Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

In select theaters
December 29^th 2017

106 minutes

English

United Kingdom

Based on Peter Turner’s memoir, the film follows the playful but passionate relationship between Turner (Jamie Bell) and the eccentric Academy Award®-winning actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) in 1978 Liverpool. What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme fatale and her young lover quickly grows into a deeper relationship, with Turner being the person Gloria turns to for comfort. Their passion and lust for life is tested to the limits by events beyond their control.

starring...

Jamie Bell

Peter Turner

Annette Bening

Gloria Grahame

Vanessa Redgrave

Jeanne McDougall

Julie Walters

Bella Turner

Stephen Graham

Joe Turner, Jr.

Leanne Best

Eileen

Peter Turner

Jack

Director

Paul McGuigan

Screenplay

Matt Greenhalgh

Memoir By

Peter Turner

Music

J. Ralph

Cinematography

Urszula Pontikos

Editing

Nick Emerson

Production Design

Eve Stewart

Producer

Barbara Broccoli, Colin Vaines

89% on the CINEMETER

BOCA

79% - Jan 7, 2018

Acting was superb, especially Jamie Bell!

Boca Raton Member

Annette Benning was priceless!
Boca Raton Member

Liked the novel way of moving you through the past and the present.
Boca Raton Member

Loved the musical pieces chosen for the scenes.
Boca Raton Member

Make-up (or lack of it) was excellent.
Boca Raton Member

A beautiful love story about a flawed woman who was afraid of aging.
Boca Raton Member

Very moving "Juliet" scene at the end.
Boca Raton Member

Enjoyed the old film footage and photographs
Boca Raton Member

79% - Dec 17, 2017

The best film we've seen this season. Stunningly good performances by Jamie Bell and Annette Bening, the cameo by Redgrave and brilliantly edited. Loved the use of Feliciano's version of "California Dreaming."
San Francisco Member

A touching look at love in its many forms.
San Francisco Member

A perfect twist on the May-December love story. I want a Jamie Bell in MY life! The Romeo/Juliet scene brought gobs of tears to my eyes. What does Annette Bening have to do to finally win an Oscar? [many similar observations about her performance.]
San Francisco Member

I loved the movie but had trouble understanding the accents [several similar comments.]
San Francisco Member

The performances made this movie - it could have been sentimental fluff but all the performances were terrific. Makes me want to watch some Gloria Grahame films...
San Francisco Member

STL

94% - Jan 7, 2018

Solid performances by Bening and Bell, although Bening lost the Grahame sultriness when she laughed, breaking the spell for me. Wonderful cinematography, the director did an amazing job framing unusual shots, Great use of lighting and darkness, for example in her bedroom. The music was also quite good and appropriate.

Beautiful, surprising film, I loved the Romeo/Juliet scene.

St. Louis Member

Annette Bening is truly a marvel. What moving performances by her and Jamie Bell.

A wonderful film.

Terrific acting, a lovely love story, The music was unusually imosing, bur really enhanced the story.
St. Louis Member

Art imitates life and art imitates art continuously in this poignant, affecting film. Evokes "Sunset Blvd," "The Glass Menagerie," "Streetcar." Annette Bening and Jamie Bell are perfect as an aging film star and her young lover fending off aging and death. Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Waters and Peter Turner are impressive in their roles.
St. Louis Member

It hit a little too close to home for me, but the film captures the feeling surrounding this tragic illness beautifully.
St. Louis Member

MIL

92% - Jan 7, 2018

Excellent! Heartbreaking.
Milwaukee Member

Love the inside look into the life of a Hollywood star.
Milwaukee Member

Deeply moving! It's been an excellent season!
Milwaukee Member

Excellent! Great season!
Milwaukee Member

ATL

94% - Jan 7, 2018

Annette Benning continues to deliver outstanding performances. Wow. We are not worthy... [MANY like this., and for Jamie Bell.]
Atlanta Member

I did not expect this film to be so tenderly romantic, but it was lovely. Annette Benning's version of Gloria Grahame has a worn but very potent charisma. She deftly shows us how being a genuine movie star can get in the way of being an honest, authentic human being. Jamie Bell holds his own against three women with riveting screen presence: Benning, Julie Walters, and Vanessa Redgrave. Not bad at all for a young man.
Atlanta Member

Where is the awards season talk about this film? Benning and Bell both phenomenal!
Atlanta Member

So beautiful! Beautiful on so many levels--the relationship between Gloria and Peter, with Peter's family, the natural lighting in the California and NYC scenes, the way the scenes transition between the "now" and the flashbacks. Lovely!
Atlanta Member

Superb! The shooting and editing was riveting. The acting on stage was the most touching gift Peter could have ever gien. Love it! Great music choices!
Atlanta Member

91% - Dec 17, 2017

A beautiful love story between a sweet, emotional young man and a self-centered, ego-driven movie star who doesn't become enlightened until the end of her life.
Greater New Haven Member

Loved the musical score. Wonderful movie. The flash back and forward in time was a wonderful tool to explain the scenes. Very moving family relationships as well as Gloria's relationship with Peter.
Greater New Haven Member

Tour de force! Beautiful, tragic, funny. Benning and Bell lead a wonderful cast. The portrayal of an aging actress is spot-on. Lovable characters.
Greater New Haven Member

A tearjerker that eaned the tears. So beautifully acted. And I always liked Gloria Grahame a lot. Odd in many ways, but unexpectedly moving.
Greater New Haven Member

Beautifully acted. Annette Bening is wonderful. Music was terrific, as was pacing. Exellent use of time lapse. Just a terrific movie all around.
Greater New Haven Member

Kept your attention from start to finish. Excellent in all categories.
Greater New Haven Member

I enjoyed the film very much, especially the fluency that the director had when changing time and space. Although the story was predictable, the way it was told was unique. [Similar comment: 'I loved the pacing of this film: how it bounced back and forth between the past and present and from one character's perspective to the other's perspective.']
Greater New Haven Member

Amazing acting! Annette Bening was ideal as Gloria. Beautiful movie (though painful to watch for me). Non-linear structure works because the year is given.
Greater New Haven Member

Two award-winning performances! [Note: numerous cards praising Bening, Bell or both, including predictions of Oscar nominations]
Greater New Haven Member

The most touching Romeo and Juliet scene I've ever seen. Great acting, superb casting, including Julie Walters and Vanessa Redgrave as the two mothers. Such a realistic portrayal of facing a serious illness and its impact on everyone: kindness, dilemmas, denial, loss.
Greater New Haven Member

Clone Jamie Bell, please. And thank you. Such a tender love story: real, passionate, and messy. The Romeo and Juliet scene was among the sweetest scenes I’ve ever seen. I was thinking 'Stella" and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE"... and then he yelled 'Stella!' Unlikely kindred souls. I loved the music too. Great ending to a fantastic film season. [Similar comment: ‘far and away the best of the season and perhaps the year.]
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

95% - Dec 17, 2017

Great movie. Beautifully done. A gem--touching and poignant.
Boston Member

Sweet love story of connection despite difference.
Boston Member

Well-done flashbacks. Enjoyed the technique of changing time and location through a door.
Boston Member

I loved Jamie Bell. Lovely view of a young man who had sensitivity way beyond his years. Superb acting by everyone, including the supporting roles.
Boston Member

Sensitive view of the impact of aging on a woman whose beauty defined her.
Boston Member

90% - Dec 17, 2017

The best Cinema Club movie in the past 2 years! Outstanding, moving, tender acting - beautiful wide angle photography.
Washington, DC Member

This is why I love the Cinema Club - I see great films that I likely would not choose to see on my own. Thank you!
Washington, DC Member

Wonderful film - the perfect ending for the best Cinema Club season, ever!
Washington, DC Member

This might be the role that gets Annette Benning her Oscar. And Jamie Bell was also terrific. It was a heartbreaking love story and the music was perfect.
Washington, DC Member

The chipped nail polish on her fingers - was this authentic or symbolic? Either way, it was perfection. The theme - older star and younger man (or star and younger woman) has never been done better. As vain and “Hollywood” as she was, the star had forged a genuine relationship with both the man and his Liverpool family. Wow - this was such a great film!
Washington, DC Member

I have really enjoyed the Cinema Club’s ongoing series “Sassy Annette Benning Films.”

(Being Julia, 20th Century Women, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool)
Washington, DC Member

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