Grey Gardens - Drew Barrymore Ascends Throne

What a delightfully strange and well acted biography of the Bouvier clan. The lead characters played by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange are fodder for rich and layered performances.

The writers Michael Sucsy and Patricia Rozema deliver a complex story with interesting and odd ball characters. Director Michael Sucsy (Katherine) does an excellent job of bringing us up close and personal view of these off the wall characters.

The story is about the residents of Grey Gardens, a house built around the turn of the century, and the Beale's who lived there for decades.
Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale, Jessica Lange, and her daughter Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, Drew Barrymore, were the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The story is told in the cinema verite style with characters telling their own story. Grey Gardens is a place full of music and dance with Big Edie and Little Edie putting on performances for all their family and friends. This Bohemian lifestyle is too much for Big Edie's husband Phelan Beale and he leaves his wife with the house and a modest allowance to live on.

The mother and daughter pair continue to live an extravagant and theatrical life until Phelan Beale dies and they are left with little money. Big Edie and Little Edie live a symbiotic life with both dependant on each other emotionally. Grey Gardens becomes shabby and in ill repair over the years. The pair continue to live their odd life style and the house is overrun with cats, raccoons and fleas and they are without running water or electricity. They have no money. The interior of the house now is as shabby as the outside and they live in squalid conditions. The conditions are brought to national attention by an article in the National Enquirer. This event brings the Suffolk County Health Department to inspect and they condemn Grey Gardens. Fortunately, Jacqueline Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill provided the necessary funds to refurbish and repair the dilapidated house.

The attention brings two documentary film makers Albert and David Maysles who are interested in their story and they film a documentary about the women. Both Big Edie and Little Edie tell their own stories for the camera. This documentary was released in 1976 and received many accolades.

Drew Barrymore is superb in her portrayal of Little Edie. It is her best dramatic performance, to date and deserves all the awards for which she has been nominated. Her performance is stellar and she gives us a eccentric and energetic character. Jessica Lange also gives a tour de force performance and delivers another textured and odd ball character.

Grey Gardens may not be your cup of tea. It is an odd and convoluted story. It is a must see movie just to watch Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange deliver an education in acting and bringing their characters to life. Grey Gardens will be remembered not only as an intriguing story, but also for Drew Barrymore's ascension to the throne she was left by her ancestors.

Dirk Bristol is a freelance writer with varied interests. One interest is a passion with movies. The author is a traffic school and health expert. You can check out his latest new website Dog Food Comparisons-Reviews and see the best selection of Artemis Dog Food available.