Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool showcases brilliant work from Annette Bening, whose performance is more than enough to outweigh this biopic's basic narrative. Read critic reviews
Play all videos
What to know
You might also like
See More
Get On Up
The Happy Prince
Professor Marston & the Wonder Women
At Eternity's Gate
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Where to watch
Rate And Review
-
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
-
Fandango
-
AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
-
Cinemark Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Regal Coming Soon
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
-
Theater box office or somewhere else
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool videos
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool: Trailer 1
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool Photos
Movie Info
Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame finds romance and happiness with a younger man, but her life changes forever when she is diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1970s.
-
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity|Some Sexual Content)
-
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Romance
-
Original Language: English
-
Director: Paul McGuigan
-
Producer: Barbara Broccoli, Colin Vaines
-
Writer: Matt Greenhalgh
-
Release Date (Theaters): limited
-
Release Date (Streaming):
-
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
-
Runtime:
-
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
-
Production Co: Eon Productions Ltd., Synchronistic Pictures
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Critic Reviews for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Audience Reviews for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
-
A middle-aged American actress (Annette Benning) turns to her young ex-lover (Jamie Bell) and his family in Liverpool when her health problems take a turn for the worse. Oh and by the way, the actress is screen legend Gloria Grahame, and the film is based on the real-life memoir of her lover, Peter Turner. Told in flashbacks and memories, director Paul McGuigan keeps the pace of the film up, which helps offset the depressing aspects of the story, which of course involves the inevitable decay to the body, even with those immortalized as such bright stars in the universe of movies. The scene of an argument the pair have, shown first from his perspective and then later from hers, is excellent. It reminds us to consider that there may be all sorts of things in another person's thoughts that may explain their actions which we don't understand. The scene where the pair go on the stage of an old empty theater to recite from 'Romeo and Juliet' is very touching. It reminds us that the romance and feelings of one's heart don't disappear, even if the skin wrinkles and looks fade. Benning received accolades for her performance and is certainly solid, displaying a lot of range and honesty, but I'm not sure if she quite captures Gloria Grahame. Bell is fine too, particularly in scenes with his family, where we see the moral force of his parents (Julie Walters and Kenneth Cranham), as well as his wonderfully combative brother (Stephen Graham). The film is not meant as a complete biography by any means, focusing on these last few years of her life and her relationship with this young actor, but at the same time, it would have been nice to see more clips from her films, even if they had been just interspersed with the credits rolling. All in all though, it's a touching film whether you know Gloria Grahame or not.
-
GRAHAME CRACKERS - My Review of FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (2 1/2 Stars) Couldn't get enough of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN? Fear not. FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, directed by Paul McGuigan (LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN), written by Matt Greenhalgh (CONTROL) based on the memoir by Peter Turner, is the turgid melodrama you've been craving! Starring Annette Bening as Academy Award winner Gloria Grahame and Jamie Bell as Turner, the film traces their unlikely year affair at the end of her life. Grahame, whose fame peaked in the 40s and 50s, won an Oscar for her record 9 minutes of screen time in 1952's THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in and also appeared in such films as IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, OKLAHOMA!, IN A LONELY PLACE and THE BIG HEAT. She spoke in a breathy, Monroe-esque voice, conforming to the expected gender norms of the time, but, like Marilyn, she carried great sadness and a healthy dose of smarts. By the late 70s, film roles were few and far between for her, with occasional roles on TV in RICH MAN, POOR MAN and KOJAK. It was around this time that Gloria, now cash depleted, moved to London to appear in a play, and lived next to Turner, a working class actor, in a cheap theatrical boarding house. Initially friends, the two grew closer and closer, despite their nearly 30 year age difference. Over the years, Grahame would find herself welcomed by Turner's parents, played here by Kenneth Cranham and Bell's BILLY ELLIOT co-star, Julie Walters in their Liverpool home. Gloria and Peter's time together would include stays in L.A. and New York City, where they would share love and intense arguments. Despite their differences, Grahame, who ignored a cancer diagnosis, returned to Liverpool in her final days to be with the family who meant so much to her. The film seems to be about so many things. How play-acting can be both a comfort and a road to ruin. The lies we tell ourselves and others to get through each day. The way sexism and ageism creeps into relationships and can also crush a career. How one can choose their true family. All of this comes through in the film and it's not without its merits. First and foremost is the gorgeous look provided by cinematographer Urszula Pontikos (WEEKEND). The film feels like it takes place in some technicolor fever dream inside Gloria's mind with its heightened, glowing color schemes and classic, Old Hollywood sensibility. Shot entirely in England, the beautiful rear projections, especially of L.A. beaches and New York streets, add to the sense of make believe at the core of its story. Production Designer Eve Stewart (THE KING'S SPEECH) also creates wonderful, vivid spaces for the actors to inhabit. That Bening delivers another great turn comes as no surprise. It feels like she's been working towards this performance her entire career. At the screening I attended, she said that Gloria Grahame inspired one her her earliest roles in THE GRIFTERS. It's easy to understand how Bening could relate to Grahame. Both delivered sexy, glamorous performances in their younger years and both have had to navigate careers decades later, where Hollywood STILL doesn't know what to do with women of a certain age. I hope, hope, hope that Bening wins an Oscar one day, because she's a national treasure, but after losing twice to Hilary Swank and not even being nominated for her stellar performance in 20TH CENTURY WOMEN last year, it doesn't look promising that this role will be the one to do it. Please don't stop trying, Annette. You're loved. The real revelation, however, is Bell. Now 31, he has aged really well and carries so much emotion and gravity in his face. A disco dancing scene between him and Bening early on shows a dynamism I haven't seen from him before, and he has a wonderful, sweet chemistry with Bening. With his palpable sadness, if they ever do a movie version of the musical, BLOOD BROTHERS, Bell would be ideal as the twins. I also loved some of the music choices, including a lovely, old Elton John instrumental called "Song For Guy" and a fantastic new song called "You Shouldn't Look At Me That Way" written for the film by Elvis Costello. If this film gets any Academy love, it could go towards that song. Unfortunately, it's a dull film filled with a plethora of awkward silences and pauses. It's also a shame that the main characters' bisexuality gets a passing mention, never to be spoken of again. As a chronicle of a woman struggling in an industry and in a world where older woman get thrown to the trash heap, I liked its central premise. It also has a cinematic way of presenting the juggled timelines, and in one sequence, the point of view shifts so show you the heartbreaking choices Gloria made in order to save another soul from a life of regret. Still, it's an obvious, soap opera moment, further underlining that this film just isn't that special. It's lovely, wonderfully performed, and has something interesting to say about gender, but in the end, it's a somewhat listless, three-hankie weepie that we've all seen before.
glenn g Super Reviewer
Verified