CATWOMAN
US, 2004, 104 minutes, Colour.
Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Lambert Wilson.
Directed by Pitoff.
After her appearance in Die, Another Day, her Oscar for Monster’s Ball and her being one of the stars of the two X Men movies, everything was possible for Halle Berry. She appeared in the psychological horror film, Gothika, which received a mixed response, and then went on to Catwoman, which did not get a mixed response. The response was generally negative.
Catwoman is a rather flashy show, directed by Pitoff, a Frenchman who was a set designer on the films of Jeunet and Caro, like City of Lost Children. He has a taste for the exotic. However, the screenplay is not really exotic. The credits remind us of the sacred images of cats, especially in ancient Egypt and we remember that this has been popular at least since Cat People, with many variations. However, the mythology is only alluded to and the real role of Catwoman is to right some wrongs, especially in the cosmetics company where she has worked as an artist. Her target is the owner, the arrogant and womanising boss (Lambert Wilson). We know, however, that she should beware of his wife (Sharon Stone), the past face of the company but whose face and character have literally hardened like marble because of the destructive chemicals in the product that is being heavily promoted.
When the cat takes over Halle, she can become just like Spiderman, confident, agile, saviour of the city. When she comes to, she is more like a glamorously diffident Peter Parker. She needs her friends (rather camp) for support as well as the detective who stumbles into her life (Benjamin Bratt). Since Spiderman is successful in portraying the psychological struggles of Peter Parker, there was no reason why Catwoman could not. But it doesn’t, leaving a good-looking but rather flat story until the inevitable showdown between Sharon and Halle.
1.Critical response to the film, negative? Audience response?
2.The film as a Halle Berry vehicle? Halle Berry’s reputation at this time? Glamour? The Oscar?
3.The comic-strip foundation of the characters, heroics? Clash between good and evil? The visuals of the confrontations, costumes and décor, the devices for the style of the film, cameras speeding up, hand-held camera chases? The often camp style of the visuals and performance?
4.The themes of cats, the origins in Egyptian mythology, women and cats, symbols of life and death, sexuality?
5.The American city, the cityscapes, the opening and the environment? The city at night? Offices and shops, police precincts? The factories? The musical score and the evocative theme?
6.Patience as an ordinary young woman, commercial artist, advertising, her secretary friend, Sally? Her diffidence, George’s criticism, her being eager to please? Her acquiescing in the loud musing in the adjoining apartment? The irony of her name, Patience Philips?
7.The theme of age and beauty, Beauline and its being manufactured, beauty, reversing the ageing process? The irony of its side effects, Laura and her face of stone? The press conference, the publicity, the hopes for profits?
8.George as ruthless, his relationship with Laura, the brittle marriage, mutual taunting? The acid tones that he took, blasting Patience? Her response? The later aggressive Patience, his firing her? The new model, substituting her for his wife? His being killed?
9.The cat on the window sill, Patience going out on the ledge and rescuing it, Tom and his interpretation that she was trying to commit suicide? The rescue, his coming to her office, the setting up of the date?
10.Sally, the man working, gender issues, sexual innuendo? Sally, using Beauline, going to the hospital, her flirting with the doctor? Patience stopping her using the product?
11.The scientist, the difficulties with the product, people becoming addicted, the side effects? George and his wanting the money? Laura persuading the security guards to kill the scientist? The situation for Patience delivering the artwork? Overhearing the conversation? The pursuit, the water, her drowning? The irony of the opening with Patience talking about her life changing on the day of her death?
12.Her drowning, the cat, the light, surviving, the many cats coming to her, her awakening? Her acting like a cat immediately, the leaps? The personality change and her becoming more assertive? The address of Ophelia Powers, taking the catnip, her discussions with Ophelia and not wanting accept that she was a cat? Her being sacked, the relationship with Tom, the basketball game, her leaps? Her behaviour at home? The confrontation of the party-goers and the loud music, the fight and her violence?
13.The return visit to Ophelia Powers, the lore of Egypt, the duality of the cat and the woman, care and ferociousness? The seeking of the killers, her dressing in leather, freedom and not being bound? Her attacking the security guard after the dance in the bar (and the S&M overtones)?
14.Tom, the date, rescuing the child with the ferris wheel? Her continuing her cat crusade, the death of George, the investigation, Tom and his suspicions, the robbery in the jewellery store, Patience thwarting it, leaving the message – and the comparisons of the writing of “Sorry”?
15.The confrontation with Laura, Laura warning her, going to the theatre, the chase in the theatre, George and the girlfriend, her disliking the piece? The escape, Tom and his pursuit?
16.Putting Patience in prison, her escape, the final fight with Laura, Laura and her hard face, her death? Tom and his appearing on the scene, saving Catwoman, urging Patience to go back to jail?
17.The final voice-over, her new life the day she died, her not being able to relate to Tom – and her crusade for the future, against evil?
