Christine [DVD]

I had heard of this, but didn't know any of the details. The movie was totally on point when it comes to creating the 1970's atmosphere. As someone who has tried to commit suicide more than once before, I felt it was sympathetically told, but was unable to convey the depth and complexity of how it feels to be in that situation. It is very misunderstood, even within the mental health discipline. It is sadly not ever going to be eradicated. Rebecca Hall was amazing as ever. Definitely recommended viewing.

A quite good film with a good performance in the title role based on a remarkable if tragic true story. However, I cannot say that the majority of ‘Christine’ gripped me quite as much as I expected.It is built around a good central performance by Rebecca Hall, the daughter of Sir Peter Hall of the National Theatre, who grew up in Britain and whose real accent is English. However, she probably did not have too much difficulty adopting an American accent for this role as her mother is the famous American opera singer Maria Ewing.Ms Hall plays the part of a real-life TV presenter on a minor local channel in Florida called Christine Chubbuck who in 1974, in the middle of a news broadcast, announced to viewers:“In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living colour - you are going to see another TV first: attempted suicide”produced a gun and, live on air, committed suicide by shooting herself in the head.She had evidently planned this as she had type-written the above words for a particular point in the programme in her own pre-prepared script. Goodness knows what she felt when at the last moment, due to a technical problem, the producer skipped a planned newsreel and went straight to Christine, bringing her straight to the point at which she had planned to end her own life on air with only a few seconds warning. She did not flinch and went through with it, being pronounced dead in hospital soon after without regaining consciousness.While the denouement is dramatic, it is quite short. While Rebecca Hall is good and others of the cast are OK, the rest of the film feels surprisingly low-key.As to why Christine Chubbuck did it, the film portrays her as not badly meaning but somewhat difficult in personal, professional and family relationships, probably lonely and still a virgin at the age of 29. She had recently been diagnosed with an illness that would make it hard for her to have children.However, which, if any, of these were the most important reasons for wanting to take her own life in public, and whether she had any doubts about what she was about to do, Christine is not of course around for anyone to ask her.The only disc 'extras' are deleted scenes, which are worth watching. However, the factual background cries out for documentary 'extras', sadly not provided, about the life and death of Christine Chubbuck, what in the story had to be changed to fit the format or be imagined for lack of evidence, and whether the lead actress Rebecca Hall or others involved found that recreating the story gave them any personal insight into why Christine, or anyone, would want to commit suicide on air, in front of her colleagues in the studio and anyone watching at home, including viewers who knew her.

Biopic about the tragic Christine Chubbuck who famously shot herself on live tv in 1974. Christine is an intense study of how it feels to be a woman suffering from mental illness during an era when it wasn't particularly well known. I've been a fan of Rebecca Hall for years now, especially since seeing her in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Usually though she's second fiddle to her co-stars, yet here she gets the chance to properly shine. It's a role that seems to suit her air of natural vulnerability. Christine is capable, intelligent and ambitious, yet plagued by health problems, career stress, loneliness, and familial discord. She's internally screaming for help, while being outwardly standoffish and unrelatable. This is subject matter I can relate to and Rebecca Hall completely nails that inner struggle. Her facial expressions alone sell her pain, and its a performance she should be proud of. A watch once kind of film perhaps, but well worth your time. Doubly so if you're a Hall fan.

Christine is an incredibly powerful film, and one which I expect will stick with me for a long time. Having already researched the true story in the past, I knew roughly how the film would play out, but that did not take away from it in the slightest. Rebecca Hall is simply outstanding in this role. I really cannot praise her enough. The portrayal of Christine's body language is excellent, and Hall really makes the role believable. The Blu-ray itself is so-so, with the main menu being a little simplistic and not too obvious which icon is which section. In terms of special features, only the deleted scenes are present, which are well worth a watch, however I feel this release could have done with a commentary, as the US DVD release has. However, this does not take away from the 5 star rating I am giving this film. I would really recommend giving it a watch, but beware, it is incredibly harrowing and depressing, and should not be watched when in a fragile state of mind.

Rebecca Hall is a massive talent and though this is essentially a modest and unshowy film her performance is both restrained and so impressive. This film depicts the real life story of a local news reporter in America who apparently committed suicide on air.The film explores the myriad pressures and reasons why this happened allowing Rebecca Hall to present a layered character, both ambitious and fragile as she comes up against a changing news landscape and enormous pressure to deliver ratings. Other characters are well portrayed but this is Hall's film. The milieu of news studios and the period setting are both very effective, as is the portrayal of a news media that didn't always know what to do with its female journalists. A small film with a powerful and intensely sad story of a female character ahead of her time. Both shocking and difficult to watch at times but nicely written, not prurient and intensely sympathetic to Halls character without showing her as a saint or victim.

It's not a pretty story, but Rebecca Hall is extraordinary, delivering a masterful performance that should have ended with as Oscar in her hands. I admit i was surprised, only saw her in lesser roles, didn't knew she could be this intense.