‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’ Film Review: Annette Bening’s Performance Elevates a Tepid Biopic
The fine work of Bening and Jamie Bell only does so much for this sketchy look at film legend Gloria Grahame
Inkoo Kang | December 22, 2017 @ 12:22 PM
Last Updated: December 22, 2017 @ 12:37 PM
Sony Pictures Classics
The life stories of movie stars tend to follow the same arc: struggle, success, obscurity. Even the embellishments don’t vary much: addiction, plastic surgery, financial downgrades, messy personal lives.
The biography of noir icon Gloria Grahame, who won an Oscar for her nine minutes in “The Bad and the Beautiful” and has found a kind of immortality via the character Violet Bick in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” offers little deviation from the norm. So why dwell on the final years of Grahame’s life, when she was reduced to playing supporting roles onstage in mid-tier cities while battling breast cancer?
The only answer that “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” provides is Annette Bening’s marvelously helpless performance as a 50-something Grahame. If you told me that Bening had her spine replaced with titanium, I’d believe you in a heartbeat, so convincing is she as an enduring fortress in movies like “20th Century Women” and “The Kids Are All Right.” The girly, flirty voice that Bening uses as “Gloria” is, initially at least, a shock. The neediness and insecurity that Bening reveals, even as Gloria clings to her final shreds of dignity, are a revelation.
But director Paul McGuigan (“Victor Frankenstein”) and writer Matt Greenhalgh (“Control”) ultimately let their star down. “Liverpool” is a padded wisp of a drama, the first half’s evocative mystery gradually giving way to the second half’s surface-level reenactments. It’s entirely believable that the middle-aged Gloria didn’t disclose too much of herself to her 28-year-old lover Peter Turner (Jamie Bell, also great), through whose eyes we see the unhappy actress. (The script is based on the real-life Turner’s memoir.)
But the cautious result is that we learn too little of Gloria’s relationships to the parts of her life that seemingly mattered to her most: Her job, her peers, her children, her cancer, and the scandal that made her a pariah in Hollywood. (“Liverpool” refers only obliquely to the sexual relationship Grahame had with the 13-year-old son of her second husband, celebrated director Nicholas Ray. Later, Ray’s son, Tony, became her fourth husband.)
Bening doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to Grahame — a fact that wouldn’t matter, except McGuigan occasionally brings it to our attention via vintage clips of the actress in “Liverpool.” The film toggles between 1979, when Gloria seduces (or maybe emotionally blackmails) Peter, a semi-employed stage actor, and 1981, when cancer has robbed her of her independence.
Gloria and Peter are no longer together, but he obligingly brings his former paramour to the cramped and distressingly wallpapered home he shares with his graying parents, who have seen all of Grahame’s movies. If Mr. and Mrs. Turner (Kenneth Cranham and Julie Walters) were once starstruck, they aren’t anymore. “She ain’t swanning about Sunset Boulevard,” tuts Peter’s dad. Norma Desmond at least had a mansion.
“Liverpool” fills us in on the fling Gloria and Peter half-enjoyed. She tries to impress him with her oceanside bungalow and stories about her onetime neighbors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Gloria needn’t have tried so hard; Peter’s so provincial he’s bowled over by the idea of pizza delivery. There are a few wonderfully lived-in details like this, as well as a disco dancing sequence full of joy and valid criticisms of John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.”
But as the film progresses, spotting the missed opportunities for narrative tension and character development becomes more compelling than the spare storyline itself. McGuigan makes a grave mistake in muddying up Gloria’s motivations in a pivotal late scene, and the fight between Peter and his plot-necessity brother (Stephen Graham, “Taboo”) over whether or not to inform Gloria’s children about her illness (despite the actress’s protestations) feels numbingly deflated of conflict, especially given the film’s painstaking avoidance of Gloria’s familial tangles.
Gloria’s obsession with playing Shakespeare’s Juliet (a character written as a 13-year-old) also begs the (never answered) question of how she felt about or internalized Hollywood’s dismissal of older or “difficult” women.
Grahame’s contributions to cinema are more than worthy of a reevaluation. Her complications, too, deserve more than this tepid, uncurious portrait.
40 Actresses Over 40 Who Are Still Conquering Hollywood (Photos)
Amy Adams (1974)
Academy Award nominated Amy Adams is best known for roles in Disney's "Enchanted" and "Arrival." She most recently starred in Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals."
Cameron Diaz first made her mark in Hollywood with comedies like "There's Something About Mary" and "The Mask." She most recently starred alongside Will Smith in "Annie."
The two time Academy Award winning actress is best known for her role in "The Aviator." She has since starred in films like "The Lord of the Rings," "Babel," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Blanchett will appear as the villain in the November blockbuster "Thor: Ragnarok
Zeta-Jones is best known for starring in "Intolerable Cruelty" and "Ocean's Twelve." She most recently starred as Olivia de Havilland in the FX limited series "Feud."
Famke Janssen is best known for playing Jean Grey in the "X-Men" film series. Recently she's had a recurring role on the TV series "How to Get Away With Murder" alongside Viola Davis and "The Blacklist"
Gabrielle Union first had her breakthrough role in the cult comedy "Bring it On." Since she's starred in films like "Think Like a Man," "Deliver Us From Eva," and "Bad Boys II." Most recently she's starred on BET's first scripted drama "Being Mary Jane."
Gwyneth Paltrow has been starring in notable Hollywood films since the early 90's and it doesn't look like she's slowing down any time soon. She's been a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Pepper Potts.
Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry was once one of the highest paid actress in Hollywood, and to date is the only black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. She most recently starred in "Kingsman: The Golden Circle."
Helena Bonham Carter has starred in films like "Fight Club," "Hamlet," and the "Harry Potter" film series. She will also be playing a role in "Ocean's Eight."
Even though she's best known for playing Rachel on "Friends," Jennifer Aniston hasn't let that role define her entire career. She most recently starred in "The Yellow Birds," which premiered are Sundance.
Connelly made her debut in film with "Once Upon a Time in America." Since, she has starred in movies like "A Beautiful Mind" and "He's Just Not That Into You." Her upcoming projects include "Only the Brave" and "Alita: Battle Angel."
Jennifer Lopez is probably one of few actresses to have both a successful musical and acting career simultaneously. Lopez has starred in films like "The Wedding Planner" and "Monster in Law," her must recent project is "Ice Age: Collision Course."
Jodie Foster had her breakthrough role in "Taxi Driver." She also had roles in "Silence of the Lambs," "Contact" and "Panic Room," and is currently working on "Hotel Artemis." She's also sat in the director's chair several times, most recently with "Money Monster" and an episode of the upcoming season of "Black Mirror."
Quite possibly one of the best actresses of our time, Julia Roberts starred in films from "Pretty Woman to "Erin Brockovich" and has been cited as the highest paid actress in Hollywood for years. Her latest project is "Wonder," which will be released later this year.
Leslie Mann is most known for her roles in comedy films like "The Other Woman," and "Knocked Up." Her upcoming projects include "Blockers" and "The Women of Marwen."
Marisa Tomei had her breakthrough role in "My Cousin Vinny." Since, she's starred in films like "What Women Want" and "Anger Management." Recently she's taken on the role of Aunt May in "Spiderman: Homecoming" and "Captain America: Civil War."
This multi-hyphenate first garnered attention as Sookie in "Gilmore Girls." Since, she's played in notable films like "Bridesmaids" and "Ghostbusters." Her upcoming projects include "Life of the Party," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?," and "The HappyTime Murders." Not to mention her incredibly memorable turn as Sean Spicer on "SNL."
Meryl Streep currently holds the record for being the most nominated actor at the Oscars. She's starred in notable films since the 1970's and still has projects coming out next year like "Mary Poppins Returns."
Monica Bellucci is conquering both European and American film markets. She gained worldwide attention with films like "Brotherhood of the Wolf" and "Malèna" and the "Matrix" sequels. She was also the oldest woman to be cast as one of the Bond Girls. Bellucci most recently appeared in the 2017 "Twin Peaks" revival series.
Naomi Watts got her big break with David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive." Since then she's had roles in "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" and "The Ring." She most recently starred as Janey-E in "Twin Peaks."
Nia Long has had almost a lifetime of success in Hollywood. She starred in the 90's classics "Boyz n the Hood" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." She currently appears on "NCIS: Los Angeles."
Nicole Kidman has won just about every major acting award out there and for good reason. She starred in "The Hours," "Rabbit Hole," and "The Others." She most recently appeared in the HBO hit "Big Little Lies."
Octavia Spencer only recently had her big break with her role in "The Help" in 2011 -- and she won an Oscar for it. Since, she's starred in "Fruitvale Station," "The Divergent" series, and "Hidden Figures." Her most recent projects include "The Gifted" and "A Kid Like Jake" which comes out in 2018.
This one doesn't even need any explanation. It's Oprah. But she will be starring in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time" which premieres in 2018. Plus she has an entire television network and produces "Queen Sugar."
Weisz is best known for her roles in "The Mummy" film series. She's also had roles in "About a Boy" and "Constantine." Her upcoming projects include "The Mercy" and "Favourite" which are both out in 2018.
Salma Hayek was a staple of 90s genre flicks like "Desperado," "The Faculty" and "Wild Wild West" before landing an Oscar nod for portraying Frida Kahlo in the film "Frida." She most recently starred in "The Hitman's Bodyguard."
Sanaa Lathan has starred in many cult classics like "Love & Basketball," "The Best Man," and "Brown Sugar." She currently stars in the TV series "Shots Fired."
Sandra Bullock has basically starred in all of our favorite movies from "Miss Congeniality" to "While You Were Sleeping" to "The Blind Side." She will be starring in the much anticipated film "Ocean's Eight" which is out in 2018.
Taraji broke out in "Baby Boy," and has garnered recognition for her roles in "Hustle and Flow" and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." She most recently starred in "Hidden Figures" and rocks everybody's world as Cookie on "Empire."
Tilda Swinton is known for her roles in "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series and "The Deep End." She most recently starred in "Doctor Strange" and "Okja" and her voice talents will appear in 2018's "Isle of Dogs."
Tina Fey is best known for her comedic acts on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock," but she's had great success on the big screen too. She's starred in hit movies like "Date Night" and "Baby Mama." She most recently starred in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot."
Toni Collette received recognition for her role in "The Sixth Sense." Since, she's starred in "About a Boy" and "The Hours." She most recently starred in "Unlocked" and has a film coming out in 2018.
Uma Thurman garnered critical acclaim for her role in "Pulp Fiction." Since, she's starred in "Les Misérables" and "Kill Bill" and numerous other flicks. She currently has two films coming out this year, "The War With Grandpa" and "The Brits Are Coming."
Vera Farmiga has had success with hits like the "Conjuring" movies and Best Picture-winner "The Departed," and landed an Oscar nomination for "Up in the Air." She currently has projects lined up until 2019.
Viola Davis has had minor roles in shows like "Law and Order" and movies like "Kate and Leopold," but it wasn't until her Oscar-nominated performance in "Doubt" that she began to receive the recognition she deserved. Since she's also garnered critical acclaim for her role in "Fences" and "The Help." She currently stars in ABC's hit series "How to Get Away With Murder."
1 of 40
From Amy Adams to scene-stealer Judi Dench, here are 40 actresses who aren’t letting four-plus decades slow down their career
Amy Adams (1974)
Academy Award nominated Amy Adams is best known for roles in Disney's "Enchanted" and "Arrival." She most recently starred in Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals."
