The Notorious Bettie Page (2006)
Gretchen Mol is a revelation as Bettie Page, the "Pin-up Queen of the Universe." She's always been alright but never really impressive in other performances I've seen. Here, however, she transforms her look and takes on a vibrance that's missing from earlier work.
The film looks amazing. It's shot mostly in beautiful black and white, switching to oversaturated color for visits to Miami. The story is both entertaining and revelatory -- just about 20 years before Boogie Nights everything was so tame. I've always wondered how men could have possibly gotten turned on by the glimpse of an ankle (as was thought during the '20s), but it makes a bit more sense to me now: whatever's forbidden is what's desired.
We get a suggestion of ongoing molestation by Page's father, a peek at her short-lived physically abusive marriage, and know of an episode of sexual assault -- none of which seem to damage Bettie long-term. Her (lack of) reaction is somewhat mysterious and leaves viewers on their own to decipher what it means. Maybe she was in denial. Perhaps she was wounded so badly that she decided to wield her sexuality rather than let others dictate how it would be used. My interpretation is that she was simply so pure that she was able to see the abuse for what it was: something that happened through no fault of her own. When you're blameless, I imagine it's easy to be happy.
And happiness is what Bettie Page exudes in every scene -- even when posing with a riding crop ready to strike a bound model, her intended scowl looks more like joy. She seems always somewhat bewildered by why anyone would be interested in these silly costumes, but is willing to oblige because she finds them harmless and fun. What a delightfully non-judgmental attitude. We need a few more Bettie Pages and a few less Jerry Falwells in the world.
B+
The film looks amazing. It's shot mostly in beautiful black and white, switching to oversaturated color for visits to Miami. The story is both entertaining and revelatory -- just about 20 years before Boogie Nights everything was so tame. I've always wondered how men could have possibly gotten turned on by the glimpse of an ankle (as was thought during the '20s), but it makes a bit more sense to me now: whatever's forbidden is what's desired.
We get a suggestion of ongoing molestation by Page's father, a peek at her short-lived physically abusive marriage, and know of an episode of sexual assault -- none of which seem to damage Bettie long-term. Her (lack of) reaction is somewhat mysterious and leaves viewers on their own to decipher what it means. Maybe she was in denial. Perhaps she was wounded so badly that she decided to wield her sexuality rather than let others dictate how it would be used. My interpretation is that she was simply so pure that she was able to see the abuse for what it was: something that happened through no fault of her own. When you're blameless, I imagine it's easy to be happy.
And happiness is what Bettie Page exudes in every scene -- even when posing with a riding crop ready to strike a bound model, her intended scowl looks more like joy. She seems always somewhat bewildered by why anyone would be interested in these silly costumes, but is willing to oblige because she finds them harmless and fun. What a delightfully non-judgmental attitude. We need a few more Bettie Pages and a few less Jerry Falwells in the world.
B+
posted by MeMe | 4:25 PM
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