JAMES CAMERON

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB.5. 

USA, 1997.  Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Lightstorm Entertainment.  Screenplay by James Cameron.  Cinematography by Russell Carpenter.  Produced by James Cameron, Jon Landau.  Music by James Horner. Production Design by Peter Lamont.  Costume Design by Deborah Lynn Scott.  Film Editing by Conrad Buff IV, James Cameron, Richard A. Harris.  Academy Awards 1997.  Golden Globe Awards 1997.  Las Vegas Film Critics Awards 1997. National Board of Review Awards 1997.  New York Film Critics Awards 1997.  

James Cameron’s expansive version of the Titanic story takes A Night To Remember and adds two fictional protagonists, a poor little rich girl (Kate Winslet) trapped in an unwanted engagement and a poor drifter (Leonardo DiCaprio) who ends up on the ship thanks to a lucky poker game.  Cameron creates a story that brings history to the forefront and involves you emotionally thanks to how personal it is, though the historical significance is not worth ignoring:  the ship is meticulously recreated by production designer Peter Lamont, and Deborah L. Scott’s gorgeous costume designs evoke the early teens without a doubt to authenticity.  Winslet is stunning in a performance that deservedly made her a star, capped off beautifully by Gloria Stuart as an aged version of the same character recounting her experiences on the ship and during its tragic sinking.   State-of-the-art visual effects, beautiful music by James Horner and an all-around epic feel add up to a great night at the movies, and if you’re the one person left in the world who hasn’t seen it yet, catch up to the rest of us.