Thursday, February 14, 2008

FACTORY GIRL (2006)

FACTORY GIRL
**
Rating: R
Length: 99 minutes
Director: George Hickenlooper (Mayor of the Sunset Strip; Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse)
Writer: Captain Mauzner (Wonderland)
Starring: Sienna Miller, Guy Pearce, Jimmy Fallon, Hayden Christensen, Mena Suvari, Mary-Kate Olsen, Cary Elwes, Shawn Hatosy, Beth Grant, Illeana Douglas, Pat Wilson, Brian Bell, Colleen Camp, George Plimpton, Armin Amiri

The real Edie Sedgwick’s life practically begged for the Hollywood treatment. You couldn’t have penned a better screenplay. She was a rich girl with a big heart who came to New York to be famous, met Andy Warhol, became famous, dated Bob Dylan/Jim Morrison/Mick Jagger, got hooked on drugs, and well, if you don’t know the story all ready I won’t ruin it for you. Not that this movie should be the place for you to start if you want to learn about her. The movie itself was plagued with just as many problems. Most of the cast was called back for re-shoots months after production wrapped. As is the case with most movies where re-shoots occur, the movie ends up being a complete mess. Blame director George Hickenlooper. A perfect story with an incredibly talented leading lady fell right in his lap and he managed to screw it up. Hickenlooper started off making documentaries which makes his failure here even more puzzling (he made the excellent “Apocalypse Now” doc “Hearts of Darkness”). With the exception of Sienna Miller’s knockout performance, you know that you are watching a movie. The majority of the cast- including some bizarre miscastings (Jimmy Fallon? Hayden Christensen as Bob Dylan???)- act like its Halloween. The post production editing is particularly brutal- after a lengthy build up, Edie’s fall from grace happens in the blink of an eye. Hickenlooper also tries to incorporate some really worn out “groovy sixties” camera tricks to try to get you in the moment. It doesn’t work. It just makes the movie more frustrating. Edie got the short end of the stick. Her life was tragic enough- she deserved better than this.

Download Soundtrack MP3s:
The Count Five- Psychotic Reaction
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas- Nowhere to Run

Buy the DVD here

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1 comment:

THOMAS GRASTY said...

No question the presence of Dylan is felt throughout. And since you appear to be fan, I thought I'd introduce you to my new novel, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, which I think you'd enjoy.

It's a murder-mystery. But not just any rock superstar is knocking on heaven's door. The murdered rock legend is none other than Bob Dorian, an enigmatic, obtuse, inscrutable, well, you get the picture...

Suspects? Tons of them. The only problem is they're all characters in Bob's songs.

You can get a copy on Amazon.com or go "behind the tracks" at www.bloodonthetracksnovel.com to learn more about the book.