Sep 10, 2010 09:57 AM
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Factory girl is a 2006 biography/drama movie based on the life of the falling star Edie Sedgwick, who was a beautiful socialite in the 60's who formed with Andy Warhol. The movie gives a fascinating insight on her rise and fall. Edies brother was involved in the making of the movie so it's from a more accurate point of view.
Edie (Sienna Miller) is from a privileged back ground who had a passion for drawing, studying art in Cambridge. She goes to an art event in New York and gets introduced to pop artist Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce) He becomes fascinated with Edie and is captivated by her beauty. He is intrigued by her and invites her to star in one of his 'underground movies' filmed in his factory, where he makes a mockery out of her and mentally destroys her. The Factory is where they make unique movies and is their hangout place with the 'eccentrics' that smoke, drink and drug use.
Edie meets Billy a well known musician (Who is meant to be Bob Dylan but he threatened to sue if his name was used!) who she falls head over heels in love with. Andy gets bitterly jealous and feels threatened because Edie is his muse. Andy leaves her with nothing, he refuses to pay her for starring in his movies and Edie is left in serious debt and is in a chaotic mess. Her whole life is a car crash and is destined for disaster, her father refuses to wipe up her mess and she is left drug taking, poor and is confused about where her life is heading.
This movie gave a complete insight on Edie Sedgwick, I'm a big fan of her and love her fashion sense and uniqueness but I wasn't fully aware of her story, she was vulnarable girl who knew her life was going to end early. People think Andy was the reason for her success but she was really talented and Andy couldn't stand it. The movie shows Edie in a positive light so people can understand her. It shows her relationship with Bob Dylan, I think he was being a bit uptight when he threatened to sue if his name was mentioned.
Sienna played Edie amazingly, they could not have chosen anyone more suited for the part. She comes from a rich family like Edie, and the two have many similarities. Sienna proves her talent, she prepares for the role by losing weight (because Edie suffered with anorexia) which shows commitment and proves she was serious about the role. I was actually suprised at how much she looked like Edie in the movie and got into character well and perfected Edies voice and troubled personality.Guy Pearce also perfected the role of Andy, he nailed Andy's intriguingly bland personality. The make up and costumes in this movie were absolutely amazing because Guy looked the double of Andy too.Hayden Christian was only in parts of the movie but his performance for me was a little embarrassing, it seemed he would be better suited for starring in Twilight rather than portraying Bob Dylan, he looked nothing like him and was more of a pretty boy.
This was a rather superficial movie and they could not show Edie's life in a better light, it drew you in immediately. This is not Avatar so no, theres no in your face special effects, this movie is not about special effects, it's kept simple but yet unique. I loved how retro the movie is and wish I was alive in the 60's, in this movie it looks like an interesting time. I loved the care-free nature of the eccentrics. This movie has a few emotional scenes, it's bound to as it's the crash and burn of Edie's life. It will leave you detesting Andy Warhol, he really was a sad, lonely heartless freak. He has a cruel hold over Edie, he knows she's in debt, he doesn't pay her to star in movies yet he hints for her to buy him things.
I found it a little heartwrenching when messed-up Edie meets her old friend from Cambridge, he has an old photo of Edie before she was destroyed by Andy and asks ''Do you remember that girl?'' and tells her she can be her again.
If you are a fan of Edie Sedgwick or superfical retro movies then look no further, otherwise it might not be for you. There's a bit of nudity and a few offensive scenes so it's rated 15.
