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Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

kdk December 29, 2017
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Read Time:2 Minute, 13 Second

The life of a Hollywood A-lister is one of glamorous parties, luxurious vacations, and other extravagance. But the fame and fortune don’t always last forever. And Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool tells a less than glamorous story about a beloved starlet’s final days.



Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool stars Jamie Bell as Peter Turner, a young British actor who finds himself caring for ailing actress and his former love, Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening), at his parents’ home in Liverpool in 1981. As he struggles to care for this once vibrant and alluring Hollywood legend while she fades in front of his eyes, he looks back on their relationship—on their meeting, their budding romance, their travels, and their abrupt end.



Based on Peter Turner’s memoir of his unconventional romance with the aging (and ailing) star, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool travels back and forth through time in the most artistic of ways to tell a moving story about love and celebrity.



The film doesn’t examine much of Gloria’s career. This Oscar-winning star—who carries around mementos from her famous costars—doesn’t live a glamorous life in her later years. She rents a far-from-luxurious room in London while she’s away from the trailer she calls home in California. And, other than glimpses of her past films and the occasional mention of costars and achievements and personal drama, the character is a mystery—one who will most likely send you to Google to dig for more details after you finish watching the film.



Still, whether you’re familiar with Gloria Grahame and her background or not, Bening brings the character to life in a way that’s both beautiful and heartbreaking. Gloria may not be the pretty young Hollywood starlet anymore, but she’s still fun-loving and vivacious. It’s clear that she works hard to keep up appearances—to act and sound like the movie star that she once was. But it all feels rather tragic—not just her failing health but also her desperation to cling to the youthful roles and the bubbly character of her past. Bening’s performance is daring and multifaceted, with some memorable moments—and it’s paired with another noteworthy performance by Bell, who offers a different perspective on this uncommon love story.



Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool isn’t a flashy Hollywood biopic. It’s a simple and unpretentious film—a moving portrait of a movie star in her last days. And Bening’s performance alone makes it worth checking out.





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About Post Author

kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it. Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course. As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com). Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
kdk@nightsandweekends.com
http://www.NightsAndWeekends.com
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kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.

Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.

As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).

Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.

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