WHAT happens to a woman as lovely, talented and patrician as Helena Bonham Carter when she embraces modern Hollywood? She becomes a raging nihilist. See Kidist Paulos Asrat’s post on Bonham Carter’s latest role as Miss Havisham in a remake of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Forty horses couldn’t drag me to see this movie.

Remember how charming Bonham Carter was as Lucy Honeychurch in the film version of E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View? She’s now more Medusa with snakes in her hair than Miss Honeychurch.

Bonham Carter with What's His Name, her partner in crime

—– Comments —–

Kalista writes:

I was just wondering if you had a problem with the actual novel by Dickens or just a problem with the fact that Helena Bonham Carter is in it?

I personally really enjoyed Great Expectations, but when I read it in high school my class was very divided between those who loved it and those who hated it, so I could understand if it’s the former. However, if it is the latter it seems unfair to Helena Bonham Carter, but it is your choice to boycott a movie you may have enjoyed because of a particular actress.

Also, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and let you know that the man in the picture is Helena Bonham Carter’s long term partner, Tim Burton. However, if you just phrased it that way to mock their relationship then I apologize for giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Laura writes:

I am very fond of the novel and of David Lean’s film version of it. My reluctance has to do with Miss Bonham Carter. The photo of her as Miss Havisham posted at Kidist’s site, and the interview with Miss Bonham Carter, suggest to me that she is awful in the role.

Yes, I realize that that is Tim Burton, the man with whom she had two children. They aren’t married and don’t even live together but have adjoining houses. If you have any suggestions for how I might more effectively mock their relationship, I’d be grateful.

Mary writes:

Helena Bonham Carter on Miss Havisham: “I like sick people and [Miss Havisham] is really, really sick. I mean pathologically barking…So I love any kind of sickness, and that sort of inspires me…”

Don’t know if there’s much to add. She was either already corrupted when she made A Room with a View and hid it well, or she has been corrupted. Whichever it is, I haven’t found her interesting as an actress for quite a while. I assume it’s culturally incorrect to speak ill of Tim Burton so suffice it to say I don’t find him interesting in the least – never have. Although I realize he is exalted by many, which only proves how starved Hollywood is. A pair of bores.

I just read Great Expectations, by the way, and adored it.

Mrs. P. writes:

“If you have any suggestions for how I might more effectively mock their relationship, I’d be grateful.”

Touché.

Mark L. writes:

Laura wrote in response to Kalista’s snarky comment:

“Yes, I realize that that is Tim Burton, the man with whom she had two children. They aren’t married and don’t even live together but have adjoining houses. If you have any suggestions for how I might more effectively mock their relationship, I’d be grateful.”

Yoo-hoo, Kalista … You still there? I’m sure we’d all love to hear some feedback from you.

Hello? Kalista?

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