...a great screenplay and cast's efforts were shredded by Susan Sarandon's pathetic portrayal of Beverly's mother. Sarandon just "phoned" this one in and simply recited the lines.Kevin Kline, on the other hand, was marvelous. He recreated the "In Like Flynn" image to a tee.Too bad.

Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland co-wrote and co-directed this exceedingly thin dramatization of the last two years of Errol Flynn's life, from 1957 to 1959. Flynn, notorious ladies' man and faded matinée idol, picks up a pretty chorus girl on the movie lot under the pretense that she audition for him privately--unaware that she is just 15. The girl's mother is skeptical of their ensuing relationship, but eventually consents under the promise that Flynn use his connections to help further her daughter's show business career. As the underage Beverly Aadland, baby-faced Dakota Fanning doesn't have the knowing sexuality needed for the role, but Kevin Kline as Flynn is marvelous. Though essentially too old to play Flynn, who died at the age of 50, Kline nevertheless jumps into the part with verve; he has Flynn's gentlemanly cadence down right and he's in terrific shape. Susan Sarandon as Beverly's mother (and the twosome's 'chaperone' in public) is also fine, though she doesn't have much to work with. At 90 minutes, the film feels lengthy, with a colorless epilogue after Flynn has died and a final coda which isn't as heart-rending as the filmmakers probably intended. ** from ****

Anthony Hopkins and Toby Jones did amazing work as Alfred Hitchcock; Meryl Streep was incredible as Margaret Thatcher while Helen Mirren was gobsmacking as the Queen, but Kevin Kline's portrayal of the aging Errol Flynn is positively eerie.He looks like him, he speaks like him and he has caught the mannerisms. Kline was 15 years older than Flynn, but Errol's hard-living evened things up; its almost as though he has crossed back from the other side.To modern generations, Errol Flynn, if they have heard of him at all, would have to be of passing interest at best, and this movie about his last love affair with Beverly Aadland must seem an odd little movie. Dakota Fanning may even be of more interest. Possibly they would also be put off by the age difference between Errol and Beverly - he was pushing 50 and she was 15.However for those of us who were alive when Flynn was still making films, and were interested enough to read any of the books about the guy, this movie is close to fascinating.With some knowledge of his life, you have to appreciate all the little touches seeded throughout the film. One was the way the relationship with Beverly starts with Flynn trying his well-practiced technique of seducing women by discussing with a co-conspirator in front of them how perfect they would be for a part in an upcoming production.However, after taking advantage of her in a somewhat disturbing scene, his feelings for her go beyond a quick conquest and they become involved in an oddly-matched and dangerous relationship.Much of the movie is told from the viewpoint of Beverly's mother, Florence, played by Susan Sarandon, who comes across as the stage mother from hell.Rather than being overshadowed by Kline, it's Dakota Fanning's movie too. She underplays while projecting naïveté on the one hand, and worldliness beyond her years on the other. The last part of the movie shows the effect her unwanted celebrity has on her stability, while Florence actually revels in it.The film has been criticised, scathingly by some reviewers, not only for skimpy production values, but also for sanitising the relationship, and for not taking more of a moral stance over the underage aspect. However, I do feel we are made aware of the situation throughout the film, and it doesn't ever really get a seal of approval.Nevertheless, according to Roland Fisher, Beverly Aadland's husband of 40 years, she admitted to loving Errol Flynn until the day she died (in 2010).Knowing a fair bit about the subject probably has a lot to do with whether or not you will appreciate this film - I for one found it totally absorbing.

I eagerly awaited the release of this movie. And it met my expectations well, which is unusual because most movies that I highly anticipate end up disappointing me due to my built-up expectations. This one didn't. It is very well made from beginning to end. All three main actors did a great job portraying their characters; true professionals. Kevin Kline's depiction of Errol Flynn was amazing. His was the most demanding role because the whole world knows Errol Flynn. I love historical reality dramas like this when produced properly by professionals. Films like this not only require highly experienced and talented people, but require a great deal of research and preproduction. To me these movies come the closest to reverse time travel. This movie did a very good job of transporting me back to 1950s Hollywood, to the streets and sound stages of Warner studios, and witnessing the last private two years of the aging bigger-than-life star Errol Flynn. As every movie critic knows, the quintessential trait of a good movie is the ability to make the viewer forget he/she is watching a movie. Reality and accuracy are important to me. I'm a fan of the reality film noir genre. I don't like the older "big production" historical or biopic movies that put on airs and over-glamorize like a 17th century opera. I truly think people who gave this movie a bad review simply aren't qualified to critique biographical films, or appreciate the art and science of film production. I think they might also have a preconceived notion of what Errol Flynn's life should have been like, which is narrow-minded. These people probably have a taste for the old phony fantasy biopics that I dislike so much, such as "Night and Day"(1946), a badly embellished film about composer Cole Porter. Errol Flynn was certainly a megastar who led a life of fame and fortune, but it wasn't all as grandiose and wonderful as some people might think, especially due to Flynn's lifelong health problems. I will agree that perhaps it would have been nice if this movie had some scenes aboard Flynn's famous yacht Zaca, and scenes of the lavish trips and gala Hollywood elite events that Flynn and Aadland attended. Unfortunately, historical biopics like this just don't draw the huge young and dumb movie crowd that action-hero, sci-fi, and space thrillers do. And I just don't feel right taking points off my rank of a biographical film only because it lacked money in its budget. I'm always thankful for talented film producers, directors, actors, and crews who provide their valuable time and talents making wonderful biopics like this. There aren't many people in the general movie-going public who appreciate these rare productions. My DVD of this movie is one of my highly valued film art possessions.