 Kate
& Leopold
It
is amazing to me how much S?ren Kierkegaard's existentialism has
become a part of recent movies. He believed that an encounter with
God demands a ?leap of faith.? Both Kate & Leopold take that
leap.
-Review by David Bruce |
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Credits
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Directed by James Mangold
Screenplay by James Mangold and Steven Rogers
Story by Steven Rogers
Meg
Ryan .... Kate McKay
Hugh Jackman .... Leopold
Liev Schreiber .... Stuart
Breckin Meyer .... Charlie McKay
Natasha Lyonne .... Darci
Bradley Whitford .... J.J. (Kate's boss)
Philip Bosco .... Otis
Bart DeFinna .... Film Editor
Directed
by James Mangold
Screenplay by James Mangold and Steven Rogers
Story by Steven Rogers
Produced by Cathy Konrad (producer), Kerry Orent (executive producer)
Original music by Rolfe Kent
Cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh
Film Editing by David Brenner
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
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If
they lived in the same century
they'd be perfect for each other.
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STUDIO
SYNOPSIS:
MEG RYAN and HUGH JACKMAN star in KATE & LEOPOLD, the story of two
strangers in New York City, separated by a hundred years. When they
meet, a century's worth of differences come crashing together.
 Kate
McKay is a modern-day executive, a 21st century woman driven to
succeed in the corporate world. Leopold, the Third Duke of Albany,
is a charming 19th century bachelor. Each has grown weary of waiting
for love. But when a dramatic twist of fate lands Leopold in present-day
New York, they must confront the prospect of a love affair 100 years
in the making.
 LIEV
SCHREIBER (the "Scream" trilogy, "A Walk on the Moon") co-stars
as Kate's genius ex-boyfriend Stuart, who discovers the portal that
accidentally transports his great great grandfather Leopold from
1867 to the new millennium. Also co-starring are BRECKIN MEYER ("Go,"
"Roadtrip," television's "Inside Schwartz") as Kate's brother Charlie,
NATASHA LYONNE ("American Pie," "Slums of Beverly Hills") as her
loyal assistant Darci, and BRADLEY WHITFORD (television's "The West
Wing") as J.J., Kate's boss.
KATE
& LEOPOLD is directed by JAMES MANGOLD (director/co-writer of "Girl,
Interrupted" and director/writer of "Cop Land"). The screenplay
is by JAMES MANGOLD and STEVEN ROGERS; story by STEVEN ROGERS. CATHY
KONRAD (producer of the "Scream" trilogy, "Girl, Interrupted," and
the upcoming "The Sweetest Thing" starring Cameron Diaz) is the
film's producer.
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REVIEW
BY
DAVID BRUCE
Webmaster, Hollywood Jesus
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It
is amazing to me how much of S?ren Kierkegaard's existentialism
has become a part of the postmodern era and especially in recent
movies. He believed that an encounter with God demands a ?leap
of faith? in one?s despair; in one?s despair God encounters
the person.
Both
Vanilla Sky and Kate and
Leopold, movies released at the same time, feature a leap of
faith. Both feature S?ren Kierkegaard's transcendent view of life.
Life/God is not found in a neat package of objective rules/dogma.
Rather Life/God is must be known subjectively through experience.
Both films feature a leap of faith due to despair/crisis. In Vanilla
Sky, Tom Cruise must jump from the top of a building into
the city below to obtain life (to be born anew). And in Kate
& Leopold, Meg Ryan jumps off a bridge (to obtain relationship
and love).
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The leap of Faith in Vanilla
Sky is necessary to transcend time and accept life. |
 
The Leap of Faith in Kate & Leopold is necessary
to transcend time and embrace timeless love. |
 Kate
McKay is a 21st century woman. Leopold, the Third Duke of Albany,
is a 19th century bachelor. The story brings the past (him) and present
(her) together. In order for Kate to go forwards in her love life,
she must first go backwards in time. Kierkegaard says, "Life
can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards"
-Kierkegaard. |
"It is only in love that the unequal can be
made equal" -Kierkegaard. |
 Many
of Kierkegaard's thoughts are dramatized in the film. Kate McKay is
a woman driven to succeed in the corporate world. She wants the good
things in life but as Kierkegaard says, people
"pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past
it." |
 "The
crowd is composed of individuals, but it must also be in the power
of each one to be what he is: an individual; and no one, no one at
all, no one whatsoever is prevented from being an individual unless
he prevents himself?by becoming one of the masses." -Kierkegaard |
"Teach me, O God, not to torture myself, not
to make a martyr out of myself through stifling reflection, but rather
teach me to breathe deeply in faith" -Kierkegaard
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Kate and Leopold have lives (before they meet) that reflect Kierkegaard's
famous statement: "My life has been brought
to an impasse, I loathe existence. . . . One sticks one?s finger into
the soil to tell by the smell in what land one is: I stick my finger
into existence?it smells of nothing. Where am I? What is this thing
called the world? What does this word mean? Who is it that has lured
me into the thing and now leaves me there? Who am I? How did I come
into the world? Why was I not consulted, why not made acquainted with
its manners and customs . . .? How did I obtain an interest in it?
Is it not a voluntary concern? And if I am to be compelled to take
part in it, where is the director? Whither shall I turn with my complaint?"
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both must take a leap of faith if they are "to
be born anew." Faith for Kierkegaard is not believing doctrines
but rather a commitment of your life. Salvation is a ?leap of faith?
which your mind or reason can not penetrate. It is a leap of faith
into the dark unknown, hoping God will be there. It means taking life
seriously, which in turn will result in despair?then God will meet
you. |
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OFFICIAL
SITE
Kate & Leopold? 2001 Miramax Films. All
Rights Reserved.
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