British Actress Blog

Gossip (2000)

Score: 6/10

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Stars: Lena Headey, James Marsden, Norman Reedus.

Synopsis: Three college students try a social experiment where they spread a rumor that has serious repercussions.

Review: Three college students are on an assignment given to them from their professor Professor Goodwin ( Eric Bogosian ) about sociology and its effect on society. Derrick Webb ( James Marsden ) the alpha of the group, decides to make their assignment about spreading rumors out of jealousy, curiosity, and vengeful spite. As the rumor grows so do the consequences and the damage it has on the victims psychologically. When one of the group members named Cathy Jones ( Lena Headey ) brings up how their actions are hurting people, Derrick Webb refuses to stop and convinces her to watch and see how much further the rumor can spread.

Lena Headey plays a similar character to her role in the film The Grotesque (1995) with her co star Sting. These roles have her take down a nefarious guy who is up to no good. I can see that Lena Headey is a heavily typecast actress when it comes to Hollywood. I have mentioned before that she is much better suited to the roles as a Queen. You can tell from her interviews that she wants to do more in Hollywood than just being a type casted actress, but she really does shine in Queen like roles more than any of her other roles. From Queen Cersei from Game of Thrones to her role as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the film Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies (2016), she just does better as the Queen.

The film obviously focuses on the concept of gossip. The movie shows us the power of social engineering and its effect on the human population. Most people love gossip and want something to talk about. From the paparazzi to celebrity gossip, it’s a very lucrative business. Unfortunately lies being told are very hurtful to the victims. They are shocked by how someone can rewrite history and make a person believe something that is not true.

The cinematography is just ok. The lighting, set dressing, wardrobe, backgrounds, and wardrobe are all well done for the time. The film is entertaining and well done. It's interesting to see Norman Reedus in his early days of acting just like his role in Blade 2 (2002). This is not a great film but not a bad one either. I'm reminded of the Rachel Weisz film The Shape of Things (2003) with Paul Rudd, you know him as Ant-Man. These films are based around college and attacking someone else for a grade and/or for kicks. These moves are not really bad, just lack luster, and leaves you wanting more. A lot of movie goers would not find value in these kinds of films. I give this movie and average score. Watch this film if you’re bored.

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More Films.

Cinderella (2015)

The King’s Speech (2010)

Suffragette (2015)

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

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