Monday’s Movie Review: Cheri
Posted By CarrieK on October 19, 2009
Monday’s Movie is a weekly meme hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie. Click over to check out all the great reviews, and add your own.
Indulge in Cheri, the seductive and provocative drama about a scandalous love affair, set during the opulent decadence of pre-World War I Paris starring award winners Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates. The ravishing Lea (Pfeiffer), famed courtesan to the rich and famous, is contemplating her retirement, when her arch-rival (Bates) asks her to teach her spoiled nineteen-year-old son Cheri about women. It’s an adventure that becomes a heated and passionate affair that results in power struggles over sex, money, age and society – and unexpectedly, love itself – as a boy who refuses to grow up collides with a woman who realizes she cannot stay young forever.
I headed over to Michelle’s house Thursday evening while her husband and boys were gone to have a Moms’ Movie Night. Cheri is not a movie that either of our husbands would be interested in watching, and we both love historical movies – especially romances, so it seemed like the perfect film for our evening. While we did have a great time talking and laughing, the film was a dud.
There are a few positives – the acting was wonderful, and Michelle Pfeiffer looked beautiful. It’s hard to believe that woman is 51 years old! Kathy Bates was brilliantly venomous as Cheri’s mother. Rupert Friend played the disillusioned youth very well.
The film-making was gorgeous and the costumes extraordinary. Visually, the film was very enjoyable.
I think the main problem is that we were both expecting a love story for the ages, and that isn’t what we got. Instead, the film told the story of a doomed love affair that demonstrates how hopeless life is.
But after reading the reviews on Amazon, I see that I am in the minority. Others have called it grand and beautiful film-making. So it’s probably just me.
Cheri
Huh! Well, I’d never even heard of this movie…now I know why! I don’t mind Pfeiffer, she’s had some good movies, but she doesn’t necessarily draw me to see something. Wolverine might have been the better Mom’s Movie Night movie! It would work for me!
Sandy´s last blog ..Monday Movie Meme – Howdy Partner!
Sandy – we’ve both already seen Wolverine,
Unfortunately people have not HEARD of the film because it is VERY independent and was in limited release. People complained about women not going to see Whip It! even and I realized that Whip It! was being shown 4 or 5 times compared to 10 or 11 for Zombieland. So how could it compete, really. But the film does fall flat. I will review for tomorrow.
Amazon isn’t exactly the best barometer for ratings. Also look on the front of a DVD box. Do you recognize the name of the critic or the outlet the critic writes for? If it’s a big name/ publication, the blurb holds much more weight. [things I learned in J-school]
Amy S.´s last blog ..Methland: book review
Amy – I don’t know much about Whip It – was it any good?
I’ve never heard of this before! Because it’s Michelle Pfeiffer and there’s gorgeous costumes involved, I’m going to add it to my movie queue. Too bad the movie’s a dud.
Vasilly´s last blog ..Monday Memes
Vasilly – it really is very beautiful visually.
I vote for Wolverine next time (I haven’t seen it yet…so sad…)…or anything with Hugh Jackman in it…ideas??
Michelle – I still haven’t seen him in the London production of Okalahoma -we could do a Wolverine/Oklahoma double feature!
I haven’t heard of this one, either. I might give it a try because I do love historical films, but only if it’s on HBO or something.
heidenkind´s last blog ..Sweet 16
Tasha – I think if we had known more what we were getting into, we would have liked it better.
I hadn’t heard of it either, did it go directly to DVD? Which would be a surprise with Michelle Pfieffer, but everyone has a bad movie, even Meryl Streep (Mama Mia).
Kim´s last blog ..A “Coolest Bookstore” List
Kim – it might have gone straight to DVD. And ~blush~ I liked Mamma Mia.
[...] ~ Book Review: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich ~ Book Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore ~ Movie Review: Cheri ~ Recommendations from a non-blogger: Noah ~ Two perfect books for curious kids and their parents ~ [...]