Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

2017 "Love, just like in the movies."
6.7| 1h45m| en| More Info
Released: 17 November 2017 Released
Producted By: Lionsgate
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Liverpool, 1978: What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme-fatale, the eccentric Academy Award-winning actress Gloria Grahame, and her young lover, British actor Peter Turner, quickly grows into a deeper relationship, with Turner being the person Gloria turns to for comfort.

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TxMike My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library. Even though I now realize I have seen a few older movies with actress Gloria Grahame in them as this movie started I didn't realize it was about a real actress, mostly popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The filmmakers claim the movie is perhaps 98% faithful to the real story.Here it spans approximately 1979 through 1981, and flashbacks are often used to amplify on a point. Annette Bening, about the right age, is Gloria Grahame. When in England on a stage production she meets Jamie Bell, also about the right age, as Peter Turner from Liverpool. They strike up an unlikely friendship then romantic relationship. It becomes turbulent at times, no surprise since Grahame had been married four times before and had a child with each of her husbands.Both main actors are really good in their roles, especially Bening as Grahame, who in spite of her troubled life and sometimes erratic behavior comes across as a sympathetic character.Good movie, it is old news but see it for the performances.
filmtogo 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.
DreamyOneNumber1 We loved Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. It's a movie that can be enjoyed more than once, and in fact, is even better the second time around. The script, adapted from actor Peter Turner's book, is based on the true story of the final days of Gloria Grahame. Directed like an old-time movie, Paul McGuigan brings to the screen excellent performances by all actors, with exceptional performances from Annette Bening (as usual) and Jamie Bell. This movie is best enjoyed without any preconceived notions, so I will not share anything near a spoiler. Needless to say, however, as most everyone who checks a rating on this movie already knows, a young Peter Turner fell in love with aging Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame, but their time was sadly limited due to Gloria Grahame's cancer.For those who like to know the basis of what they're watching in advance of viewing a film, there is plenty of background information available. For my part, I watched the movie first, then did some research, and then watched it again. Armed with factual information, it was more meaningful seeing it again. While not for the very young, this is a movie most everyone else can enjoy. There's enough life lessons here to leave you thinking.
proud_luddite Based on a true story: In the late 1970s, Hollywood star Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) is in her fifties and performing in regional theatres in Great Britain. She hooks up with Peter Tanner (Jamie Bell), another actor who is a generation younger than she is.Both Bening and Bell are powerful in their roles especially Bening. Whether she is doing strange verbal exercises to prepare for a performance or showing signs of declining health, she is moving and easily draws in the viewer. She is fully believable as someone who can be very naive while drawing sympathy and understanding. Bell also has a powerful scene when he is receiving difficult news on the telephone. As the viewer cannot hear what is being said on the other line, he makes it very clear with each gesture just how bad the news is.Peter's family also provides warmth, welcoming Gloria as a part of the family without batting an eye at the age difference between the lovers. As the family matriarch, the wonderful Julie Walters is a beacon of kindness.Where the film weakens is in the connection between the two lovers. While the actors are great individually, they don't fully connect together. There is a scene in which Peter fights with his brother over how the family should handle their ailing guest. The scene was forced, unbelievable, and over-the-top.Yet the movie is still worth seeing. With all the debate about how women are treated in the film industry, this film deserves credit for giving a substantial leading role in a feature film (not one immediately relegated to television) to a talented, experienced actress over fifty (keep in mind Bening also starred in last year's "20th Century Women").