Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

What a nice little love story. That's how it's done in an entertaining way. Both, Jamie Bell but especially Annette Bening are great in this story about the love of a once famous Hollywood actress and a much younger guy from Liverpool. Bening shows a loth of depth, drama and eccentricity and elicits us one or two tears. It's fun to see those two going to the movies and watching the very first Alien movie. Great meta movie moment.

One of the most overlooked, exquisitely sensitive films of 2017 somehow slipped past all attention to awards. Based on a true story - published by Peter Turner in 1986 - of a late in life affair between screen icon Gloria Grahame and young actor Peter Turner - this film is radiantly beautiful. The screenplay adaptation is by Matt Greenhalgh and the sensitive direction is the work of Paul McGuigan.The story covers the years 1979 - 1981. In 1979 Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) is in England starring on stage in The Glass Menagerie and flirts with young actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell), a bisexual young actor who falls under the spell of the femme fatale and despite the significant age difference they fall in love and begin and affair that is real, tender, and meaningful to both. As their mismatched romance waxes and wanes over time, events conspire to keep them in each other's lives even when it proves difficult and demanding. Ultimately, they find that they must each come to terms with whatever fate they face in the future whether they are together or apart. Grahame has breast cancer, a fact she conceals from Peter, and as she becomes close to Peter's family - mother Bella (Julie Walters), father Joe SR (Kenneth Cranham), and brother Joe Jr. (Stephen Graham) - she reveals her illness. On a trip to Los Angeles Gloria and Peter live together in Gloria's house trailer by the Pacific ocean, and are visited by Gloria's mother (Vanessa Redgrave) and sister Joy (Frances Barber) before they return to Peter's home in Liverpool. Gloria grows weaker and ultimately decides to return to her American physician for chemotherapy, escorted by one of her real sons Tim (Tom Brittney) from one of her four marriages, leaving Peter with love and concern that he care for his own family. The story is an affectionate, moving, and wryly humorous memoir of friendship, love, and stardom.Oscar worthy performances by Bening, Bell, Walters and the entire cast make this film luminous - one that needs to be seen more than once to fully appreciate all the fine qualities - acting, photography, musical score, and direction. Highly recommended

I finally caught up with this Movie yesterday at our favourite Mount Vic Flix after hearing a lot of good reports about it. Some friends said it should have been nominated for Oscars ,and I agree the two stars Annette Bening (a favourite of mine) and Jamie Bell ( remember Billy Elliott) are superb together. I found it a sad and frankly depressing story , based on famous 1953 Oscar winning supporting actress Gloria Graham , known for sultry roles and famous as Ado Annie ( the girl who couldn't say no) the film version of Oklahoma , perhaps that philosophy played true in Gloria's real life? Tell all tales of Hollywood Stars , especially stars that have long passed for me are of course interesting but can tarnish their reputation and I often think how would they react to this last invasion of their intimate life. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were alive when their daughters published their versions of growing up with starlet mothers and were horrified of course . The very sad part of this movie I found was Gloria Graham's fall from grace after her career dwindled down to a trickle of roles to odd stage roles. She seemed plagued by child like immature insecurities and even thought she could still play the role of Juliet in her late fifties and this is reflected beautifully in the last part of the film. We witness her last days of terminal illness and flashbacks as she rekindles her relationship with a young man Peter Turner, who is old enough to be her grandson and Gloria moves in with his Liverpudlian family to let his mum Bella (played beautifully by Julie Walters )care for her, which of course has ramifications for all involved. I won't spoil the plot but it's certainly a film worth seeing , however I personally felt perhaps I'd rather not have known the reason and circumstances why Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool.

This film is definitely watchable, but it also feels like a missed opportunity considering the talent onscreen. Jamie Bell is really strong in here and it's a shame he didn't get much hype. Annette Bening is also really good. I wouldn't say this is her best performance (that would be 20th Century Women) and at times she's a bit forced, but for the most part it's a tricky character she gets right. I just wish the screenplay around them was great.