Ellen Burstyn has popped up in a new flick called The Stone Angel, based upon the book by Margaret Laurence.I never had much time for either of the two Canadian Margarets: Laurence and Atwood. Their names conjure up memories of Mrs. Clatworthy's English class in high school, or the Feminist Anthropology course in university. In the feminist class, I was the token straight dude that the professor used to stir things up. The prof knew I didn't mind, and so she would ask a question like, "Why do all lipstick ads imitate oral sex?" Then she would ask me for my opinion first, so the rest of the class could gang up and hammer me for any answer I gave.
So no, not much time for Margaret Laurence. As a writer, she's fine at her craft, but as a topic of literature, she's a beer drinker's land mine.
For all that, I'll still be interested to see The Stone Angel, if only to get another look at Ellen Burstyn ply her trade. She's been one of my favorite actors since The Exorcist scared the hell out of me as a kid, and it's been interesting to watch her battle for what all actors crave: longevity.
In that sense, the title of this new film is apt. Burstyn's done better than most in weathering Hollywood's storm. She hasn't been relegated to pure B-list status, hovering just below stardom, but above has-been. Like all aging actresses, she's had to fight for parts that don't script her as "grandma" or "wise neighbour," and she's done well at it. The reason is simple: she was sexy, but never a sex symbol, and so aging didn't do in her bonafides.
I'll see if she still has it. The Stone Angel opens on May 9th.
Photo: Alliance Films
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