costume snobbing

[anotheranon]

I've resigned myself to the fact that "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" is going to have very little to do with the actual Elizabeth Tudor's actual "golden age" in the late 16th century.

I've also accepted that the director, Shekhar Kapur, is aiming for larger than life rather than any semblance to historical reality in both plot and visuals.

Really, I get all that. I'm going to see it eventually for the acting, because a triple header of Blanchett-Rush-Owen can't be passed up.

But when Shakur says:

"I more or less like the spirit of the historical look," Kapur says from Los Angeles. "The spirit -- not the actuality of that. Because the actuality can be quite boring."[emphasis mine]

I have to ask - what is he smoking???

I mean, has he EVER looked at any of the umpteen portraits of the real Elizabeth I? By even the most modern Vegas showgirl standards, these clothes are NOT boring - full of veils and ruffs and velvets and crusted with pearls - this is boring??

Mr. Kapur, don't quit your day job :P

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

The one we should go after is the costume designer. Janet Arnold's book on Elizabeth's clothing has been out for what, ten years? There is zero excuse for costumes that are straight out of A Midsummer's Night's Dream.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'm reluctant to bust on the costume designer because I've learned from many discussions and "field notes" on one of my historic costume email lists that the designers don't often have as much control over the look/feel as you'd think. There are often issues of what is most flattering to the actors, what is available, and what the producers/director will spring for.

In this case, it seems like the director's vision is directly in opposition to historical reality. Which, while I think it makes for a less interesting film, is entirely his perogative.

What I take umbrage at is calling the clothes we know court ladies and the Queen wore then as "boring" - it gives the impression that he's never even seen a portrait of the woman!

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I've seen this film referred to as textile porn.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I guess it is, sorta - no doubt the costumes will be beautiful, but to my informally-trained eye the anachronisms will stand out.