DVD- Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore was a made for HBO movie that is currently available on DVD. The film, about two eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Onassis; won top honors for best telemovie. Jessica Lange beat out Grey Gardens co-star Drew Barrymore for the best actress in a movie or miniseries award. Ken Howard took home the best supporting actor Emmy for his performance in the movie. Overall the film was nominated for 17 Emmy's.

The film was inspired by the 1975 documentary film by Albert and David Maysles and chronicles the lives of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, "Little Edie". HBO took it one step further than the documentary by taking us back to the 1930's and giving us a glimpse of what the real Beale's described in the documentary. These were eccentric women who once were the socialites of their day before spiralling into a life of squallor. The film is beautiful done. The acting is amazing and deserving of the accolades and awards being received. The Art Department brings to life an extraordinarily beautiful age of the New York and Hampton social scene in the 1930's and then gives you such a realistic view of the squallor they ended up living in that you can smell the mold and mildew through the screen. The sets are remarkable in their beauty and depravity. As a former costume designer, I can only applaud the amazing job Catherine Marie Thomas has done in recreating the years from the 1930's to the 1970's. Again the visual elements, truly take the viewer back in time.

Having watched the documentary as well, I am in awe how magnificently the make-up artist recreated The real Beale women. Barrymore is almost unrecognizable and does an amazing job of tranforming herself into "Little Edie". Her accent and mannerism were a perfect portrayal.
Lange also is nearly unrecognizable as the elderly Beale. She does a wonderful job of making you despise the woman for her narcisism, while feeling conpassion for this woman who never truly felt loved by anyone. Edith Beale was a woman whose actions sent people running from her life, yet all she could see was that everyone abandoned her. She manages to trap Little Edie in her unrealistic world and almost manages to blot out the sunshine that her spirit daughter exudes. The story is a tragic one and the film is often times hard to watch. As Edith tells Little Edie at one point in the film, it is "an aquired taste."

If you love drama and fine acting, you will definitely want to see this film. Be prepared, it will make laugh, it will make you angry and it will make you sad. But then that's what a good drama should do.

Also be sure to check out the documentary that inspired the movie. For details on the 1975 Documentary click here. To visit her Fan site and for more on Little Edie, click here. For a wonderful blog that covers all things Grey Gardens, click here.

                                                           The real life Beale's

Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as the Beale's