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Summary:
big beautiful
widescreen entertainment
Bright
Young Things is involving and compelling. As a window to past experiences of
excess and hard reality, we see current reflections in the (infamous) USA gay "circuit" parties
and the proliferation of mega music festivals, even here in Australia.
Partying like there's no tomorrow is just as relevant now as it was when the
world was between Wars, but the lifestyle has a high price, and settling the
bill sometimes requires much more than mere financial compromise.
Bright Young Things explores the interaction of the quite different
characters who form a trendy young social set who
know love, but are still learning exactly what place it has in their lives.
While the
two major characters are comfortably heterosexual, one of their beautiful
friends is the very out, and unflinchingly camp, Miles - played by
Michael Sheen, who was equally seductive as Robbie Ross in
"Wilde". However, even in this era homosexuality was
very much a love that was expected to keep its big mouth
shut.
Stephen Fry presents a sharp script performed by a truly wonderful ensemble
of new and established actors - and with inspiring direction and
incisive editing throughout. It's fast paced, gripping and humourous, and certainly warrants a return viewing to
pick up all the details - such as Sir John Mills in his first on-screen role
as a user of recreational drugs.
This is big beautiful widescreen entertainment, with detailed surround sound.
I love the close-ups - I can't recall ever being made more aware of how
beautiful eyes are.
10 out of 10 for doing everything fine cinema should do.
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