It broke box office history today, opening on 11,000 screens to the tune of 92.1 million dollars. It’s title may be a mouthful to say but I can certainly say this…. “Alls well that ends well.” Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have done eight films in 10 years and made box office that exceeds 6.3 billion. This now concludes the most successful franchise in the history of movies. For me, never a huge fan, I’m more impressed by the numbers, but alas, drawn to my own memories of the players in the film…
I remember the very first Harry Potter debut in New York City. I was fortunate to attend the premiere with my dear friends Helen Gurley Brown and her husband, the prolific producer, David Brown of the famed Zanuck & Brown. I remember the dinner following when David leaned into me and said (between fork bites) “They’re onto something here.” And so this epic film concludes today, as two books divided into one from J K Rowlings for the Part 2 installment.
But let’s suppose like me you never followed the films, didn’t take an interest…you’ll be fine. The movie opens with Harry having a moment with the Goblin who asks Harry “What’s the story with the sword?” Without missing a beat Harry replies, “It’s complicated.” Though oddly the story is not. And when it’s suggested that “The sword finds its wizard” you have an inkling where we’re headed. Any audience member can catch on rather quickly though some of the childhood flashbacks might be confusing. You’ll be gripped by Harry (Daniel Radcliffe)’s journey that will finally lead him to the big show-down with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes.) And isn’t this the climax you’ve waited for since film number one?
For me I couldn’t help think of the people I’d come to know in this film of the past ten years. Helena Bonham Carter is laugh-out-loud fabulous as Bellatrix, and fabulous in real life. I know….I spent three months with her holding court in the Four Seasons of Beverly Hills during the Oscar season. She was nominated for The Kings Speech and my boyfriend, also British, was nominated for 127 Hours. We had alot of fun on that Golden Globes to Oscar tour. When I think of Helena, I think of her doing yoga stretches poolside always shading her lily white complexion under an umbrella. Or coming down the aisle of our British Airlines plane on a red-eye flight – London to LA – chatting it up to me while the rest of the nominees were asleep. You can’t imagine how amusing it is to see a woman – Helena no less – dressed in head to toe black baggy clothes coming towards you in the dark. All you can see is her illuminated white face and those big brown eyes.
And when I think of Ralph Fiennes, I think of him as the man who opened his dressing room door to me dripping wet with only a towel secured around his waist. This was following a performance of Hamlet. He attempted to reach out and shake my hand. My brow raised, hoping the towel would fall. It didn’t. Instead I poured the champagne and we shared a toast with the friends who had brought me to see his performance – Christian Slater and his then girlfriend Tamara Mellon, head of Jimmy Choo.
But most of all the film resonates with me because the Hogwart school locations hail from the University in Oxford where I’ve spent a good deal of the past year residing. My next door neighbor, Laurie, is a Shakespearan professor in the very halls portrayed in the movie.
The historic Bodleian Library is the main research library of Oxford University. Both Duke Humfrey’s Library and the Divinity School were used as some of the interiors at Hogwarts. The Divinity School’s vaulted ceiling is regarded as a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture. Also in Oxford, Christ Church and its great Hall is used as a double for Hogwarts School. I have fond memories riding my bicycle with wicker basket through the historical archways en route to the Covered Market for fresh fruits, fish and vegetables. It’s all so perfect I used to smile to the skies and think “This is a movie set.” And it was.
This is the first Potter film to be released in 3D so its imagery and depth made you feel that you too were cliffside with Harry and company. The shots breathtaking. There’s alot of melancholy but there’s alot of humor in this final installment. There’s resolution where needed with an ending of nineteen years later, projecting how the characters come full-circle. For all the Potter-ITES out there you’ll cheer at the end. This is Harry’s movie once and for all and you will be pleased with his gracious ending. It’s the best bang for your buck and it is – tah dah – 4 tiaras.