Gwynnie is an original nepo baby, then went all goopy, and has become kind of a cliché rich white lady in recent days. But in between there somewhere, Gwyneth Paltrow had a solid frock flick career that earned her a Best Actress Oscar. So let’s review!
Rebecca in Shout (1991)
Young Wendy Darling in Hook (1991)
Paula Hunt in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Patsy Jefferson in Jefferson in Paris (1995)
Emma Woodhouse in Emma (1996)
Viola De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Marge Sherwood in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Sylvia Plath in Sylvia (2003)
Kitty Dean in Infamous (2006)
What’s your favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow’s historical costume movie roles?
I have to say that this version of “Emma” is my favorite. Exemplary cast, and even if Gwynnie’s gowns/hairstyles got the Hollywood treatment, the rest of the actors were in pretty period accurate clothes. And the script was just plain funny. Phyllida Law as Mrs Bates was a hoot stealing scenes with her facial expressions; having her daughter Sophie Thompson play Miss Bates was a genius touch. And Jeremy Northam – the perfect Knightly. Love, love, love this film. The funny thing is that I hated the character of Emma in the original novel – this performance here made her bearable. I didn’t particularly care for Kate Beckinsale’s interpretation, and as for the most recent version, those crunchy curls in the hairstyles make me want to throw something at the screen. Hated Gwyneth’s spoiled brat character in “Jefferson in Paris,” couldn’t understand why she got an Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love,” which was a good film, but her performance wasn’t * that * brilliant, but I suppose it was Harvey Weinstein’s campaigning that got the Academy voters on board. The only other one of her performances that I really liked was in “Possession,” but it was Jennifer Ehle wearing the gorgeous Pre-Raphaelite inspired clothes in that one. As for the other films, I haven’t seen them. She’s turned into this insufferable marmite type of personality – you either love her or hate her, and I don’t go out of my way to pay to see any of her work. I’d completely forgotten she was in those Marvel movies, which quite frankly I only see for the original Cap and AntMan.
I’m amazed you consider Shakespeare in Love a romantic movie. I – and all my friends, who love it as I do – consider it as (a) comedy about the professional theatre, the impossibility of ever getting a production on stage, the massive colliding egos of everyone in the business, etc; and (b) an extended practical joke played on Ms Paltrow.
Perhaps it’s the difference between the American and British mindset?
It’s all of the above!
I enjoy (1) mocking Paltrow and (2) her performance in “Jefferson in Paris” as T.J.’s daughter-wife. She was very good as Patsy and, as I recall, had the 18th-century American-girl-in-Paris vibe down. Stiff little thing, trying to be perfect for Papa.
Always thought she was cardboard. The only films I ever tolerated her in was Sliding Doors & Austin Powers: Gold member. & when throughout the years that you get told that you look like her – the cringe is even worse. lol Just my humble opinion, of course.
I still love her in Emma and Shakespeare in Love.