According to vocabulary.com, “being beguiled is like being captivated, charmed, delighted, enthralled, or entranced. When you’re beguiled, you really like what you see.”
A truer definition could not have been written about Sofia Coppola’s latest film, “The Beguiled”. A tale about a group of (multi generational) women who are cut off from the world and have taken shelter in their Estate, during the Civil War. Their lives are turned upside down when they take in a wounded soldier.
“The Beguiled” is stunning. From the captivating performances that leads Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst & Colin Farrell deliver, to the charming and delightful supporting cast, to the absolutely beautiful imagery on screen.
It is also very funny, but herein is where the problem, at least for me, lies. I wasn’t sure whether or not the laughs were intentional. Was I laughing with the film or at the film? As a result, I felt quite uncomfortable watching it. But was this Sofia Coppola’s intention?
Vocabulary.com goes on to add, “When you’re beguiled, you like what you see so much that you can’t take your eyes off it — almost like being in a trance.” And that is what Sofia Coppola has managed to do. So even through my uncertainty, and sometimes uncomfortable moments, I was totally entranced with what was happening on the screen.
So was this an enjoyable experience or not? I am still having that debate with myself. “The Beguiled” has truly baffled me. However, Coppola has managed to leave a lasting impression on me with this film and for that reason alone it is worth checking this film out.
Hi,
I’m Sarina Bellissimo and this is the place I come to indulge in my love of all things entertainment. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by all things Hollywood/showbiz. I blame my parents!
As a child my mum used to force me to watch old Elvis Presley films with her, and both my mum & dad would take my brothers and I to the Drive-In to watch the latest films (this is where my love for ROCKY began!). When not watching movies, I was trying to figure out ways to pull the back off the TV so I could somehow get into it and be a part of all the action on the screen!
This blog isn’t a place that revels in gossip and negativity. It’s a place where entertainment is celebrated. That said, this is a place you can turn to for honesty. Honesty and criticism don’t always mean attacks. I choose to criticise the piece of work but not the person and I acknowledge that just because I don’t like something, it doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
Here you’ll find interviews with some of the biggest names in the world of Entertainment, reviews, breaking news and my very own musings.
Away from The Bellissimo Files, you can find me on Spin 1038 on Saturdays, between 1pm and 3pm,presenting Plan B. There’s celebrity interviews, entertainment news, the low down on the must see movies and music releases of the week, the ultimate guide to what’s on where in the city, as well as masterclasses with experts on standby to answer listeners’ questions.
I also appear on TV3’s “Elaine” panel, talk movies on “Ireland AM” and you can sometimes hear me filling in on Moncrieff’s “Movies and Booze “(Newstalk)
The Bellissimo Files is constantly evolving. Files (topics) will be added or deleted as time goes on. Feel free to read, watch, comment, share, and make suggestions for what you would like to see on the site.
Sarina
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