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‘Sex and the City’ … from Christian Lacroix to a menages a trois
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The big-screen “Sex and The City” — or what soon will become known in America as the new girls’ night out — wastes no time in underscoring its purpose.
The film’s signature leading lady, Sarah Jessica Parker as fashionista and writer Carrie Bradshaw, reveals in narration that so many women, just like her and her inseparable friends, are “in search of the two L’s — labels and love.”
“City” amply serves both … from Christian Lacroix to a menages a trois.
For at least a month offscreen, Parker and her co-stars — Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — have been talking about the literally hundreds of designer duds they wear in the movie. Parker alone has 81 costume changes. Seriously, 81. Since the movie lasts roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes, it means she’s sporting a different eyecatching outfit every two minutes or so.
Mixed in is drama and comedy that swings from emotional highs to emotional lows and back with the kind of assurance that suggests the filmmakers just know they are connecting with their core audience.
“City,” which was screened for Atlanta critics earlier this week, is wrapped up in pregnancy, matrimony (did I correctly count three weddings in preparation or execution?), adultery, lust, shopping, intimacy, betrayal, more shopping and, oh yes, a little bit of day-job work.
The movie officially opens Friday but there are a few late-night screenings Thursday at some metro Atlanta theaters. Here’s what moviegoers will likely be talking about:
The fashion: Can you say Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Dior, Oscar de la Renta, Vivienne Westwood, Gucci and Manolo Blahnik? That’s just a taste. Carrie’s first outfit is a stunner — a white flower dress that was a vintage gown shortened to a mini-dress and sporting one of the HBO character’s signature big, pinned-on flowers.
Instead of plastering Carrie’s face on the side of a bus, the film has her modeling wedding dresses for a fashion spread in Vogue. The centerpiece photo is a memorable Westwood design that Carrie later embellishes by placing a couple of quirky turquoise feathers on the side of her noggin. Give Parker’s character credit for later admitting she had “a bird on my head.”
The sex: Miranda (Nixon) has it with clothes on and then, later, off. A frustrated Samantha (Cattrall) is reduced to peeping at a Latin neighbor’s libidinal escapades, which includes that aforementioned menages a trois. Moviegoers also get a long look at his bum and a quick glimpse of his, um, Pinocchio. In other words, the film’s rated a strong R.
The men: Carrie’s Mr. Big (Chris Noth) has the most male screen time and plot turns. But, really, most of the men are used like Carrie’s glittering Eiffel Tower purse … they are accessories.
The dialog: There’s funny stuff: “Oh, honey, you finally got Botox. You’ll love it.” Sex talk: “I’d use every crayon in the box.” And some surprisingly serious psychological revelations: “I’m an emotional cutter.”
The walk-in closet: Mr. Big’s gift to Carrie is a massive, pristine, white-carpeted, master-bedroom-size shrine to hold her designer collection. The first “residents” are a pair of bright blue Manolo Blahniks.
Jennifer Hudson: Well into the movie, the “Dreamgirls” Oscar winner arrives as Carrie’s personal assistant Louise and instantly proves if she’s going to appear on film she needs to be singing. She does sing the closing song, “All Dressed Up in Love.”
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Bob Longino
Comments
By Goldfish
May 28, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Attended the preimier at Atlantic Station last night. Although I was not a worshipper of the tv show, the movie was very entertaining and pretty to watch. Aside from the raw sushi, um bikini wax and the hocalate pudding moments,we cried at the end.
By Goldfish
May 28, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Attended the preimier at Atlantic Station last night. Although I was not a worshipper of the tv show, the movie was very entertaining and pretty to watch. Aside from the raw sushi, um bikini wax and the chocalate pudding moments,we cried at the end.
By katie
May 28, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
This movie was unbelievably fabulous. Our favorite girls made a seamless trasition onto the big screen. And two hours and twenty minutes?— It just didn’t seem long enough!
By Sarah
May 28, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
The series should be played on the Sci-Fi channel. You have four aging women in a city such as Manhattan, that’s face it…predicated on youth and glamour and one of these women is not youthful and two are not pretty. They wear $1,500 shoes with bags to match while dinning, seeminly all day long, in toney East Side diners. Yes, this is reality, sure it is. If the show were about really pretty twenty-two year olds, then maybe. Not these three over- the- hills.
By Shayla
May 28, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
With Carrie possibly getting married to Mr. Big (neither is the marrying type), Steve cheating, and Samantha still the sex addict, I don’t think I will see it. The only good thing is that Charlotte gets her kids. Can someone tell me what happens in the end? Who calls off the wedding or is it just a dream sequence? (mention “Spoiler Alert” for those that don’t want to know)
By Shayla
May 28, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
With Carrie possibly getting married to Mr. Big (neither is the marrying type), Steve cheating, and Samantha still the sex addict, I don’t think I will see it. The only good thing is that Charlotte gets her kids. Can someone tell me what happens in the end? Who calls off the wedding or is it just a dream sequence? (mention “Spoiler Alert” for those that don’t want to know)
By Sasha
May 28, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
To Sarah: this is a movie- not reality. If people wanted reality they’d watch the news. All of these women are over 22- if that’s all you care to watch then go watch Enews and you can view the latest on Brittney and Paris. I think the majority of savvy women love this tv show and movie because the women are older, look great and are just plain enjoyable to watch.
By val
May 29, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
I agree with you Sasha. The reality is, we all get older. And if the ladies pretended to be anything but their ages the movie would suck. And it is just a movie for entertainment. I loved the HBO series, because they are women around my age.
By Carrie II
May 29, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
From a 30-something: 22-year-olds aren’t savvy enough, are not mature enough or wealthy enough and don’t know themselves well enough to live like these ladies. The age group is perfectly reflective of how WE do it in the city:-)Not to mention, it’s entertainment!
By Peli
May 30, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Went to the Star 94 midnight screening of this movie. It was so so good! I laughed, cried and laughed some more. JHud did a great job. This movie will make anyone believe in LOVE.
By AL
May 30, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I was at one of the midnight shows last night and LOVED it! The audience was pretty terrific too.