Hilary and Jackie: Real Genius

Reviewed by Vickie, Cinema Geek

Vick's Rating: 1/2

= There's two hours of my life I'll never see again. Is it too late to ask for my money back?
= They could have done SO much better. Wait for the video.
= Not bad at all. Some solid work.
= Wow! I'm very impressed. I might go see this one again.
= For the love of all that is good and kind in the world, what an amazing movie!!!

Directed by Anand Tucker

Cast:
Jacqueline Du Pré.....Emily Watson
Hilary Du Pré........Rachel Griffiths
Kiffer Finzi..........David Morrissey
Daniel Barenboim........James Frain
Derek Du Pré...........Charles Dance
Iris Du Pré...................Celia Imrie

You know, if Emily Watson ever gets lazy and turns in a lackluster performance, let me know. She nabbed an Oscar nomination for her debut in "Breaking the Waves," added heart to the Daniel Day-Lewis vehicle "The Boxer" and warmth to the as-yet-unreleased "Metroland."

And in "Hilary and Jackie" she and her co-star Rachel Griffiths ("Muriel's Wedding") make up a powerhouse pair telling a story filled with passion, pain, genius and beauty.

Directed by Anand Tucker, the film is the true story of world-renowned cellist Jacqueline Du Pré (Watson), who died of multiple sclerosis at the age of 42 after rising to fame in the 1960's, and her unfamous but no less talented sister, Hilary (Griffiths).

The story begins from Hilary's point of view. As girls, Hilary and Jackie take to music: Hilary plays the flute, Jackie the cello. Their talent is evident to everyone and soon the trophies start piling up. Hilary is the star musician at first, but determination and practice soon send Jackie skyrocketing past her sister's abilities. As they mature, they choose decidedly different paths: Jackie pursues her music with every ounce of her being and becomes a superstar, while Hilary opts for a quiet life in the country with her husband (David Morrissey) and children.

But the whirlwind that is Jackie is soon knocking on Hilary's door, frazzled, asking for sanctuary and a roll in the hay with Hilary's husband. Never one to deny her sister anything, Hilary reluctantly obliges, much to her husband's shock and chagrin. But there's something more going on, as a despondent Jackie slowly spirals out of control.

That's when the film's perspective changes and the story to that point is retold from Jackie's point of view. Brilliant!

Suddenly, past events come into clearer focus, and we're given a new insight into what was really going on in Jackie's life. Sure, she became famous, but there was much more to the life she was leading than just spotlights and standing ovations. Her romance and subsequent marriage to Argentinian Daniel Barenboim (James Frain) wasn't perfect and, when she was diagnosed with M.S., began to fall apart. We watch as the progression of the disease slowly robs her of all ability to function, and gradually takes away the most important part of her life: her music. That pain--pain that was hidden from everyone, including Hilary--adds a whole new dimension to her character and makes what might have been considered selfish, childish acts forgivable.

Since the film is a biography and makes no secret of the fact that Jackie died of M.S., the end does not come as any surprise, but the series of events leading to the inevitable are told delicately and are some of the best moments in the entire film. I cried.

Watson and Griffiths are both excellent and give themselves over to their roles. Watson has the showier part, obviously, as Jackie's flamboyant style and dramatic presence make up much of the character. But Griffiths works just as hard to convey the love, pain and devotion that Hilary experienced in her life. It's a seemingly "plain" role, but one that is no less difficult to perform and perform well.

The story is a fascinating one. I'll admit I'd never heard of Jacqueline Du Pré or her music before I saw this movie, but I certainly know it, or at least some of it, now. One of the more intriguing elements to the film was the ominous tone that was apparently present in the real lives of these women. There is a moment (actually, two moments) in the film, where young Hilary and Jackie are frolicking on a beach, and Jackie sees a female figure (in silhouette) standing near the water. She runs over to the woman and they have an inaudible discussion. When she gleefully returns to Hilary, and is questioned about the exchange, she says merely, "She said everything would be okay." Only later do we learn the identity of the figure on the beach, and the fact that Jackie had premonitions of her own death. Creepy.

"Hilary and Jackie" should be required viewing for anyone with a shred of musical talent, or anyone who's ever known someone with a musical gift, or anyone who's ever been to a movie where the word "music" is uttered. It shows us the sheer brilliance that can stem from one person, and the love and support necessary for that one person to shine.

Also in theaters:

Anyone suffering from insomnia and searching for a quick remedy should shell out their money and head to a screening of "Playing by Heart" (). YAWN. This ensemble drama about people and their romantic foibles features an all-star cast that includes Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson, Dennis Quaid, Anthony Edwards and Angelina Jolie, but suffers from a painfully drawn-out script and a seemingly endless stream of scenes that end with audience members muttering, "And the point of that was...?" While there are some standout performances--Jolie is colorful as a club kid looking for love, and Jon Stewart is charming as an architect doing the same--the majority of the characters fall on the dull side, and their respective storylines aren't much better. You know it's a bad sign when people in the theater start to laugh during a scene that's intended to wring out tears, and I knew it was a bad sign when I checked my watch more often than I looked at the screen.

Vickie, a self-confessed movie addict, has spent the last few years working at an entertainment magazine in Canada. When she's not toiling away at her computer in the office, she's toiling away at her computer at home-- hacking away at unfinished screenplays and planning her acceptance speech for the Academy Awards.