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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 26, 2006 14:40:05 GMT -5
Dave...you've never seen this? I'm making you a copy....you must at least see what all the hub-bub is about. Little did I know when I started this thread that it would go round like this! Whew! Bottom line for me: I like that there IS a Karen Carpenter Story. Lots of things were left out - Mitchell and Cynthia are TV movie players, typically, and did well enough for their abilities. My true feeling is that Mitchell REALLY reminded me of Richard, and Cynthia did okay as Karen. Louise Fletcher was a knockout as Agnes, and probably even played her a bit "lightly" from what I have read, seen, and remember of Agnes. The point of the anorexia was made, though how strongly? In the movie, everyone did almost more of the same thing as they did in real life, I mean....to what seemed to me to be an even greater degree - they were afraid to talk about it/didn't want to talk about it/didn't really confront it/thought KC was fine by the time she returned home from NYC. And, Richard's addiction was really underplayed. I know the story was about Karen, but Richard had a strong addiction, yet they acted like it was nothing....But, at the end of the day, the point was made in that Karen succombed to the disease she'd been living with for so long; anorexia. I really have enjoyed reading through this thread....there is much truth to the many musings here. I guess I, too, would like to see a more in-depth Karen Carpenter or Carpenters movie made, much like I'll Walk The Line and/or Ray.....with emphasis on the things we never knew/we never heard about/we never saw.....imagine the discussion regarding Karen's solo album, for example, and how dramatic that moment must have been. And so much more. I'm happy for this healthy dialogue. Dave, I'll certainly get you a copy of this on VHS....I believe you'll enjoy watching it, for the first time, especially. Tim
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Dave
Ultra Emissary
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Mar 26, 2006 20:02:45 GMT -5
Thanks, Tim. I'll look forward to finally being able to see it. I guess Richard's judgement of it is looking through the rear-view mirror and saying "What was I thinking?" He certainly could've said no, or anyone else in the family could've objected. I don't know, especially since I got to the "party" as late as I have.
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 26, 2006 20:47:24 GMT -5
My exact feelings also Tim. I felt Mitchell did a pretty good job at portraying Richard - and he sure looked quite a bit like him. Of course as you all know I felt Louise Fletcher's portrayal was excellent - she should have atleast received an Emmy Award nomination for this one. Cynthia Gibb did okay. She's a fine actress - but she's not really a strong dramatic actress - and this role really is a dramatic role. Karen's life was filled with drama. I also felt Gibb just did not have the right look. She just did not look enough like Karen to me.
As GoodOldDreams mentioned Jennifer Love Hewitt - I agree! She has the right look - she really looks a lot like Karen. I've always thought that from the first time I saw her. She's also a very strong dramatic actress. Love-Hewitt is first class all the way.
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Post by smoothie2 on Mar 26, 2006 23:22:55 GMT -5
???My, oh, My...This thread is truly On Fire...! how interesting reading everyone's thoughts and the info. about the movie. I didn't know that the same paramedics and ambulance was used for the movie. I also think that's a little much, but probably most folks don't know that fact. All in all, I like the movie, it could've had more depth, but basically it's a good synopsis of the C's story. ???Not sure if I'd like to see another version, although these bio-type shows are very "in" for movies these days as well as through past yrs. ???Enigma, I also have had the thought of just what a big screen version would be like. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D I do like these bio. movies. I loved Beyond the Sea which told the Bobby Darin story. I have yet to see Ray or Walk the Line. I have watched Capote and really thought it to be excellent I read that in the 1967 version of "In Cold Blood", that some of the jurors were used actually were people who were on the jury for the trial for the killers that "In C. bl." is about. I think also the same house was used. Soooo............ I also just want to add regarding the K.C. story, that I thought all the actors were very very good. Gibb was terrific. The only thought I always have about it is, the C's as portrayed didn't age. I guess to have other actors, older, was out of the question, but I think Gibb and Andersen perhaps could have been made to look a little older. Anyway, as Forrest Gump said: "that's all I'm gonna say about that"...(ok, if i got that quote wrong, you can correct me...) ha.. ;D..... wow! I agree that J. Love Hewitt would match up to Karen in looks. Louise Fletcher was an excellent Agnes and Andersen does Richard the same...I think one big reason I do watch the K.C. story is cuz he is So Cute...! s
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Post by smoothie2 on Mar 27, 2006 0:08:20 GMT -5
Thanks, Moe. I think you're undoubtedly right. I sent Richard a Fans Ask question today (after getting to personally speak with his assistant, Becky for the first time by phone - she's just delightful, as I suspected she would be). At any rate, the question was also about this movie - I wondered how many times Richard's actual hands were filmed in the "close up" shots as they would zoom in on the actors hands playing - like at the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands, and throughout the movie. It just isn't the actor who is playing Richard, one can easily see.....and, so I think to myself, why would they use anyone elses hands, when Richard was on set as Executive Producer, anyway....it MUST be his hands they filmed....but I don't know that for sure......Becky remarked to me on the phone that Richard absolutely hates that movie, which I was already aware of, and that he oftentimes wouldn't even touch questions regarding it. We'll see....she thought, since this was more a technical question, he might give me an answer. I'll let you know when I learn something new. Tim /////// :)I also have wondered the same thing....er....uh...talk about ..Clout...sounds like you got some ...Coooool Breeze..(that's what my sis says) ...........
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Post by smoothie on Apr 12, 2006 21:54:58 GMT -5
???Reading back through this thread, Tim you mention how Richard's addiction was down-played in the movie, and I agree, although until lately, I did not know it. In one of the interviews with Richard a few yrs. ago, perhaps The E! Hollywood Story...anyway, Richard talked about how he had talked with Karen about how thin she was and that she needed help... but then when the subject of his own addiction came up ;D...he just said something like "oh, yeah, I really had some addiction, I took some sleeping pills and then was in the re-hab for one day" NOW.. PLEASE don't get me wrong here, folks, perhaps I misunderstood what he said and I Really do not want to slander Richard in any way... The main reason I bring this up, is that perhaps there was some denial going on back then about his own problems... Heaven knows...to lose a sibling friend sister co-worker, all those things Karen was to him and more.. I can't imagine how awful that was for him then and as well as now.... I am sure that in comparison to Karen's anorexia and all that great pocket held and still holds... that for Richard I guess his own problem of not sleeping still seems small. ////// AND ON A lighter note...does or did Richard do imitation of H. Bogart as it was portrayed in the movie? ///Gee...sure miss Karen and Richard as they were the "C's".. They still are alive though ...the legacy!
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Post by smoothie2 on Apr 12, 2006 23:20:17 GMT -5
I feel that the docudrama was merely "good" over all, although I really wanted this movie to be "great," especially since it focused on the very people and music for which I hold the utmost esteem to this very day. While it should be applauded for its sincerity and courage in providing some candid revelations and insights about Karen's personal life and anorexia retrospectively, I found the movie awkwardly executed. Having seen Todd Haynes' more critical and edgier "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story" (at a midnight theatrical showing before Richard sued the filmmaker to keep it from circulation), I recognize how important it is to have the principal actors who looked and sounded (speaking voice-wise) right in their respective roles. Surprisingly, Haynes' Barbie and Ken re-enactments were much more effective in these regards (despite its often exaggerated, fictionalized or editorializing content). While Mitchell Anderson was fine in his role as Richard and Cynthia Gibbs was earnest in her portrayal of Karen, I felt she never convincingly evoked the essence of Karen in appearance or in voice, a major flaw. I know this is a tall order, as most tribute bands and wannabes fail to strike a close resemblance to the Carpenters as well. Even though the original made-for-TV revived major public interest in the Carpenters, I think the time is long overdue to produce a better re-make of the movie to put the Carpenters' musical legacy in its rightful place in history. Maybe Jennifer Love Hewitt can do Karen justice. ::)Great pic....beautiful gal this Jennifer... would make a superb Karen. Since I don't watch "Desperate Houswives", I only know the show is very popular and I see the media coverage and etc. of those in the show. Anyway, the actress Terri Hatcher reminds me of Karen something about her eyes...though 2 old to be in a re-make of the K.C. movie i think. .....
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Apr 13, 2006 0:52:47 GMT -5
... the actress Terri Hatcher reminds me of Karen something about her eyes...though 2 old to be in a re-make of the K.C. movie i think. ..... I know what you mean about the resemblance of Teri Hatcher's eyes to those of Karen's --- especially that same lively, mischievous twinkle. I appreciate Teri's offbeat sense of humor and pragmatic side as manifested in a recent late-night talk show. (Like Karen, I am sure she has no qualms about bringing out the tools to try to fix her own sink!) I think she might actually be a great candidate to play Karen in more ways than one ... I heard that Teri has had her own battles with anorexia. It is great to see her acting career making such a strong comeback from the days of "Lois & Clark" to "Desperate Housewives"!
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 13, 2006 8:06:45 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Apr 13, 2006 9:34:23 GMT -5
I agree that Teri does resemble Karen and she is a fine actress. But at the of 41 inching up on 42 I feel she's a bit too old to play Karen - though she does look great for her age.
I still go with Jennifer Love Hewitt, who at age 27 is at her prime in her career.
I feel the actress to play Karen should be somewhere between 25 to 30 years in age. I know with Hollywood makeup a 40 year old can look 25 - but it never really seems totally convincing when they do that. Case in point being Kevin Spacey playing Bobby Darin. Watching that movie makes you think Darin was much older than he really was.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Apr 13, 2006 20:46:09 GMT -5
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Post by smoothie2 on Apr 14, 2006 0:10:36 GMT -5
;DI never watched the Lois and Clark series when it was on, and I vaguely recall knowing or hearing that T. Hatcher was Lois there.
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