Beau Brummell: This Charming Man...

[fajrdrako]

At last I saw Beau Brummell: This Charming Man, thanks to auriaephiala. It's a 2006 historical biography of the Regency fashion mogul Brummell: anyone who has ever been a fan of Regency romance probably knows about him.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. It isn't exactly serious history: it was played for effect. It's the story of three men named George who have a sort of haut ton love triangle going on: George Brummell: George Gordon, Lord Byron; and George the Prince Regent. The Prince is possessive of Brummell as his friend, but Brummell and Byron are attracted to each other, and Brummell is careless about the Prince's feelings. There's something of the schoolyard about it, overlaid with real adult emotions.

And by gum, it is all slashy in the extreme. Nothing subtle about this. No men kissing men, but all sorts of seething emotions and scenes that were casual in their intimacy.

And I have a thing for Regency costume.

1. Philip Davis was magnificent. I've seen him in a couple of things recently - in villainous roles. He was Smallweed in Bleak House and Lucius in the Doctor Who episode "The Fall of Pompeii". He has a very striking face.
   
   And here, he wasn't a villain, but an odd fourth corner on the love triange. He played Brummell's Master Servant Robinson, a delghtfully unservile valet, cook and overseer who clearly loved Brummell, bullying him, helping him, and fighting him. Their violent confrontation is the climax of the movie.
   
   
2. Matthew Rhys was less impressive as Lord Byron. I suspect the fault is with the direction rather than the actor; this Byron is charming and mischievous, but not bad or mad or dangerous to know; I had no sense of Byron's strong character or poetic genius. Most aspects of his life are passed over or given in brief exposition. Still, a scene in which Brummell and Byron make up a threesome with a willing woman made me think of a similar scene in Highlander with Byron, Methos, and Mary Shelly. This Byron was better cast, but not better portrayed.
   
   
3. Hugh Bonneville as the Prince Regent was perfect.
   
   
4. The movie was charmingly lurid but I would have liked a little more depth, or sensitivity, or insight. I suppose it would be wrong to find psychological intricacies in Brummell's lifestyle: he fell into it, and fell prey to certain habits of his time, like excess gambling. Having lived by his wits, he thought his luck would hold. It's hard to make such a situation profound. But... I wanted something more. The impression is that Brummell loved Byron - but Byron then disappeared for a good part of the movie and Brummell didn't seem to notice. I would have liked to have known too why the Prince Regent chose Brummell as a friend, and how it happened.
   
   
5. Beautiful sets and costuming; I particularly loved Brummell's house.
   
   
6. I was confused as to who Julia was.
   
   
7. I loved the way there was no attempt to make the Regency period look prim and proper, as in Jane Austen. This was a different level of society where men could be drunken and lecherous boors with impunity.
   
   
8. Loved the scenes of Brummell getting dressed with an audience, and not just because James Purefoy looks good naked. He also looks good in Regency clothing. But I'm not sure I really admire his acting.
   
   
9. I want more movies like this. One of my favourite historical eras, with at least one of my favourite historical characters, and attractive men making eyes at each other. Bring it on.
   

Comments

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

You've heard about what happened at the TW Con? Right? If not ...
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brianjuergens/hilarious-randy-torchwood-makeout-system-pics?&comment=56499

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Heard about it, but hadn't seen that link. Thank you - what a treat!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

That's an excellent review of this movie. I rented it just because Purefoy played Brummel and I'm a sucker for Regency fashion but I thought that it did a good job of showing the Regency, warts and all. There were a lot of huge gaps in the story (as you pointed out) as in why the Brummel enjoyed the Prince's favor and how he really lost it. I also wondered at the homoerotic subtext and thought that if the actor playing Byron had been better or had been given better lines, it would have given the movie a lot more depth. Still, Purefoy naked. There is no bad there.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That's an excellent review of this movie.

Thank you!

I rented it just because Purefoy played Brummel and I'm a sucker for Regency fashion

Well, yes. On both counts. Purefoy in Regency costume. I could take more of that.

I thought that it did a good job of showing the Regency, warts and all.

Much more than we normally see.

I also wondered at the homoerotic subtext and thought that if the actor playing Byron had been better or had been given better lines, it would have given the movie a lot more depth.

Agreed. Byron was such an intense and dramatic man, it seems a shame to waste that by making him seem so normal. He wasn't just another Regency aristocrat, he was a legend and a personality. Perhaps they didn't want him to overshadow Brummell too much? In any case, since Byron was the catalyst for the developments of the plot, it seemed a disservice to the movie, not to mention the man.

Still, Purefoy naked. There is no bad there.

Egad, so true. The man does naked well.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

What what what!???

*ORDERS IMMEDIATELY!!!*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Watch. Enjoy.

[boji.livejournal.com]

Oh I loved, loved, loved this! As you may remember, & as 2 squee posts and 1 fanfic (http://boji.livejournal.com/tag/brummell) attest. Tell me it's out on sell through will you?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

auriaephiala bought a commercial DVD copy of copy of Brummell; I don't know where she got it. I plan to buy is a.s.a.p. - I see it's on amazon (http://www.amazon.ca/Beau-Brummell-This-Charming-Man/dp/B00180IPQM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1224986526&sr=8-2).

I missed your reviews when you posted them; I'll go read them now. I did read your fic, even though I hadn't seen the movie yet when I did, and I loved it. What a great bunch of men to play with.