An exclusive inside look at the BFI London Film Festival screening of the new Harmony Korine movie, ‘Mister Lonely’ and the Norfolk star, Melita Morgan, giving a first class performance as Madonna.The Odeon Leicester Square in London opened it’s doors to an array of stars for Mister Lonely directed by Californian mastermind Harmony Korine. Crowds gathered along side the red carpet hours before the scheduled screening to catch a glimpse of the star studied cast that grace the movie.
Diego Luna Samantha Morton Denis Lavant, Anita Pallenberg and Norfolk’s Melita Morgan were amongst the expected guests to accompany director Harmony Korine at a packed theatre. The eagerly awaited film is one of Harmony’s most powerful and compelling cinematic creations to date with comedy, twists, real life drama situations all cleverly rolled into one.
Making her debut international silver screen appearance was the golden girl of Norfolk, Melita Morgan that stunned the crowd with a dazzling gown that was sponsored by Love Couture of Norwich. Melita strolled effortlessly across the entrance to an array of camera flashes and made time for fans and media. Norwich born Melita was approached by film chiefs to play a principle role as a madonna impersonator sometime last year.
Harmony led the cast onto the stage with his wife Rachel Korine (that plays little red riding hood in the movie) in front of an excited audience to rapturous applause. Some of the world wide reviews the movie had gained were read out just before the curtains opened. One by one Harmony’s carefully chosen dream cast, as described by a fan in the audience, stepped up on stage to a seemingly continuos applause of approval. It was obvious that the selected actors weren’t bought together by chance and it was Harmony’s creative genius that instigated the winning formula. ‘The casting audition was a long drawn out character breakdown’ explained Melita Morgan that plays Madonna in the film ‘It was a thorough and tough schedule that tested my acting abilities to the extreme, anyone that has worked with Harmony Korine would know exactly what I mean’
Diego Luna stars as an innocent Michael Jackson impersonator who is completely besotted by the character he portrays to the extent that he believes he is actually that person. A dramatic display of Michael Jackson high-kicks and manoeuvres with outstanding sound edits introduce Diego Luna in a Paris park. The element of black comedy is quickly introduced at the beginning of the film and is a trend that follows throughout the movie that creates the laughs amongst underlining sadness and tragedy. This amazing story unfolds when Michael meets a Marilyn Monroe impersonator ‘Samantha Morton’ at an old peoples home, who then persuades him to join her in a commune of impersonators in the Scottish highlands.
The scenery surrounding a castle and musical scores are breathtaking and deserve high rating status alone. It is here that Michael gets to know the other impersonators, including Marilyn’s obsessive husband Charlie Chaplin – ‘Denis Lavant’, her daughter Shirley Temple, Madonna – ‘Melita Morgan’ The Queen – ‘Anita Pallenberg’, The Pope – ‘James Fox’ – and Abraham Lincoln ‘Richard Strange’ The charming and talented Denis Levant demonstrates some superb acting in his challenging role, when I asked him what it was like working with Harmony and what were his views on the movie at the after show gathering he simply smiled rolled a cigarette and replied “très bon”Werner Herzog plays a drunken missionary complete with sky-diving nuns that emphasis and intriguingly link the beliefs of the impersonators to the unconditional belief of these spiritual characters. It’s important to understand the connection and reason for these added clips to benefit the full power and effect of the movie as a whole.The performances are exceptional and convincingly drag us into a web of lust, deception and eventually the inevitable painful truth. Only Harmony can make an audience laugh, cry and shockingly silent all in one movie, this is what makes his productions unique and compelling. The added twists are a bonus.
Every character in the film gives their all, including Melita who plays a sultry Madonna in her first ever big screen appearance. Melita’s daughter, Angel also appears in the film together with future young star 9 year old Michael – Joel Stewart.
The movie definitely captures the identity confusion and sad realities that sometimes reflect onto the lookalike world. Perhaps Harmony hits a nerve not just in the acting circle but in today’s society in general, that is why I personally feel this movie steps more into a commercial bracket and will have even more appeal than his precious work. I have seen past films directed by him and feel he has triumphantly surpassed them with this one. The movie is boosted by Samantha Morton – ‘Marilyn’ and Diego Luna, as well as excellent performances from Anita Pallenberg. Richard Strange, adds to the comedy as Lincoln.
The film was best described by a member of the audience during question time at the end as a poem that gels together by a dream cast that is bought to life by an exceptional producer.
The movie is due for an international cinematic release in March 2008. This is much later than anticipated due to a global success at all the major film festivals around the world including Cannes.
