Foils

Authors: Daniel Crooke
Location: Ohio

“Foils"

Produced by: Steven Spielberg
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay by: Paul Bernbaum
Score by: Danny Elfman
Editing by: Pamela Martin

Principal Cast:

Jim Broadbent as Edgar Allen Poe/Theodore Seuss Geisel
Diane Lane as Helen Palmer Geisel
Scarlett Johansson as Virginia Eliza Poe
Julie Andrews as Audrey Stone Diamond
Ian McKellen as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Virginia Madsen as Sarah Helen Whitman
Reese Witherspoon as Margaretha Geisel
Rosemary Harris as Nettie Geisel

Tagline: "It is surprising how much two men with nothing in common have in common"

Synopsis: Edgar Allen Poe is often referred to as one of the forefathers of horror literature. Dr. Seuss is often referred to as one of the pioneers of children's literature. Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston , Massachusetts in 1809 to a married pair of actors. After his father abandoned him and his mother died, he was sent to live with a tobacco merchant. He enlisted in the United States Army and there he wrote his first book. After his foster mother died, he moved to Baltimore , Maryland . To make ends meet, Poe wrote fiction. There he married Virginia Clemm. In 1842 Virginia began to show signs or tuberculosis and she soon became an invalid. Poe became an obsessive drinker over this matter and he soon began a loud and public fight with the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 1845, Poe published "The Raven" and became an instant sensation. His other works to follow included "The Tell Tale Heart" and "The Pit and the Pendulum". In 1847, Virginia died. Poe began to become emotionally unstable. He was in a state of internal chaos. He attempted to start a relationship with poet Sarah Helen Whitman, but his drinking problems lead to his ultimate demise. He was declared dead on October 3, 1849. Historians were puzzled about his death. Could it be alcoholism, rabies, cholera, or something else? No one would ever know. One thing was for sure, a legend had died.

Theodore Seuss Geisel was born in 1904 in Springfield , Massachusetts . Growing up near the zoo helped shape Geisel's imagination. He had a very good family life, especially with his mother Nettie and sister Margaretha. In 1927 he married Helen Palmer, his colleague from Oxford . Geisel began to publish humorous articles and political cartoons under the pen names Theo LeSeing, Rosetta Stone and most importantly: Dr. Seuss. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army and there he began to write more cartoons. After the war he and Helen moved to La Jolla , California and there he wrote some of his first children's books which included "If I Ran the Zoo" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Geisel began to take up challenges which included writing a book with only fifty words, the result was "Green Eggs and Ham". Geisel included his own beliefs into his novels such as "The Butter Battle Book" which was a parallel of the Cold War. Soon, his wife Helen committed suicide due to a very difficult mental illness. Geisel went through a small struggle but then remarried Audrey Stone Diamond. After several years of illness, in 1991 Theodore Seuss Geisel, or Dr. Seuss died. One thing was for sure, a legend had died.

What the press would say:

Jim Broadbent takes on dual roles in this year's "Foils". He plays two legendary writers: Edgar Allen Poe and Dr. Seuss. The main thing here is to not be confused. This film is a dual biopic that takes place between two people in two time periods. Broadbent plays both and he is phenomenal. The film goes from Poe's life to Seuss'. What is so interesting is that the writing will have it be that Poe will do one thing and then in the next scene Seuss is doing the same, only in a different time period. This is what makes the screenplay so unique. Although Broadbent is the real standout, Julie Andrews as Seuss' second wife is a nice quiet comeback for the actress. Another great addition to the film is Sir Ian McKellen's addition as Poe's rival Henry Longfellow. The smooth transitions add for an enjoyable film. Danny Elfman's score is just as diverse as the script. In Poe's story it is dark and haunting and in Seuss' it is light and cheerful.

This film is considered to be the first "dual biopic", a biopic that tells two stories. The two writers are so different, yet so alike. Jim Broadbent is more than excellent in an Oscar winning turn. The writing is superb as is the directing. Ian McKellen and Julie Andrews are both perfect supporting characters and the score is so great that you cannot wait to hear more of it. "Foils", which of course refers to the two as foil characters, is an excellent and innovative film. Broadbent does the best acting job I have seen in years. Bravo!

Nominations

Best Picture
Best Director- Robert Zemeckis
Best Actor- Jim Broadbend
Best Supporting Actor- Sir Ian McKellen
Best Supporting Actress- Julie Andrews
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Bernbaum
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Art/Set Direction
Best Score