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bookgazing) wrote2012-12-03 08:02 am
bookgazing) wrote2012-12-03 08:02 am
Film Thoughts: 'Mirror Mirror'
I asked people to leave me questions about some of the films I’ve seen recently and today I start posting answers (although you can still leave me questions about any of the films on the list that I haven’t already talked about). Today, I answer questions from The Literary Omnivore about ‘Mirror Mirror’:
Clare: So, Mirror Mirror. Is this the new wave of fairy tale parody? Not mocking the story itself, but injecting humor—and modern humor, which can either go well or date immediately—into the story so that the "sillier" elements mesh better with the darker elements?
Jodie: I feel like I keep reading articles about people wanting to move fairy tale telling away from revisionism and criticism. So, maybe ‘Mirror Mirror’ is an attempt at doing that, while still bringing something new (like you say, modern humour) to the story. I read your review of the film a while ago and I know you said fairy tale re-tellings often feel like they come from a cynical place and I’d love to discuss that further with you. How do we tell the difference between a lack of criticism and an earnest love of fairy tales? Who and what gets criticised and who is left alone in this film? And most interestingly, dish the dirt, which re-tellings do you think are cynical and which do you think are done in good faith?
Clare: How did you like the costume design?
Jodie: I’d probably say I appreciated it more than I liked it. I think it’s so interesting to see film play around with using shiny, strong block colours and deliberately over the top, opulent costuming to create emphasis and make everything look lavish. And I thought the costumes made a great point about the ridiculousness of all this expense, when the queen is so broke. It’s just not a technique that really does anything for me. I just find the costumes really silly and I know they’re supposed to be silly, for art and that royalty really could be similarly extravagant throughout history, but I just can’t get over how bright everything is and the presence of Snow White’s swan hat.
Although I did think the costumes at the masked ball were fun, seriously what is the deal with that hat?
I thought the costuming and the film in general felt like some of Terry Gilliam’s work (most notably ‘Dr Parnassus’) what with the mechanical stilts, the over the top, brightly coloured costumes (especially the masked ball) and the corset winding machine; a bit absurdist but also concerned with meshing fantasy to some kind of idea of modernity and with making the film relevant. Is it weird to say that it feels like this fairy tale owes a lot of the various something – punk movements of design, even though it’s not actually fully part of those movements.
Clare: Quick, Snow White death match: Lily Collins or Ginnifer Goodwin?
Jodie: I have a feeling that Ginnifer Goodwin’s Snow would be best equipped to win a physical fight. Lilly Collins version is good with a sword, but I think Goodwin’s character would just be like ‘head butt’ as soon as she could get close enough. Thieves rules! But if we’re talking about actresses I think Goodwin is my favourite of the two. She’s got a very expressive face and I’m impressed with the way she can make Snow and Mary Margaret seem like two different people. I know she gets a lot of help drawing that distinction from the costuming and the women’s different narrative situations, but I think she brings two separate characters to the screen, but keeps something similar at the heart of them.
Wouldn’t it be excellent would it be to see Collins playing a different character in ‘Once Upon a Time’ by the way?
Clare: How great was Julia Roberts, honestly?
Jodie: So great! She has fab comedic timing and just got the off hand, tyrannical whim thing down. The problem with the recent batch of fairy tale stories is that the actresses playing the evil queens are nearly always putting in such exciting performances. I always want them to side step their sad fates, but they never do. Can we have a revisionist fairy tale craze that backs the step mothers next?
Clare: So, Mirror Mirror. Is this the new wave of fairy tale parody? Not mocking the story itself, but injecting humor—and modern humor, which can either go well or date immediately—into the story so that the "sillier" elements mesh better with the darker elements?
Jodie: I feel like I keep reading articles about people wanting to move fairy tale telling away from revisionism and criticism. So, maybe ‘Mirror Mirror’ is an attempt at doing that, while still bringing something new (like you say, modern humour) to the story. I read your review of the film a while ago and I know you said fairy tale re-tellings often feel like they come from a cynical place and I’d love to discuss that further with you. How do we tell the difference between a lack of criticism and an earnest love of fairy tales? Who and what gets criticised and who is left alone in this film? And most interestingly, dish the dirt, which re-tellings do you think are cynical and which do you think are done in good faith?
Clare: How did you like the costume design?
Jodie: I’d probably say I appreciated it more than I liked it. I think it’s so interesting to see film play around with using shiny, strong block colours and deliberately over the top, opulent costuming to create emphasis and make everything look lavish. And I thought the costumes made a great point about the ridiculousness of all this expense, when the queen is so broke. It’s just not a technique that really does anything for me. I just find the costumes really silly and I know they’re supposed to be silly, for art and that royalty really could be similarly extravagant throughout history, but I just can’t get over how bright everything is and the presence of Snow White’s swan hat.
Although I did think the costumes at the masked ball were fun, seriously what is the deal with that hat?
I thought the costuming and the film in general felt like some of Terry Gilliam’s work (most notably ‘Dr Parnassus’) what with the mechanical stilts, the over the top, brightly coloured costumes (especially the masked ball) and the corset winding machine; a bit absurdist but also concerned with meshing fantasy to some kind of idea of modernity and with making the film relevant. Is it weird to say that it feels like this fairy tale owes a lot of the various something – punk movements of design, even though it’s not actually fully part of those movements.
Clare: Quick, Snow White death match: Lily Collins or Ginnifer Goodwin?
Jodie: I have a feeling that Ginnifer Goodwin’s Snow would be best equipped to win a physical fight. Lilly Collins version is good with a sword, but I think Goodwin’s character would just be like ‘head butt’ as soon as she could get close enough. Thieves rules! But if we’re talking about actresses I think Goodwin is my favourite of the two. She’s got a very expressive face and I’m impressed with the way she can make Snow and Mary Margaret seem like two different people. I know she gets a lot of help drawing that distinction from the costuming and the women’s different narrative situations, but I think she brings two separate characters to the screen, but keeps something similar at the heart of them.
Wouldn’t it be excellent would it be to see Collins playing a different character in ‘Once Upon a Time’ by the way?
Clare: How great was Julia Roberts, honestly?
Jodie: So great! She has fab comedic timing and just got the off hand, tyrannical whim thing down. The problem with the recent batch of fairy tale stories is that the actresses playing the evil queens are nearly always putting in such exciting performances. I always want them to side step their sad fates, but they never do. Can we have a revisionist fairy tale craze that backs the step mothers next?
no subject
I would love to dish dirt about fairy tale retellings with you—perhaps take it to e-mail and generate a couple posts off of that? My e-mail is on my about page. But I will say that I don't think Mirror Mirror lacked critique; the Evil Queen is fleshed out in a way that you can see she once was an okay person, as opposed to always being evil and hating pretty girls. (There's this great moment when she's on her way to the "wedding" and is practically giddy about it, and you see a little flash of her just enjoying herself without hurting anyone. At the moment, that is.) And, like Snow White and the Huntsman (which I should probably watch if we're going to talk shop!), it's posited as a struggle between two women for one throne, rather than the usual tone taken. But Mirror Mirror does it lovingly and subtly.
I love your description of the costume design as "a bit absurdist but also concerned with meshing fantasy to some kind of idea of modernity." For a comedy so bright and drenched in CGI, these little touches make the world feel more real. I'll have to sit down and watch some proper Gilliam to compare. Thank goodness my winter break is coming up!
I asked you that death match question because I can't make my mind up! Goodwin's Snow is fantastic; very heroic and clever without ever seeming like not a person, if that makes sense. And Goodwin does amazing things with Snow's evolution as a character, given that she's often called upon to act her at very different points in her life. And she and Charming are the best. THE BEST. I like Armie Hammer and all, but his Charming has nothing on Once Upon a Time's Charming. And yet… Collins is so sweet and thoughtful, rather what I imagine Walt Disney was going for. (THAT VOICE. I JUST CAN'T.) Additionally, there's a moment that makes me feel that Collins' Snow is more dangerous than Goodwin's, even if Goodwin's Snow can beat you up six ways to Sunday. I mean, she forces her stepmother to commit suicide, smiling and reminding her that she's been utterly beaten. Spooky.
And I think she would be great on Once Upon a Time; I don't know as who, since most of the European fairy tales are filled up. (I hope this means Aladdin and Jasmine show up next season or something, because Disney!Aladdin is tons of fun and Jasmine is in my top three Disney princesses at any given moment.)
I'm totally down for revisionist fairy tale craze backing the stepmothers. LET'S START IT.
no subject
On the death match, I totally agree about the suicide moment! That is creepy and it brought a real edge of darkness. It's always a little deliciously conflicting when the good side uses tactics you'd usually associate with evil. But Goodwin's Snow has that hard side to her as well, I think there's a moment when she has a flaming torch in her hand and I really felt that she'd do anything right in that moment. There's no contest for Charming though. I think AH is adorable and a great bumbling prince, but Charming is just...so many different things all at once.
no subject
Mmm, conflict! Let's complicate fairy tales, yes, I like this. I think there is a point where Goodwin's Snow could do anything—after all, she forgets Charming by drinking that potion and then spends the episode being a snarky teenager—but I don't think that's where she's headed, whereas wild card Snow is the one now in line for the throne. I smell a dark sequel.
AH is starring in The Lone Ranger, and the force of my distaste for that movie is rubbing off on him, no matter how aware I am that acting is a job and bacon needs to be brought home. I need to let that wait a bit.