BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

UK, 2000, 86 minutes, Colour.
Rachel Weisz, Susan Lynch, Iain Glen, Maurice Roeves, Alex Norton.
Directed by Bill Eagles.

Beautiful Creatures is an oddball dark comedy. It was directed by television director Bill Eagles and written by playwright Simon Donald (The Life of Stuff). It is very anti-men.

The film focuses on two young woman, both brutalised by their boyfriends. When one of the men is accidentally killed, the two women have to hide the body. Complications arise with one of the dead man’s brothers, a rich businessman, taking the absence of his brother personally. They concoct a blackmail scheme as if they had abducted the body. Enter a police inspector, who wants to take advantage of one of the women and also of their money. There is a violent confrontation – that beggars belief.

Rachel Weisz and Susan Lynch are full of energy as the two women. Iain Glen, better known for his stage performances, overacts completely. Maurice Roeves is also a contender in the overacting stakes. Alex Norton (the captain of the ship in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men’s Chest) is more credibly sinister. The film has British settings and a British tone, understatement in the themes, despite the acting.

1.The impact of the film? For men in the audience? Women in the audience? A women’s film – made by men?

2.The settings, the town, the apartments, the streets, the waterfront? Authentic? Musical score?

3.The title, the reference to Dorothy and Petula? The ironic touch – especially with the opinions of the men?

4.The focus on Dorothy, her relationship with her boyfriend, his brutality? The train sequence, Tony and his wanting his golf clubs? His coming back to the flat, taking the clubs? The contrast with Petula, her boyfriend, the car, his violence? Dorothy seeing this and coming to her rescue?

5.Dorothy defending Petula, killing her boyfriend? Taking the body, having it at home? Decisions where to put it? The issue of the abduction, the blackmail? The visit of the inspector? His coming into the house, shooting the body in the bed? The arrival of Ronnie? His anger, Tony and his presence, the mutual shootings?

6.The character of Dorothy, her love for Tony, the arguments, the golf clubs? His brutal treatment and language? Her injuring him, his return? The gun, wanting in on the scheme? Petula stabbing him? His being behind the door, shooting Ronnie? His death? A brutal man? The comparisons with Brian, his treatment of Petula? Ronnie, in the office, wealth, his concern about his brother? His arriving in the apartment, confronting the policeman, shooting the gun – but no bullets? His death?

7.The police officer, seeming on the job, his scheme, advances on Petula, wanting the money? His death?

8.Dorothy and Petula, their personalities, their mutual support, handling of the situation? Their friendship, doing Petula’s hair? Petula going to the office, handling the police? Her finally being chained to the wall, her escape?

9.The money, the women getting it, on the train? Their managing – a future?