This was going to be posted tonight but after reading...GAH. I couldn't wait. It also might be better suited for Sinful Sunday so let that be a warning to ya. ;) Shiona had the pleasure to see Bel Ami yesterday at the Glasgow Film Festival and graciously shared her thoughts with us. Shiona's review is detailed in the sense that it's like a summary of scenes so if you are trying to remain spoiler free, this review is not for you. Very detailed about scenes. Without further ado....Shiona's review:
SPOILERS after the cut!
OK, here we go! We first see Georges in the scene where he's in front of the restaurant window, looking in. We've seen most of the opening stuff in trailers already. The sex scene with Natalia Tena's prostitute is over quite quickly - but time enough to see a back view of a fully-naked DuRob in the moonlight. (Tink: I think I'm lost now...moonlight?! GAH.) I can report that his arse is peachy-perfect, and you notice the little dimples on the small of his back (see NM pic for ref, lol) (Tink: See NM pic for reference? No problem!).
An interesting scene is when the sex is done & they're getting dressed he pins her hair back up, it's quite tender & unexpected. (Tink: awww I likes it.) So, we've seen the dinner at Forestier's, meeting Madeleine Forestier and Clothilde. Madeleine starts writing his articles for him, and he lets her know that he's attracted to her but she clearly tells him she will not be his mistress. She points him in the direction of Clothilde &we see her coming to his dingy room. They kiss but don't have sex there, she instead suggests the love-nest idea and when he goes there she is stretched out waiting for him on the bed, naked (She looks amazing btw). His face looks like he's won the lottery! (Tink: I think we've won the lottery.)
I must say watching him remove those period costumes (both his and theirs) numerous times was a bonus! All of the scenes with Clothilde were lovely, lots of shots of them cuddling in bed & talking - they were very well-matched (neither of them are super intelligent). There is a scene where they are talking and he is out of bed wearing just white button-front long-johns - oh my! He wears them well ;-)) (Tink: Bring it, LongJohnRob, bring it. Kate also mentioned to me that you see THINGS when his back is turned and the happy trail returns when he's facing you. And they hang....oh so nicely.)
She makes him promise never to bring his other women to their place and he tells her (truthfully at that time) that there is no-one else. He takes Clo (as he calls her) out dancing to his original low-class haunts & they have fun until they meet the prostitute and Georges acts as if he doesn't know her. She makes it clear in front of Clothilde that he does know her and Clothilde storms off. He is furious with the prostitute and rages, "You dare to address ME!". She sneers at him. Eventually he and Clothilde re-unite. She lets slip about Charles Forestier's failing health and points out that when he dies Madeleine won't be a widow for long.
George rushes to visit her in the seaside villa where she has taken Charles to die. He wears the white suit (Charles wasn't the only one dying!). He watches Charles die, which does seem to affect him - briefly. Charles' body is barely cold before he makes his intentions clear to Madeleine. She can't continue to influence powerful men without the respectability of a husband's presence so they are married. There are a few scenes of them together in various states of undress which show her quite disinterested in Georges, despite his best efforts to use his seduction skills on her (IKR? She's mental). You see Georges throughout this time becoming increasingly arrogant, trying to convince himself that he has the power, even though he is aware, at the back of his mind, that he has none.
Rob does sneering arrogance exceptionally well. His reaction when he is slighted and dismissed by M Rousset and LaRoche (the new Foreign Minister) as an inconsequential ladies' plaything is excellent. Georges is increasingly sidelined while Madeleine involves herself in political machinations. While waiting for Madeleine's political cronies to arrive for a meeting, he pesters her for sex(!) and she coldly pushes him onto his back, whips it out, straddles him and fucks him quickly, leaving him humiliated. The scene is shot very closely (damn), we really just see Georges' face as he pleads with her to stop, it's an uncomfortable scene to watch. To distract him Madeleine suggests that he flatters Virginie, Rousett's wife (KST), and in revenge for Rousett's dismissal of Georges on numerous occasions he goes all out to ensnare her.
We've seen the church scene. The scenes with Virginie show him as incredibly and blatantly manipulative. I know she's supposed to be a bit naive but it's laid on a little thick IMO. He's quite brutal with her, no tenderness, it's all clearly business. She falls madly in love with him and will do anything to please him (wouldn't we all). He meets her at Clothilde's love-nest, despite his previous promises. There is a comical moment where you see him waking up there, with his back to the woman he's with, and he clearly can't remember which one it is until she speaks! (Tink: Rob really needs to do a great comedic role.)
Near the end of the film, after he's had Madeleine arrested for adultery and divorced her, he decides to repay M Rousset for his continued slights by setting his sights on his teenage daughter (and heiress) Suzanne. He "elopes" with her publicly, thus making it necessary for her to be married to him in order to save her reputation. He doesn't even try to seduce her, putting her in a separate room at the hotel, since he is only interested in revenge. Virginie doesn't take the news at all well... The scene where he breaks the news to a heartbroken Clothilde is brilliant. He reveals to her that ambition and revenge mean more to him than love, even her love. The final scene is at the very lavish wedding of Georges and Suzanne. Virginie is dressed as if in mourning, Rousset is obviously furious but will let his daughter marry without love to save face. Clo is accepting, and Georges holds her gaze as he walks down the aisle. Madeleine watches impassively. The very last frame is of Georges face - triumphant.
Rob looks just delectable throughout - but we knew that! I think he's brilliant in the part. He is so very expressive. Christina is perfect as Clothilde, she's cute and flirty and they look great together. I wasn't too sure about Uma as Madeleine, she seemed a bit stiff and I wasn't keen on her throaty voice. Kristen Scott Thomas as Virginie was good, but I think I was a little influenced by her previous parts as a patrician, ice goddess type and found her portrayal of an older woman smitten by a young cad a little hard to believe.
The look of the film is sumptuous, gorgeous costumes, sets and make up and hair - all spot on, and it looks like an expensive production. My criticisms are that the script was a little flimsy, Rob does a lot of meaningful looks, which is fine by me - the more close-ups the better, but I can see that not everyone needs a whole film of that (fools) (Tink: Fools indeed *wink*). The political background to the story was quite sketchily described, which is fine for those of us who have read the book but anyone who hadn't might flounder a bit. I found, also, that some of the acting was a little "stage-like" sometimes. They are all very fine actors though, so that's not really a criticism more an observation.
The audience, who were by no means all Rob fans, seemed to enjoy it. There were a few quite comical moments where everybody laughed, mainly at Georges bare-faced cheek (haha). I heard nothing but positive comments on the way out, and my friends loved it - they want to see it again in March! That's all I can think of just at the moment. I've missed out a lot of Georges job stuff, mainly as he doesn't do too much of that - too busy manipulating women... Let me know if there's anything that doesn't make sense, or if there's anything that you liked in the book that I haven't mentioned. (Tink: You mentioned tons, sweet girl! Thank you!!!)
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