Review of The Notorious Bettie Page (2006) by Daniel P — 10 Apr 2014

The problem with The Notorious Bettie Paige is that, despite the title, Paige's life just isn't *that* interesting. A struggling actress who made money by initially entering beauty pageants, then moved on to photo-shoots in bikinis and then progressed onto 'provocative' bondage spreads and mini-films and on to topless modelling, there's little in the way of exciting revelations, dramatic intent or even character development.

To use the cliché, it's very much style over substance. Since the story is quite tame by today's standards, much of the success is down to the really rather beautiful way the film is shot. Using black and white photography (with occasional 'pop-out' color sections), Mary Harron uses many of the camera techniques and connotations associated with the films of the period, and the stunning music score is also very evocative.

Even the credit sequence is beautifully designed, so what you in essence get is a film that feels like it was made during the period depicted but one that itself would *never* have received distribution or certification at the time (think Far From Heaven or The Good German).

With a fearless performance from a splendid Gretchon Mol and good support from indie fave Lili Taylor, Bettie Paige is worth a watch but wont linger in the mind.