Knight at the Movies Archives
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An instant classic arrives like a shooting star
Car chases and action set pieces are one thing, comic book super heroes and zillion dollar special effects another but in my
estimation, nothing compares to the sweep of a fantasy epic. Just such a film is Stardust, an epic fairy tale if there ever was one
and a whale of a good time for 10 year-olds – of all ages – who still have the capacity to believe and to dream. This is the movie
for the non-cynics; those who still love Peter Pan; can’t wait for another trip down the yellow brick road, live for the moment Mary
Poppins gently descends to earth clutching her umbrella, and yearn to rekindle that instant when they first glimpsed Hogwarts on
screen. Like all those iconic moments in the fantasy film canon, Stardust does what the best of these pictures do – it makes you
gasp with delight realizing that here is a rare example of the movies delivering on their tantalizing promise to create magic. I think
it’s an instant classic of the genre and I love, love, loved it.
The story, derived from a novel by Neil Gaiman is the surprising work of director Matthew Vaughn who co-adapted the script with Jane
Goldman. Surprising because to date Vaughn has produced the tough as nails, modern day movies of director Guy Ritchie and
previously directed the equally toe curling, harsh Layer Cake himself. The lush world of the fantastic Vaughn expertly creates in
Stardust is far, far away behind the moon behind the rain (to say the least) from the gritty reality of the drug dealers of Layer Cake.
It’s a bit jarring to know the same talent could handle both genres – the same reaction one would have if Quentin Tarantino were at
the helm.
The story, narrated by gay icon Sir Ian McKellen, is set in two parallel lands – a quaint Victorian village called Wall and the magical
kingdom of Stormhold (both are beautifully realized). Our hero Tristan (Charlie Cox) is the product of both worlds but doesn’t know
it. The sweet though socially inept Tristan is naturally a loner who loves Victoria (Sienna Miller), the vain village beauty who on a
whim promises to marry him if he can retrieve a falling star from Stormhold. At the same time the throne of Stormhold is being
hotly contested between a band of bloodthirsty princes after their father, the king (Peter O’Toole having a rip roaring good time) dies
without naming a rightful heir and laying down a challenge. One of the princes, played by Rupert Everett, is dispensed with post
haste and reappears along with his brothers throughout as ghosts.
Everyone is after the falling star who has taken on female form in the person of Yvaine (Claire Danes) after landing in Stormhold.
Aside from Tristan and the surviving murderous princes, there’s a trio of nasty witches led by Michelle Pfeiffer after Yvaine. Pfeiffer,
who is allowed to wither and age and regress to her own breathtaking visage, has as much fun with her role as Bette Midler did in the
unfairly overlooked Hocus Pocus. She’s a delicious villain (her second bad girl in a month, following closely on the heels of her nasty
but fun turn in Hairspray).
At first Tristan only wants to drag Yvaine back to Wall so he can hold Victoria to her promise but as the adventures pile up, the two
slowly fall for each other. They are helped by Robert DeNiro as a bloodthirsty ship’s captain whose vessel patrols the skies capturing
lightning. DeNiro we quickly learn is hiding a secret from his crew – he’s really a feather boa-loving transvestite who loves getting in
touch with his feminine side away from the prying eyes of his roustabout men. DeNiro plays the character with the delighted relish
Gene Hackman brought to his cameo role in Young Frankenstein but is given much more screen time (and an even more delightful
resolve when his secret is revealed to his villainous crew that hints at gay acceptance).
All of these plot strands are handled with precision by Vaughn and it’s enervating to be in the hands of a filmmaker who knows
exactly what he’s doing (the movie is perfectly paced with not an ounce of fat on it). Vaughn utilizes his gorgeous Scottish and
Icelandic locations and though there are plenty of fantastic visual effects, they serve the story instead of replacing it. It’s a movie
with many of the unforgettable set pieces – the first sighting of DeNiro’s ship trolling the skies, O’Toole’s fantastic castle perched
high atop a mountaintop, the mournful ghosts offering advice to their surviving brethren, a country inn instantly realized via a witch’s
spell – that are required for unforgettable fantasy.
Stardust is one of those movies that I’m afraid will exceed the expectations of a fickle audience, easily distracted and easily
disappointed, that all this lavish praise might suggest. For parents, frustrated that the latest in the Harry Potter series is not kid
safe, Stardust is a great alternative. I hope that moviegoers young and old will embrace it with the attention it deserves but even if
they don’t, I shall live happily ever after each time I head for Stormhold along with Tristan in search of that not so elusive falling star.
estimation, nothing compares to the sweep of a fantasy epic. Just such a film is Stardust, an epic fairy tale if there ever was one
and a whale of a good time for 10 year-olds – of all ages – who still have the capacity to believe and to dream. This is the movie
for the non-cynics; those who still love Peter Pan; can’t wait for another trip down the yellow brick road, live for the moment Mary
Poppins gently descends to earth clutching her umbrella, and yearn to rekindle that instant when they first glimpsed Hogwarts on
screen. Like all those iconic moments in the fantasy film canon, Stardust does what the best of these pictures do – it makes you
gasp with delight realizing that here is a rare example of the movies delivering on their tantalizing promise to create magic. I think
it’s an instant classic of the genre and I love, love, loved it.
The story, derived from a novel by Neil Gaiman is the surprising work of director Matthew Vaughn who co-adapted the script with Jane
Goldman. Surprising because to date Vaughn has produced the tough as nails, modern day movies of director Guy Ritchie and
previously directed the equally toe curling, harsh Layer Cake himself. The lush world of the fantastic Vaughn expertly creates in
Stardust is far, far away behind the moon behind the rain (to say the least) from the gritty reality of the drug dealers of Layer Cake.
It’s a bit jarring to know the same talent could handle both genres – the same reaction one would have if Quentin Tarantino were at
the helm.
The story, narrated by gay icon Sir Ian McKellen, is set in two parallel lands – a quaint Victorian village called Wall and the magical
kingdom of Stormhold (both are beautifully realized). Our hero Tristan (Charlie Cox) is the product of both worlds but doesn’t know
it. The sweet though socially inept Tristan is naturally a loner who loves Victoria (Sienna Miller), the vain village beauty who on a
whim promises to marry him if he can retrieve a falling star from Stormhold. At the same time the throne of Stormhold is being
hotly contested between a band of bloodthirsty princes after their father, the king (Peter O’Toole having a rip roaring good time) dies
without naming a rightful heir and laying down a challenge. One of the princes, played by Rupert Everett, is dispensed with post
haste and reappears along with his brothers throughout as ghosts.
Everyone is after the falling star who has taken on female form in the person of Yvaine (Claire Danes) after landing in Stormhold.
Aside from Tristan and the surviving murderous princes, there’s a trio of nasty witches led by Michelle Pfeiffer after Yvaine. Pfeiffer,
who is allowed to wither and age and regress to her own breathtaking visage, has as much fun with her role as Bette Midler did in the
unfairly overlooked Hocus Pocus. She’s a delicious villain (her second bad girl in a month, following closely on the heels of her nasty
but fun turn in Hairspray).
At first Tristan only wants to drag Yvaine back to Wall so he can hold Victoria to her promise but as the adventures pile up, the two
slowly fall for each other. They are helped by Robert DeNiro as a bloodthirsty ship’s captain whose vessel patrols the skies capturing
lightning. DeNiro we quickly learn is hiding a secret from his crew – he’s really a feather boa-loving transvestite who loves getting in
touch with his feminine side away from the prying eyes of his roustabout men. DeNiro plays the character with the delighted relish
Gene Hackman brought to his cameo role in Young Frankenstein but is given much more screen time (and an even more delightful
resolve when his secret is revealed to his villainous crew that hints at gay acceptance).
All of these plot strands are handled with precision by Vaughn and it’s enervating to be in the hands of a filmmaker who knows
exactly what he’s doing (the movie is perfectly paced with not an ounce of fat on it). Vaughn utilizes his gorgeous Scottish and
Icelandic locations and though there are plenty of fantastic visual effects, they serve the story instead of replacing it. It’s a movie
with many of the unforgettable set pieces – the first sighting of DeNiro’s ship trolling the skies, O’Toole’s fantastic castle perched
high atop a mountaintop, the mournful ghosts offering advice to their surviving brethren, a country inn instantly realized via a witch’s
spell – that are required for unforgettable fantasy.
Stardust is one of those movies that I’m afraid will exceed the expectations of a fickle audience, easily distracted and easily
disappointed, that all this lavish praise might suggest. For parents, frustrated that the latest in the Harry Potter series is not kid
safe, Stardust is a great alternative. I hope that moviegoers young and old will embrace it with the attention it deserves but even if
they don’t, I shall live happily ever after each time I head for Stormhold along with Tristan in search of that not so elusive falling star.
Catch a Rising Stardust:
Stardust
8-8-07 Windy City Times Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
Stardust
8-8-07 Windy City Times Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
