Saucy shots of pinup queen Bettie Page are tame by today's standards, said Jason Lynch in People. But in the 1950s, her provocative poses'”some in leather bondage gear and some in nothing at all'”inspired 'œa cult following and prompted a Senate investigation into pornography.' Page didn't understand what all the fuss was about. 'œWe're just dressing up,' she said. 'œThere's no harm in it.' Well, that's great for her, but bad for the film. The Notorious Bettie Page is so devoid of conflict that it feels as if director Mary Harron herself were shackled in bondage gear. The film does capture something crucial, though, said Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly: Page's unique allure. It's not just the Nashville native's playful, girl-next-door energy or her 'œpussycat from hell' vamping. Her magic stems from the ability to 'œproject both qualities at once.' Her innocent vivacity doesn't disappear in the bondage shots, 'œit's just beneath the surface aggression of her poses.' Gretchen Mol gets this quality just right, said Stephanie Zacharek in Salon.com. She disrobes with breathtaking openness. In a world where most actresses require artfully draped sheets in nude scenes, Mol 'œholds nothing back, emotionally or physically.' Her portrayal should earn her the recognition she deserves. Stripping is not the easy way out for an actress; it demands utter unselfconsciousness'”which is very hard to fake.
Rating: R
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