"A woman playing a woman. Where's the trick in that?"-Welcome to 17th Century stage where Ned Kynaston's (Billy Crudup) performance of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello brings the house down nightly. Ned is the "most beautiful woman on the London stage." That is until the King renounces the oyal edict that only men can play women on stage. Enter Maria (Claire Danes) Ned's seemingly loyal dresser who becomes an instant star leaving Ned to suppress his ardent feminine traits and make a man of himself.Special FeaturesInterview with method manTrailers5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital audio InterviewsSystem Requirements: Running Time 109 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 012236173106 Manufacturer No: 17310
Edward "Ned" Knyaston (Billy Crudup) is a beautiful man, and as an actor in 17th-century London that means he's quite popular portraying women, since females are forbidden to tread the boards. His mischievous air of entitlement, unfortunately, soon sets in motion a chain of events that will see King Charles II (Rupert Everett) lifting the ban on actresses, allowing Ned's devoted dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), to become the city's reigning theatrical diva. Director Richard Eyre (Iris) is still best known for his stage work, and it shows: Stage Beauty is rich in character and attention to detail, yet it doesn't have a popcorn-and-soda pop ease. Jeffrey Hatcher's well-observed script, based on his own play, romps a little self-consciously in Eyre's hands--you can tell it would like to be Shakespeare in Love if it could only relax. The gorgeous Crudup and dewy Danes don't quite click here, but the supporting cast is having a good time going way over-the-top, so if you're hungry for an elaborate historical confection there's enough here to satisfy your taste buds. --Steve Wiecking
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
I thought she really died during the play.:
Great movie, very funny and at the same time it's a bit Disturbing(the Ned "guy" got some serious issues).
RICHARD EYRE, OPUS 5:
***1/2 2004. Directed by Richard Eyre. Subtle and smart variation about the paradox of the actors who must express feelings they don't sense. Two years before shooting Notes on a Scandal, Richard Eyre already delivered a little jewel. Recommended.
I rented it--now it's going on my Wish List:
Some people may not realize that those lovely female roles the Bard immortalized were at first brought to life by male actors. Ned Kynason (Billy Crudup) was one such actor and the top of his form til King Charles declared that women should play women's roles. I thought when I came into this that I'd be cheering the women on, but I couldn't quite do that. "Stage Beauty" presents both sides of the story with such compassion it's hard not to see how wrenching the whole situation is. As Ned... more info
Crudup Superb, Danes Merely Adequate:
Everything about Billy Crudup's performance as Ned Kynaston shows that he is one of the most versatile, flexible and believable actors on the screen today. As his character grows in knowledge of himself, he seamlessly progresses from an over-the-top actor of women's roles and the persona he has adopted to go with that ... to a man desperate after losing his profession because men are now banned from taking women's roles ... to the coach of the character played by Claire Danes ... then as actor of men's... more info
