answer "Don't ask, anymore." This is what I like, the heart-break and hardship, with a melancholy soundtrack.


Contact (1997) directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Jena Malone, Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerrit, John Hurt

I remember whatching this movie at the age of eleven and wanting to be an astronomer. Ellie Arroway was my model of everything cool and adult. I still love this movie, although my fascination with astronomy has faded. Jena Malone's first movie.

Ted Arroway- You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.


Titanic (1997) directed by James Cameron, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Bill Paxton, Bernard Hill

What is there to say about this movie. It's so cheesy and heart-rending, at the same time. Began my life-long obsession with Winslet and DiCaprio. It's kind of the movie everybody loves to hate. You can't deny it's good, but it's just so annoying. It probably has more to do with the fact that Titanic was everywhere in the late '90s. Oh well, good movie.