The scandalous love triangle between poet Robert Graves, his feminist wife and a charismatic American writer is the subject of this erotic and entertainingly silly film
Britain’s premier literary throuple is the subject of this gamey, borderline-silly but watchably acted movie, which might have sat more comfortably as a three-part Sunday night TV drama. Robert Graves (Tom Hughes) is the poet traumatised and creatively blocked by his experiences in the great war, Nancy Nicholson (Laura Haddock) is his forward-thinking feminist wife, and Laura Riding (Dianna Agron) is the charismatic American writer who comes to live with them in a scandalous menage.
Laura entrances them both sexually and stirs Robert’s stagnant juices in every sense, leading him to invent an entire pagan aesthetic around his adoration for her as the “goddess” at the centre of his poetic being – with Nancy’s slightly wan permission. But Riding’s irreverent lustiness...
Britain’s premier literary throuple is the subject of this gamey, borderline-silly but watchably acted movie, which might have sat more comfortably as a three-part Sunday night TV drama. Robert Graves (Tom Hughes) is the poet traumatised and creatively blocked by his experiences in the great war, Nancy Nicholson (Laura Haddock) is his forward-thinking feminist wife, and Laura Riding (Dianna Agron) is the charismatic American writer who comes to live with them in a scandalous menage.
Laura entrances them both sexually and stirs Robert’s stagnant juices in every sense, leading him to invent an entire pagan aesthetic around his adoration for her as the “goddess” at the centre of his poetic being – with Nancy’s slightly wan permission. But Riding’s irreverent lustiness...
- 5/4/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
While the structure is fairly standard and its overall aesthetic sometimes appears limited by scope, The Laureate is a solid, heady account of a particularly tumultuous time in the life of poet Robert Graves. Written and directed by William Nunez, the film is set in the mid-to-late 1920s as Graves (a brooding Tom Hughes) battles Ptsd after returning from war. In fact, his injuries proved so severe he was presumed dead and declared as such ahead of his return home. Despite a celebrated early career, he struggles to develop new work while withering in a cottage named World’s End. His wife Nancy (Laura Haddock) serves as his sole champion, a progressive voice in her home and larger community.
When Robert comes across the work of writer Laura Riding, he is compelled to reach out to her. Before long Nancy encourages her husband to invite Laura to come live with...
When Robert comes across the work of writer Laura Riding, he is compelled to reach out to her. Before long Nancy encourages her husband to invite Laura to come live with...
- 1/20/2022
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Dramatizing the lives of beloved writers is always problematic, because the act of writing itself is so inherently un-dramatic. Nonetheless, writer-director William Nunez’s “The Laureate” manages to eke . Well-acted, nicely crafted and a handsome period piece within modest means, this isn’t the most novel, memorable or intellectually deep enterprise of its type. But it will satisfy viewers looking for a slightly racier variation on “Downton Abbey” terrain. Gravitas Ventures is opening it on a couple dozen U.S. screens Jan. 21.
A framing device here is a notorious 1929 incident in which more than one participant in a domestic ménage leaped from a fourth-floor London window. After an ambiguous introduction of that event, as well as Graves’ serious Ptsd from WWI service, we rewind a bit earlier to the Oxfordshire home dubbed “World’s End” he shared with feminist painter-illustrator wife Nancy Nicholson (Laura Haddock) and their young daughter Catherine...
A framing device here is a notorious 1929 incident in which more than one participant in a domestic ménage leaped from a fourth-floor London window. After an ambiguous introduction of that event, as well as Graves’ serious Ptsd from WWI service, we rewind a bit earlier to the Oxfordshire home dubbed “World’s End” he shared with feminist painter-illustrator wife Nancy Nicholson (Laura Haddock) and their young daughter Catherine...
- 1/19/2022
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
"If you invite a serpent into your home, perhaps you shouldn't be surprised if it bites you." Oooh! Gravitas has released an official trailer for an indie drama called The Laureate, from filmmaker William Nunez. This recently premiered at the Mallorca Film Festival this fall, and opens soon in the US starting in January. Set in the 20s, a married couple on the brink of disillusion allows a stranger to live with them in their idyllic cottage. Will this stranger push their fragile state over the edge? Seems like such a loaded question because of course something will happen and of course inviting someone new into your home will always cause some kind of chaos. The film stars Laura Haddock, Dianna Agron, Tom Hughes, Julian Glover, Derek Jacobi, Patricia Hodge, and Christien Anholt. It looks extra intense and also incredibly passionate, a story about how to reignite passion when the trauma of war extinguishes it.
- 12/15/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Film journalist turned filmmaker Neville Pierce is gearing up for his feature directorial debut, but before making that jump, he’s prepped a trio of brand-new short films that show off his unique style and various genre obsessions. This first batch from Pierce includes “Ghosted,” a Valentine’s Day-appropriate (well, kind of) offering starring “Prevenge” filmmaker and star Alice Lowe.
“After 15 years or so of reviewing films and interviewing filmmakers and actors, the shorts were my attempt to put what I’d learned into action,” said Pierce in an official statement. “With ‘Ghosted,’ we wanted to make a romantic comedy with a little bit of a riptide. It’s about trying to get over any kind of loss…Hopefully the shorts show a bit of range – we had great crews and it was a thrill to work with such a talented group of actors.”
Read More:How a Pregnant Actress Overcame...
“After 15 years or so of reviewing films and interviewing filmmakers and actors, the shorts were my attempt to put what I’d learned into action,” said Pierce in an official statement. “With ‘Ghosted,’ we wanted to make a romantic comedy with a little bit of a riptide. It’s about trying to get over any kind of loss…Hopefully the shorts show a bit of range – we had great crews and it was a thrill to work with such a talented group of actors.”
Read More:How a Pregnant Actress Overcame...
- 2/4/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Filmmaker Nev Pierce talks to host Stuart Wright about his four short films Bricks, Ghosted, Lock In and Promises.
Bricks, Ghosted and Lock In go live from Monday 5th February 2018 and can be seen at vimeo.com/nevillepierce & nevpierce.com. For updates and news of Promises and/or other projects there’s facebook.com/nevillepiercefilm and @nevpierce on Twitter.
Lock In
Respected landlord Richard (Tim McInnerny) is closing up his pub with pregnant daughter Lucy (Lucy Boynton) when a stranger barges in. The menacing Jimmy (Nicholas Pinnock) seems like he wants money, but really he’s after the truth…
Bricks
In this adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask Of Amontillado, stockbroker William (Blake Ritson) hires builder Clive (Jason Flemyng) to renovate his wine cellar. The two men couldn’t be more different, but in the shadowy cellar they find common ground… at first.
Ghosted
Widowed artist Rebecca (Alice Lowe...
Bricks, Ghosted and Lock In go live from Monday 5th February 2018 and can be seen at vimeo.com/nevillepierce & nevpierce.com. For updates and news of Promises and/or other projects there’s facebook.com/nevillepiercefilm and @nevpierce on Twitter.
Lock In
Respected landlord Richard (Tim McInnerny) is closing up his pub with pregnant daughter Lucy (Lucy Boynton) when a stranger barges in. The menacing Jimmy (Nicholas Pinnock) seems like he wants money, but really he’s after the truth…
Bricks
In this adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask Of Amontillado, stockbroker William (Blake Ritson) hires builder Clive (Jason Flemyng) to renovate his wine cellar. The two men couldn’t be more different, but in the shadowy cellar they find common ground… at first.
Ghosted
Widowed artist Rebecca (Alice Lowe...
- 1/22/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
You can’t buy the kind of publicity Playgirl magazine has received for getting Levi Johnston to pose naked.
Well, actually, I guess you can. What did the magazine pay the ex-future-second-son-in-law anyway? Given all the ink and pixels that have been spilled over this, it was pretty good deal for Playgirl, especially since the word now is that he didn’t even do the whole lumberjack.
Not surprisingly, the magazine is said to be eagerly looking for other famous folks willing to disrobe.
We have some suggestions.
But let’s face it: Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Evans are never going to pose naked for Playgirl. The same goes for virtually every other person on our annual Hot 100 list. These folks are at the very peak of their careers, and they need neither the money nor the, uh, exposure.
That said, there are plenty of other familiar faces (and bodies...
Well, actually, I guess you can. What did the magazine pay the ex-future-second-son-in-law anyway? Given all the ink and pixels that have been spilled over this, it was pretty good deal for Playgirl, especially since the word now is that he didn’t even do the whole lumberjack.
Not surprisingly, the magazine is said to be eagerly looking for other famous folks willing to disrobe.
We have some suggestions.
But let’s face it: Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Evans are never going to pose naked for Playgirl. The same goes for virtually every other person on our annual Hot 100 list. These folks are at the very peak of their careers, and they need neither the money nor the, uh, exposure.
That said, there are plenty of other familiar faces (and bodies...
- 11/25/2009
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
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