The Cat's Meow

  • Review Date: April 27, 2003
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2002
 Review

Common Sense Media says

This story about a possible murder isn't for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that adultery is a theme of the movie and frequently discussed. A character is shot, possibly accidentally. Characters smoke, drink (illegally) and briefly use drugs. The movie has strong language and sexual situations (not explicit).

  • Shooting.
  • Frequent sexual references and situations, including adultery
  • Some strong language

What's the story?

Set in the 1920s, THE CAT'S MEOW centers on a scandal involving powerful newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst (Edward Hermann). When Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes), one of Hollywood's biggest filmmakers and the creator of Western movies, dies after a visit to Hearst's yacht, the incident is officially recorded and reported in Hearst's newspapers as "natural causes." But rumors circulate. In flashbacks, we see guests arrive on the yacht, including writer Elinor Glyn (Joanna Lumley), Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard), and Hearst's longtime mistress actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst). The movie presents the most popular rumor about that day and the cause of Ince's death.


Is it any good?

 

Peter Bogdanovich's movie is a loving recreation of a classic era for the film industry, with impeccable performances by Eddie Izzard as Charlie Chaplin. Izzard has one of the most difficult challenges an actor can face -- portraying someone whose face and manner are so well documented that they will be familiar to many viewers. Izzard evokes Chaplin; he does not impersonate him. And he gives us a portrait of Chaplin that is rich, complex, and intimate. We see the genius, the charm, the discipline in some things and lack of discipline in others, the neediness, and the self-awareness.

As sensational novelist Elinor Glyn, Joanna Lumley delivers devastating commentary with scrumptious bite, timed down to the nanosecond. Edward Hermann and Kirsten Dunst are also memorable. Bogdanovich's mistake is in thinking that everyone is naturally as fascinated with the story and the era as he is, and so he does not have to do any work to draw the audience into the story. For that reason, it all comes across as a little too precious and distant.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how the 1920's differ from current times – and how they were the same. Who is most like Hearst today? Why was Davies so important to Hearst? Why was she so important to Chaplin? What was important to her?


This review was written by Nell Minow

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Lionsgate
Director:Peter Bogdanovich
Cast:Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Tilly, Kirsten Dunst
Genre:Drama
Run time:112 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 12, 2002
DVD release date:August 20, 2002
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:language, sexual references, and violence

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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