21/05/2023
Firebrand had its Premiere at Cannes. We are still waiting on a trailer and a release date, apparently Prime Video in the UK is in talks to have it on there. A slight aside, but it really does feel like companies have somehow forgotten how to market and promote things ever since the thing happened a few years back!
Anyway, first off we had a few pictures finally which look decent (a fair warning, this is about the only positive thing I have to say about Firebrand given what I have read...) The costumes look pretty decent (see below). One person lacking though is Henry VIII himself I notice (Well, a sort of one has emerged of him kissing Catherine but you can't see much of him). Articles keep flip flopping on whether he is wearing a fat suit or not (an article from a few months back said he was). Deadline state that he is wearing a padded suit, has his cheeks padded as well (like Marlon Brando in the Godfather apparently!) and has some prosthetics for his legs and so on so I will assume that is what is the truth. The fact they haven't immediately come out with pictures of him is worrying me.
However, we now have the negatives. First off, the critics. They seem all quite positive, which naturally worries me. The Telegraph stated in it praise that it was the most revolting royal drama ever, which sounds bad to me. However, in an article for Deadline, we got this comment:
“Shircore [hair designer] has been on almost intimate terms with Law’s torso; painting it with makeup and measuring his padded posterior to ensure the buttocks tallied with someone else’s bare bottom, to use as a stand-in for a scene involving a horrifying sexual assault on Parr.”
The last line is the part that is of concern. This is going to be 'Becoming Elizabeth', Mark II isn't it? I have deliberately avoided the source material the film is based on (trying to go into it relatively fresh, although I do plan to have a look at it afterwards... unless I change my mind!) so I bet that must be something from the book. Variety has this statement on the accuracy:
“Scholars beware: Aïnouz’s particular rendition of history has a revisionist edge that bestows the tired annals of history with a modern angle. (“It was about having artistic freedom to make a strong story and to surprise people,” explains Vikander.)”
Anything that says it is “revisionist” or that history is “tired” and needs a “modern angle” make me naturally suspicious. Going further, Screen Daily has a review from the Premiere. In it, the following is stated:
“Ainouz has fashioned a film that takes liberties with the actual events but isn’t a bold reinvention of the period costume drama. In keeping with the film’s muted tone, Vikander offers a coolly intelligent turn that befits a character who has to be judicious in what she says around the palace. Katherine doesn’t do a lot of outward scheming, but as Firebrand moves along, at long last she will be able to exact her revenge on Henry, the moment proving quite satisfying, while also unexpected.”
Again, I haven't read the source material but I did see something floating around about how in the book they have Katherine considering finishing off Henry when he is dying, so I fear we might be getting that (Hopefully it won't be like Margaret Beaufort murdering Jasper Tudor in White Princess!) “Takes liberties” could mean anything at this point and, since Becoming Elizabeth, I have been even more sceptical than before! Variety also says these events happen in the film:
“...rather, it’s in the movie’s small details, such as Vikander’s Katherine rubbing coal into her teeth to look like a villager before sneaking out, or Law’s Henry bantering with his posse of advisors as though they’re in an episode of “Entourage.” “Firebrand” feels human in a way that many movies from the period have failed to.”
I pray it is not going to be as modern as Blood, S*x and Royalty was! I don't think it will be though since, if nothing else, it will look pretty authentic. It's just the rest of the movie might be the problem! Looks like the overall plot will start with Catherine as regent, Henry returns and then it focuses more on the conflict with Gardiner and how she narrowly escaped getting removed. There are a myriad of other reviews, and more flooding in as I write this. The gist of it seems to be; Jude Law is okay as Henry and is the best thing, Alicia Vikandar, contrary to the claims of the makers, is a bit muted and the film doesn't really get into Catherine herself. It got an 8 minute standing ovation though according to Deadline so there is that I guess!
Anyway, I will keep an eye out. I am surprised they didn't put out a trailer but I will keep an eye out for one. In the meantime, I am returned to my own personal Battle of the Somme (editing Tudor Rant 5).
