A couple of weeks ago Alice and I were at our local independent video store and she rented a new Drew Barrymore movie called Grey Gardens. When we went to pay the gentleman at the store asked us if we had seen the documentary. We hadn't so he gave it to us for free saying it was almost mandatory viewing. After seeing both movies I agree with him that they do add a lot of depth to each other. In retrospect I see what a phenomenal job the actresses did in the new film recreating the real life characters. Trust me, characters is the right word. Drew Barrymore will be nominated for an Oscar, I'm sure of it. The new film helps to put the documentary into context by giving you the family history before the snapshot of time that the documentary encompasses.
Both films are centered around the relationship between Jackie O's Aunt and cousin. Little Edie and big Edie as they are known. They were shut-ins living in a 26 bedroom estate in the Hampton's that the mother was left from a divorce. Neither of them earned an income. They lived off a small trust fund given to big Edie by her ex-husband. The trust eventually ran out and they had no means to support themselves. Big Edie refused to sell the estate and over the years it fell into disrepair. And by disrepair I mean they end up living in the one hospitable room while cats and raccoons take over the rest of the house and a tree grows through a wall upstairs.
Oh, and you are treated to some fantastic song and dance through out the two films. These women are a few eggs short of a dozen.
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