I saw some excellent movies at last years London Film festival(November 2001) - including "Mullholland Drive" and "In the Bedroom", both Oscar contenders - but I have to say that "The Emperors New Clothes" was by far the most enjoyable.
Possible Spoiler:
The film follows the simple premise that Napoleon escaped from his exile on the Isle of St Helena, returned to Paris, declared his presence... and no one believed him.
What makes the movie special is Ian Holm. He has always produced great supporting performances through such diverse films as "Chariots of Fire", "The Madness of King George", "Alien" and most recently as the perfect Bilbo Baggins in "Lord of the Rings".
And to be fair it's not the first time he has played the Emperor Napoleon. There was that wonderful turn he did in "Time Bandits", where he declared that the only great men were smaller than five foot six, but that was just a cameo. This time he is central stage.
Playing not just Napoleon, but his double who enjoys the pleasures of being treated like the emperor rather too well, he gives a beautiful performance. He is so affecting that you don't feel at all uncomfortable when a much younger Iben Hjejle, who plays a recent widow, find herself attracted to him.
I wont say anymore except that the conclusion has one of the best feel-good endings I have seen in many a time.
As I was leaving the screening I overheard someone who was obviously involved in the marketing of the "Emperor's New Clothes" telling a friend that they were not sure about how they were going to sell the film. "What's your worry?", her friend replied, "It's a wonderful film!"
I'll go along with that.
Possible Spoiler:
The film follows the simple premise that Napoleon escaped from his exile on the Isle of St Helena, returned to Paris, declared his presence... and no one believed him.
What makes the movie special is Ian Holm. He has always produced great supporting performances through such diverse films as "Chariots of Fire", "The Madness of King George", "Alien" and most recently as the perfect Bilbo Baggins in "Lord of the Rings".
And to be fair it's not the first time he has played the Emperor Napoleon. There was that wonderful turn he did in "Time Bandits", where he declared that the only great men were smaller than five foot six, but that was just a cameo. This time he is central stage.
Playing not just Napoleon, but his double who enjoys the pleasures of being treated like the emperor rather too well, he gives a beautiful performance. He is so affecting that you don't feel at all uncomfortable when a much younger Iben Hjejle, who plays a recent widow, find herself attracted to him.
I wont say anymore except that the conclusion has one of the best feel-good endings I have seen in many a time.
As I was leaving the screening I overheard someone who was obviously involved in the marketing of the "Emperor's New Clothes" telling a friend that they were not sure about how they were going to sell the film. "What's your worry?", her friend replied, "It's a wonderful film!"
I'll go along with that.