I love Susan Sarandon but I don't think she was cast correctly. Duke was far more blue-blood/arch and totally bonkers eccentric.
They should have given the role to a real risk-taker, maybe an actress from the British theater. I would have loved to have seen Fiona Shaw or someone like that in the role.
I too love Susan Sarandon, but this film was a stinker! Lauren Bacall and Richard Chamberlain did a much better and truer representation of the life of Doris Duke and were believable. Much has been said about the content of the film and the fear the producers had with regard to lawsuits. However, the Bacall/Chamberlain edition did accurately depict Chandi Hefner Duke, Doris Duke's mistake with regard to Chandi Hefner Duke, her adopted adult daughter who came away from the probate of Doris's will with $65 million dollars. I'm thinking this is who the producers'feared litigation from.
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I agree, I think that is biggest problem with the piece, besides the limited script. I understood that Doris lived in Hawaii and the West more, they could have showed those houses more than showcase Westbury Gardens, which is the Guest house, right? Ralph Fiennes is okay, creepy as always but not virile enough (he can be macho gay like Bernard appeared to be) to impress a real Doris, who saw the world. I would have liked a real theater lady as others suggest who would get Doris's peccadillos better. I frankly thought Susan didn't get her at all and just treated it like a layup. Susan's politics perhaps prevent her from true appreciation of the madness of one of the last queens we had. The whole orchid scenes were really lame.
shareDid we watch the same movie?
shareSarandon was way too young for the part, not to say that a younger actress can't play an older part, but Sarandon apparently chose to play the character way too young. The only other option is Sarandon wasn't chosing to play the character too young, but instead doesn't have the acting talent to play the part properly.
But the script was pretty bland, certainly not one of Fiennes better portrayals either. All in all - horrible.
I disagree. I didn't read the book and don't know anything about Doris Duke, so I am basing my opinion entirely on the movie at face value. I thought Susan Sarandon was mesmerizing and that they had a special relationship.
I think that (in this movie at least) Doris asked him to help her die, because she had too much pride to go on living that way. That is why she was giving him special looks that last evening when he was giving her her medicine.
I think that HBO is the perfect venue for this movie--it is top quality, but it would probably get squashed at the box office by action movies, etc.
To the person who said that Ms. Sarandon doesent have the acting ability...
My opinion is pretty much shot because Susan is my favorite actress but are there any other people who find that poster incredibly wrong??
Susan has more talent in one finger than in most actresses today have you seen any of her other movieS??
Most people started seeing her roles as oh she can only act on her looks but she proved them wrong with Thelma and Louise, Dead Man Walking, lorenzo's Oil, ect. so i think you terribly mistaken she has the talent but i wouldent have wanted to see a HUGE age difference between Bernard and Doris anyway
Susan:I think I stay an actor b'cuz you can't get it right.So there is a challenge to it.
Miss Sarandon was not only perfectly cast, her mannered and nuanced performance is sure to elicit an Emmy nomination.
shareI think Helen Mirren would have been a lot more suitable for this role.
I love Susan Sarandon very much, but she is quite down to earth for this role.
Susan was mesmerizing, a fantastic choice for the part.
Would LOVE to see Helen Mirren in a non-fiction depiction of Doris Duke! Wonderful, wonderful idea.
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Susan Sarandon should never have taken this part I believe this movie went right to TV is was a flop. They need the old actresses for this role someone who plays a drunk well.....years ago Tallulah Banhead would have been great!
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I love Susan Sarandon but I don't think she was cast correctly.