tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post1299922521233315841..comments2023-12-06T02:25:20.424-08:00Comments on The Great Katharine Hepburn: Cate Blanchett as Kate Hepburn in THE AVIATOR (2004)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-61594739695378331552016-05-02T06:36:16.692-07:002016-05-02T06:36:16.692-07:00Was she a red-head or brunette? You contradicted y...Was she a red-head or brunette? You contradicted yourself or did I miss something? Nikleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07375050529734652375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-16041836089967331262016-03-13T15:36:26.245-07:002016-03-13T15:36:26.245-07:00blanchett's portrayal of kate hepburn in The A...blanchett's portrayal of kate hepburn in The Aviator is transcendent. the first flying scene w/howard; the connection between them- especially her compassion and perceptive caring- is rendered so believably that it remains very real and dear to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-46764476302716945542016-02-27T22:37:33.022-08:002016-02-27T22:37:33.022-08:00she nailed it; made the movie very entertaining .....she nailed it; made the movie very entertaining ... yes, nailed it.Big Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546066254130897170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-25046636417240813212016-01-31T13:03:37.419-08:002016-01-31T13:03:37.419-08:00I came here to say that Kate's face was beauti...I came here to say that Kate's face was beautiful. It seems Cate's isn't (so) actrative.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684790261333426568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-15064447152438933882015-09-26T05:47:40.220-07:002015-09-26T05:47:40.220-07:00'Talented but without magic or genius' is ...'Talented but without magic or genius' is such a fantastic way to describe Meryl Streep.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-25462717174234483652015-01-11T11:14:48.074-08:002015-01-11T11:14:48.074-08:00At least we can agree she was well-cast. I wouldn&...At least we can agree she was well-cast. I wouldn't call either of them ugly, though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-37309514923088805932015-01-03T21:34:16.003-08:002015-01-03T21:34:16.003-08:00Blanchett is so ugly like Hepburn was...... yuk T...Blanchett is so ugly like Hepburn was...... yuk The high cheek bones suited her part as Hepburn<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-55340015303937736722014-04-02T18:40:25.822-07:002014-04-02T18:40:25.822-07:00Cate Blanchett is not nearly pretty enough to play...Cate Blanchett is not nearly pretty enough to play Hepburn. That's what bothers me the most about her portrayal of the character. Everything else she did well. Katharine Hepburn was GORGEOUS. Really, there just AREN'T any actresses of today that can compare to her level of beauty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-43873777354937577892013-05-20T16:37:01.473-07:002013-05-20T16:37:01.473-07:00Thank you, Rick! Cate did a fantastic job as Katha...Thank you, Rick! Cate did a fantastic job as Katharine Hepburn. I definitely loved her scenes more than the movie as a whole. After Gatsby, I think I'm getting over Leo in general. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-92114311537058510742013-05-20T08:42:34.191-07:002013-05-20T08:42:34.191-07:00Can't believe this movie has been out since 20...Can't believe this movie has been out since 2004 and I just watched it for the first time last night! I'm absolutely enamored with Cate Blanchett and I thought she nailed Katherine Hepburn. Almost stole the show for me. I found myself waiting to see another scene with Cate in it and not much caring about the movie as it progressed with Leo. Your review of the movie is outstanding!Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-12636741980010135372013-05-10T10:22:15.334-07:002013-05-10T10:22:15.334-07:00As someone who’s been enamored of Hepburn for over...As someone who’s been enamored of Hepburn for over 40 years, I agree that Blanchett acquitted herself admirably. The problem for me is that the screenplay cheated and let her down by making her a caricature or, rather, by giving us a “character” named Hepburn.<br /><br />I once mentioned this to a friend, and he said, "the movie isn’t about Hepburn; it’s about Hughes." True enough, but the filmmakers included the Hughes/Hepburn section for a reason. Hepburn was, after all, Hepburn.. They knew exactly what they were doing; she was good copy. So even though it was Hughes' story, if they were going to make her an important element, they owed it to her and us to go beyond the "character" called Hepburn. There were moments where they attempted to humanize her, but others that fell woefully short, in my opinion. My two biggest complaints concern the depiction of the Hepburn family and the blackmail scene.<br /><br />The Hepburn family is portrayed like something out of YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Okay, the Hepburns were eccentric and, um, talkative. But they were not silly. This scene made them out to be obnoxious and silly. In an stab at comedy that, in my view, was less funny than it was insulting, Dr. Hepburn is portrayed as an absent-minded fool, while Luddy is made out to be a sycophantic buffoon and Mrs. Hepburn, a biddy and an obnoxious shrew. The point of the scene was to portray how put off Hughes was with the family and they with him. I’d be willing to bet that the inspiration for this scene was Spencer Tracy’s funny account of his experience dining with the clan. But whereas Tracy’s story seemed an obvious attempt to tease Hepburn, THE AVIATOR’s take seemed tailored to make them look foolish.<br /><br />I reserve my greatest contempt for the blackmail scene. Hepburn has broken up with Hughes, who sometime later is summoned by the publisher of a Confidential-type magazine to a clandestine meeting in the dead of night. The blackmailer demands stock in Hughes' company in exchange for not publishing revealing private photos of Hepburn and Tracy cavorting on a sailboat. As they discuss the matter, the scene cuts to shots of Hughes at his desk poring over the pictures. So we all get a good look. Hughes agrees to the demands. What we are supposed to cull from this scene is that though no longer together, he still harbors affection for Hepburn and a desire to protect her. There’s evidence of this in real life, but this particular event never happened.<br /><br />When Blanchett was on Jay Leno's show, he asked about fact vs. fiction in the movie. To illustrate something not true-to-life, she mentioned this scene, saying that Hughes actually had done something for Hepburn in real life, but that the filmmakers morphed that other act into this blackmail scene to show his affection for Hepburn because it was more dramatic.<br /><br />So what did Hughes actually do for her? He bought the rights to THE PHILADELPHIA STORY so that she’d be assured the part in the film. I admit, sexy photos of Tracy and Hepburn on a sailboat trumps checks and movie contracts, but Hepburn - the real Hepburn - took pride in the fact that she and Tracy were discreet about their relationship and that nobody ever got a photo of them together privately. So what does THE AVIATOR do to portray Hughes' loyalty and protective feelings? It trots out these imaginary private photos to satisfy dramatic license and audience prurience.<br /><br />Just as with the family scene, where the filmmakers could have found a better slant with which to depict Hughes’ discomfort, so, too, should they have treated this event with greater sensitivity. I thought the way they handled both was offensive to Hepburn's family and to Hepburn - who by all accounts was quite a character in real life but for me, was let down by THE AVIATOR.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-89986775171807779812013-01-14T05:52:42.872-08:002013-01-14T05:52:42.872-08:00I agree a hundred percent with mkmginnis: you did ...I agree a hundred percent with mkmginnis: you did a great analysis of cate's performance. I'm mostly grateful that she's not letting Kate slip into oblivion and helping carry on the legacy. But I love me some Leo! Marciehttp://best-ofthepast.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-77955092930633363242012-11-26T23:09:43.062-08:002012-11-26T23:09:43.062-08:00If someone wanted to make a life story about me, I...If someone wanted to make a life story about me, I would chose Cate Blanchet to portray me. She doesn't do just mere imatations, she becomes that person. I loved reading all the history about the real Hepburn while you described The Aviator TheVernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00712756384665520547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-79526876513073417172012-09-09T15:24:27.401-07:002012-09-09T15:24:27.401-07:00s'okay.s'okay.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-71490507797361222572012-09-09T14:58:40.621-07:002012-09-09T14:58:40.621-07:00Sorry for the double post.Sorry for the double post.calahanhttp://mikecalahan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-50734359142550567022012-09-09T10:18:28.217-07:002012-09-09T10:18:28.217-07:00Thanks for reading and commenting!Thanks for reading and commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-70721755002484121602012-09-09T10:18:09.958-07:002012-09-09T10:18:09.958-07:00Thank you -glad it was helpful for you!Thank you -glad it was helpful for you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-23946598647402814282012-09-09T10:02:05.037-07:002012-09-09T10:02:05.037-07:00To be honest, I was not blown away by Cate Blanche...To be honest, I was not blown away by Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Hepburn when I originally saw the movie, but you've made some good points about her performance. Thanks for posting your assessment. :)Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-27867275792756096122012-09-08T21:12:59.937-07:002012-09-08T21:12:59.937-07:00You have wowed me, again. Great piece, Margaret. I...You have wowed me, again. Great piece, Margaret. I've always wondered how Cate Blanchett's portrayal was viewed through the lens of a Hepburn devotee. Now I know. :)calahanhttp://mikecalahan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-31457676346508976532012-09-08T21:10:47.288-07:002012-09-08T21:10:47.288-07:00Once again, you wow me. I've always wondered h...Once again, you wow me. I've always wondered how that portrayal was seen by someone with a more learned Hepburn lens. Now I know. Good work, Margaret. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-26808515471495369792012-09-08T16:43:50.941-07:002012-09-08T16:43:50.941-07:00Thanks for the feedback! I have to agree with you ...Thanks for the feedback! I have to agree with you - didn't really like the film as a whole, but it was fun to see KH portrayed by another person.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-4173683572031941412012-09-08T16:04:23.591-07:002012-09-08T16:04:23.591-07:00Really excellent, infomrative post. I recently wro...Really excellent, infomrative post. I recently wrote a similar piece and I know how difficult it is to compare a performance to a real person. You did a lovely job!<br /><br />I'm no fan of The Aviator but Blanchett was one of the better things about it. Then again she's usually excellent.Groggy Dundeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14990254767008162244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-8486631562840476102012-09-07T12:37:48.866-07:002012-09-07T12:37:48.866-07:00Yes, I think it's hard for even the best actre...Yes, I think it's hard for even the best actresses to portray such strong characters as Miss Hepburn. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-37188669059873785702012-09-07T12:34:00.367-07:002012-09-07T12:34:00.367-07:00Haha! Fair enough, Meg! BTW: they're showing y...Haha! Fair enough, Meg! BTW: they're showing your LITTLE WOMEN tomorrow on TCM - enjoy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825694783801781047.post-92079535897876831242012-09-07T12:32:14.029-07:002012-09-07T12:32:14.029-07:00Thanks, Sophia. You make a really good point - I d...Thanks, Sophia. You make a really good point - I don't think many people would have known about Mrs. Hepburn's background because she definitely didn't like to talk about it. I think the inaccuracies about the family were just to simplify things a bit. I agree that Scorsese isn't careless. Thank you for commenting - I hope you enjoy Blanchett's performance when you get to watch it again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16581509646636552299noreply@blogger.com