Title:
Cousin Bette
Released: 1998
Genre: Comedy
/ Drama
Runtime: 108 min
Country: USA /
UK
Language: English
Tagline:
Who knew deception, treachery and revenge could be
this much fun...
Plot
Summary: Jessica Lange stars as Cousin
Bette, a poor and lonely seamstress, who, after the
death of her prominent and wealthy sister, tries to
ingratiate herself into lives of her brother-in-law,
Baron Hulot (Hugh Laurie, and her niece, Hortense
Hulot (Kelly MacDonald). Failing to do so, she instead
finds solace and company in a handsome young sculptor
(Aden Young) she saves from starvation. But the aspiring
artist soon finds love in the arms of another woman,
Hortense, leaving Bette a bitter spinster. Bette plots
to take revenge on the family who turned her away
and stole her only love. With the help of famed courtesan
Jenny Cadine (Elisabeth Shue) she slowly destroys
the lives of those who have scorned her.
Comments:
This
is a great version of a classic French novel. Cousin
Bette is a very good 1840's period peice (as I am
not a fan usually of period peices)where yes a miscast
Jessica Lange who is strikingly beautiful at the age
of 48 when she filmed this movie plays a spinster
who has a family of backstabbers who treat her barely
above the servants in attitude and her character taking
advantage of certain situtions that come to light
that help her reverse her finacinal and living arrangement
woes.I don't like to give spoilers as this movie is
a fun " Black Comedy" and to give away too
much detail spoils this film for people who haven't
had the experince of watching it. Jessica Lange is
great as Cousin Bette yet an older uglier actress
would've played the role more convincingly. But in
that day and age if you were as old as Ms Lange character
was an unmarried then you were doomed for love as
her character portrays, so I guess really she isn't
that miscast. Elisabeth Shue finally has done another
good movie since Leaving Las Vegas and actually can
hold a note suprisingly.
Cast
overview:
Jessica Lange .... Mlle. Elisabeth 'Bette' Fisher
Elisabeth Shue .... Jenny Cadine
Bob Hoskins .... Cesar Crevel
Hugh Laurie .... Baron Hector Hulot
Aden Young .... Count Wenceslas Steinbach
Kelly Macdonald .... Hortense Hulot
Toby Stephens .... Victorin Hulot
Jefferson Mays .... Stidmann
Geraldine Chaplin .... Adeline Hulot
John Benfield .... Dr. Bianchon
Paul Bandey .... Priest
Laura Fraser .... Mariette, the Servant
Janie Hargreaves .... Célestine
Gillian Martell .... Portress
John Sessions .... Musical Director
Movie
scenes preview:
Scene #1
Scene
Description:
Elisabeth Shue posing topless for a sculptor, her right
breast cupped in her hand and her left breast slightly
covered by her hair.
featured
actress:
