All Flash, No Heart: CRUELLA

I continue to enjoy Disney’s foray into recreating all their popular animated film into live action versions, but there’s always been something about 101 Dalmatians or  One Hundred and One Dalmatians that I never liked and I’m not sure why. I’ve never even seen the Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels version, and I’ve only seen the original 1961 animated version maybe twice?  Which seems strange considering how many times I’ve seen The Aristocats and Lady and the Tramp.  Cruella De Vill is certainly a good villain, up there with Edgar, the greedy butler from The Aristocats or the Dog Catcher out for Tramp, yet I have never been drawn to this Disney classic.

Therefore, my thoughts on the movie prequel – CRUELLA are not based on a feeling that they ruined something about the character or that the backstory doesn’t fit, it’s simply that the story is lackluster. At least up until young orphaned Estella becomes the fabulous and vengeful Cruella (no last name until later), and even then, it’s spotty (pun intended).  All the elements are there, a talented but troubled young heroine with no father, and a murdered mother; an heirloom, small band of other orphans who teach her how to get good at petty crimes to survive; and a dream – to be a fashion designer.

Emma Stone does her best, the bits where Cruella is pulling off a media event to upstage The Baroness aka The Devil Wears Prada knock off (Emma Thompson) are very entertaining, but there’s not enough of that energy to sustain the entire movie.  What does fuel the picture is the hair, makeup and COSTUMES!!!  Designed by Jenny Beavan.  I haven’t seen this much dress porn since Phantom Thread (click for T&T Review)…

Costume designer Jenny Beavan, OBE, came into the project with firsthand knowledge of the era. “I remember the fun of it. It was an exciting time in clothing and music,” says Beavan, reflecting fondly on the period’s fashion: hefty lace-up boots, trousers with flowers purchased for three pounds a pair from Kensington Market. But unlike Cruella, Beavan didn’t have her eye on a career in fashion back then… READ MORE

Emma Thompson alone had 33 looks in the film. Beavan can’t remember how many different costumes Stone wore, “but it was a ridiculous number. It could have even been in the 70s.” Add to that several enormous crowd and ball scenes with 150–200 background characters to dress, and even an accomplished professional like Beavan was daunted. Thankfully, the film’s planned 10-week prep period stretched into 16 after Emma Stone hurt her shoulder—an injury for which, Beavan said, “I blessed her on a daily basis.” READ MORE

Jenny Beavan (Mad Max: Fury Road, A Room with a View) certainly had her work cut out for her. Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution. Bevan – To be honest, it was enormous fun. I won’t say it was easy. We had a ridiculously short prep time. I did have a complete moment of terror and panic about whether I could ever do it, but remembered the wise words of a colleague who said to do it in bite-sized chunks rather than trying to do all at once, which is always good for anybody to know. The whole story is so rich and you’re given such an opportunity. 

T&T @LAMB rating: 3 outta 5