Forrest Gump To Become Maintained In US Film Registry

First Released: December 28, 2011 1:05 PM EST Credit: Vital Pictures WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Caption 'Forrest Gump' (1994)Bambi, Forrest Gump and Hannibal Lecter have a minumum of one factor in keeping: Their motion picture adventures were selected through the Library of Congress to become maintained within the mobile phone industry's biggest archive of film, TV and seem tracks. The Silence from the Lamb (1991), a disturbing mental thriller concerning the cannibalistic murderer Lecter, and Forrest Gump (1994), starring Tom Hanks because the simple-minded hero who thinks existence is sort of a box of chocolates, were critical and commercial achievements that won the Academy Award for the best Picture. The animated Disney classic Bambi is amongst the beloved movies available. Most the game titles selected this season for inclusion within the National Film Registry are lesser-known including quiet films, documentaries, avant-garde cinema as well as films. The Library of Congress introduced the choices Tuesday. The registry started in 1989 underneath the the National Film Upkeep Act and includes 575 films. Its goal isn't to recognize the very best movies available but to preserve films with artistic, cultural or historic significance. Forrest Gump has its own critical detractors but was recognized because of its technical accomplishments, such as the seamless incorporation from the title character into historic footage. A lot more than 2,200 films were nominated for that registry this season. The Nation's Film Upkeep Board pares them lower before Librarian of Congress James H. Billington helps make the final choices. Every year, we all do attempt to pick among the game titles the public nominated probably the most, and Forrest Gump was way available online for on that list, stated Stephen Leggett, program coordinator for that National Film Upkeep Board. Everything out there is susceptible to dissenting opinion. For every title, the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Av Conservation works to make sure that the film is maintained for future decades. Which comes either through the Librarys massive motion-picture upkeep program or through working together along with other archives, motion-picture galleries and independent filmmakers. These films are selected due to their long lasting significance to American culture, Billington stated inside a statement. Our film heritage should be protected because they motion picture treasures document our culture and history and reflect our hopes and dreams. Films should be a minimum of ten years old that need considering. The earliest movies selected are generally from 1912. The Cry from the Children is one of the pre-The First World War child labor reform movement, and Relief from Pokeritis featuring John Bunny, is regarded as because the American film industrys earliest comic celebrity. Many people would reason that the humor is type of dated, Leggett stated of Bunnys films mostly domestic comedies by which he performed a henpecked husband. He actually was a significant figure at that time. It does not help your status when individuals like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton come once you. Chaplins first feature, The Little One (1921), seemed to be selected for that registry. It had been a large year for actress Sally Area, who co-starred in Forrest Gump. 'Norma Rae (1979), featuring her Oscar-winning performance like a single mom who fought against to unionize a Southern textile mill, also chose to make this years list. One of the other game titles selected: The Large Warmth, a 1953 film noir starring Glenn Ford The Lost Weekend, Billy Wilders Oscar-winning alcoholism drama Porgy and Bess, starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge and John Fords epic 1924 Western The Iron Equine. Lesser-known films were selected for his or her significance towards the art. Some Type Of Computer Animated Hands from 1972 is as simple as Pixar Animation Galleries co-founder Erectile dysfunction Catmull. The main one-minute film that's among the earliest good examples of three dimensional cartoon shows the hands turning, frequent lowering and raising, pointing in the viewer and flexing its fingers. Making their email list were notable documentaries too. Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment, concentrates on Gov. George Wallaces make an effort to prevent two African-American students from signing up for the College of Alabama and also the response of Leader John F. Kennedy. Becoming An Adult Female from 1971 was among the first films to range from womens liberation movement. Also incorporated was The Negro Soldier, created by Frank Capra. It demonstrated the gallantry of shades of black within the nations wars and grew to become mandatory viewing for those soldiers from spring 1944 until World War IIs finish. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keck's Exclusives: Sopranos Star Heads to Last Guy Standing

Jamie Lynn Sigler An old Soprano is visiting ABC. Within an early 2012 episode of newcomer sitcom Last Guy Standing, Jamie-Lynn Sigler will guest star as Gabriella, the daughter of businessman Erectile dysfunction (Hector Elizondo). A proficient businesswoman herself, Gabriella arrives in this area with a lot of suggestions regarding how to improve her dad's sports store, Outside Guy, where Mike Baxter (Tim Allen) works. A few of her ideas don't sit very well with Mike, forcing Erectile dysfunction to consider sides. Because The Sopranos went dark (literally) in 2007, Jamie-Lynn has made an appearance on Entourage, Drop Dead Diva, Ugly Betty and just how I Met Your Mother. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

SAG Honours: 'Modern Family' Leads TV, 'Homeland' Snubbed

NY - Comedian Louis C. K. has switched an income on the comedy special that's available available only through his Site, the NY Occasions reported.our editor recommendsLouis C.K. and Martin Short on Only For Laughs Sydney DutyLouis C.K. To Get Comedy's Top Recognition The artist stated the outcomes of his experiment - carefully adopted because the entertainment industry eyes start up business models within the digital age - urged him enough to market future concert tickets or any other creates his Site. The special, Louis C.K.: Live in the Beacon Theater, has offered a lot more than 110,000 copies from the special, which grew to become available Saturday for $5, the artist stated inside a Tuesday evening publish on louisck.internet, based on the Occasions. A lot more than 50,000 from the sales arrived the very first 12 hrs. In the product sales in excess of $500,000, Louis C. K. stated he deducted about $170,000 for production costs, about $32,000 to add mass to his site along with other costs, getting him to some profit around $200,000, based on the Occasions. "We are able to securely state that the experiment really labored," the comedian authored. "If anybody stole it, it had not been a lot of you. Virtually everyone purchased.Inch The $5 buys fans two downloads and 2 streams from the stand-up special shot throughout the NY Comedy Festival recently. "I'll still stick to the type of keeping my cost as far lower as you possibly can, not overmarketing for you, keeping as couple of people between me and you as you possibly can within the transaction," Louis C.K. stated in the blog publish before quipping: "Obviously I reserve the authority to return on all this and sign an enormous cope with a business that pays me body fat gold coin." Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Louis C.K.

Connecticut Congressman Blasts Lowe's on House Floor (Video)

Michael Weaver/NBC The brief revival of Fear Factor may have more life to it if it maintains its premiere's strong showing among adults 18-49. Though CBS still won the night in the key demo, NBC's competition pushed it to number two for the night, with its strongest Monday in recent memory. Fear Factor pulled in a 3.2 rating among adults 18-49 at 8:00 p.m. and rose to a 3.5 in the second hour. The two-hour broadcast also averaged 8.6 million viewers, leading into Chelsea Clinton's Rock Center debut, which was up from the previous week for a 1.1 rating. NBC averaged 2.6 among adults 18-40 for the night. PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Which New Shows Will Be Axed? CBS won the night in viewers and the demo, though the network's slightly tweaked schedule saw it dip nearly 12 percent among adults 18-49. How I Met Your Mother, which enjoyed three-year time slot highs last week, was off the schedule, leaving a softer 2 Broke Girls (4.1 in 18-49-ers) at 8:00 p.m., followed by a repeat of the same (3.3), Two and a Half Men (4.6) and Mike & Molly (3.9). Hawaii Five-0 finished off the night with a 2.8. Fox's final ratings will likely be adjusted up, as the St. Louis affiliate aired Monday's NFL game, but as it stands the network brought in an average 1.8 among adults 18-49 for the night. Terra Nova matched series lows for the penultimate episode of its freshman season. The drama pulled in a 2.1 rating among the key demo, with an audience of 6.99 million. An encore of House brought in a 1.4. PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of 'Terra Nova' You Deserve It, ABC's good-natured game show, continued to suffer. The series hit another low -- a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49 -- after the network's airing of I Want a Dog For Christmas (1.4). A Castle rerun (1.0) capped off the night, bringing its average to a 1.1 rating. Hart of Dixie had two repeats on the CW, which netted a 0.5 rating with adults 18-49 for the night. Monday, Dec. 12, Overnight Ratings: 8 p.m. CBS: 2 Broke Girls (12.5 million viewers, 4.1 rating in adults 18-49) NBC: Fear Factor (8.7 million, 3.2) Fox: Terra Nova (6.99 million, 2.1) ABC: I Want a Dog For Christmas (5.3 million, 1.4) The CW: Hart of Dixie (R) (1.4 million, 0.4) 8:30 p.m. CBS: 2 Broke Girls (R) (10.3 million, 3.3) 9 p.m. CBS: Two and a Half Men (14.7 million, 4.6) NBC: Fear Factor (8.5 million, 3.5) Fox: House (R) (4.4 million, 1.4) ABC: You Deserve It (3.4 million, 0.9) The CW: Hart of Dixie (R) (1.3 million, 0.5) 9:30 p.m. CBS: Mike & Molly (12.8 million, 3.9) 10 p.m. CBS: Hawaii Five-0 (10.9 million, 2.8) NBC: Rock Center With Brian Williams (4.0 million, 1.1) ABC: Castle (R) (4.2 million, 1.0) TV Ratings

The Killing: Is This the Man Who Killed Rosie Larsen?

Mark Moses Did Paul Young kill Rosie Larsen? Mark Moses, the actor who plays the Desperate Housewives murderer, is joining The Killing as a new detective who joins the investigation into Rosie's death, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (What? That doesn't mean he didn't do it!) The Killing postmortem: Showrunner Veena Sud on the finale's big twists and Season 2 Moses, 53, will play Lt. Carlson, a new hire at the Seattle Police Department. In early casting calls for the role, Carlson is described as a clean-cut, smart and crafty cop who comes off more white collar than blue collar. It's hard to read whether Carlson is honest or simply playing along. The Killing drew outrage from fans last year when the crime drama stopped short of solving the central mystery - who killed Rosie Larsen? - by the end of Season 1. Moses is set to appear in at least eight episodes of Season 2 and plays a role in the Larsen investigation, which begs the question: Will viewers be getting their answer later rather than sooner? We sure hope not. AMC responds to The Killing finale backlash In addition to Desperate Housewives, Moses recurred on Mad Men as ruthless ad men Herman "Duck" Phillips. He will next be seen on The Closer in the Dec. 19 episode. The Killing returns for Season 2 this spring.

Lensers aren't afraid of the dark

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2''Tree of Life''Take Shelter'Maybe it's just a reflection of the ongoing global financial meltdown and overall sense of impending disaster, but it was a dark and stormy night indeed in a number of films released in 2011, with the apocalypse looming large in such diverse productions as Lars von Trier's "Melancholia," Jeff Nichols' "Take Shelter" and David Yates' "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," while the Big Bang informs Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life."Writer-director Nichols and cinematographer Adam Stone artfully ratcheted up the suspense scene by scene in "Take Shelter" -- in which the gathering storm could be construed as either the result of a disintegrating mind or warnings of the real thing -- carefully blending real "storm-chaser" footage with CGI by Hydraulx. "We wanted the film to look natural and unfettered with," says Stone. "Our main goal was to remove as much artifice as possible from the filmmaking process -- ironic since 'Take Shelter' is chockfull of CGI work."To achieve this look, they shot on film, "as celluloid would add honesty to the film and help blend the CGI with the rest of the movie," according to the d.p.The only deviation from the plan was in shooting the storm shelter, the film's set piece. "We wanted it cramped, claustrophobic, and dark," Stone says. "To achieve this, Jeff instructed our production designer to build the set using dimensions of a real storm shelter. This meant no drop ceilings or flyway walls."The mandate forced their hand when it came to shooting and lighting, and is why a fuel-burning Coleman lantern is "the main source of light" in the shelter.The end of the world is also front and center in "Melancholia," with its two-part story of a planetary collision prominently featuring the doom-laden transcendent music of Wagner juxtaposed with the restrained visual approach by Danish cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro.The film's introductory, dream-like "overture" was "very difficult to envision for me," says the d.p., "because the shooting of it was like collecting puzzle pieces. As (the rogue planet) Melancholia approached, we intensified the blue, but kept it bright and austere. We wanted a very clear and crisp apocalypse."According to Claro, von Trier wanted "maximum freedom for the actors, which was perfect because we were working on such a beautiful location, which easily could have taken over if we had staged things more."Shooting on Alexa and mainly using a 28-76mm zoom "to be as flexible as possible," the d.p. referenced von Triers' own back catalog for much of the moody and natural look, which he terms "expressive naturalism.""Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," the climactic final chapter in the decade-long cinematic series, conjures up an equally dark, dangerous and ominous world, thanks to lowering skies and the steady hand of director Yates and his d.p., Eduardo Serra."What I loved about the last film is that David pushed me to go dark, which all cinematographers love to do," Serra says. "And usually you're fighting with the producers (about the look) but they all wanted it dark and atmospheric, too."Serra shot the film on Arri cameras, and notes that while the only "Harry Potter" film to be released in 3D "wasn't shot in 3D, the conversion to 3D in post made it look even darker than it was."Serra also had to contend with a multitude of night shoots and omnipresent visual effects work. "We had so much greenscreen work, in almost every scene," he says. "But as we shot the last two films back-to-back, it was all very carefully planned out way in advance, and I think we did justice to the last Harry Potter film."The wonder and origin of life as opposed to the destruction of the world informs the ambitious, enigmatic "The Tree of Life," directed by the equally enigmatic and ambitious Malick, and shot by his "New World" d.p. Emmanuel Lubezki. "While we blocked scenes in a more conventional way on 'New World,' Terry wanted this to feel more 'found,' like a documentary," says Lubezki, a four-time Oscar nominee, about their visual approach. "And we never used other films as references -- it was photos, art pieces and discussing our travels."While "Tree" was "carefully scripted, not improvised," Malick often used index cards, "with various ideas jotted on them," Lubezki says. "On the day he'd pull one out and go, 'We don't have to shoot the script. How can we shoot that feeling of a kid's memory of being young? How do we capture that and get that emotion into film?' We'd throw ideas back and forth, and the movie's style evolved from all that. We'd try to create 'happy accidents.'"The d.p., who shot "Tree" on Arri cameras and master primes ("for that crisp, clean look"), says the biggest challenges were making all the scenes "look completely unrehearsed" and dealing with the complex visual effects, "especially for the natural history part of the film."Because a considerable amount of the imagery had been culled over time, including some stock footage, continuity was key."The (digital intermediate) took many months, as Terry had shot some of the plates 20 years ago," says Lubezki, "and matching the lighting for the dinosaurs and so on was very difficult. But ultimately we got it the way we wanted."EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE CINEMATOGRAPHERLensers aren't afraid of the dark | For 'Hugo,' depth adds to character | Period pics invite wide spectrum of styles | Projecting turmoil Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Harpos Nate Berkus Show To Complete Its Run

Syndicated daytime talker The Nate Berkus Show will finish its run within the finish of year, its second. The show, situated through the famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey protege Nate Berkus, is produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Art galleries and also the new the new sony Pictures TV. After consideration, we've made a decision the Nate Berkus Show will not return for just about any third season inside the fall,” the two companies mentioned in the joint statement. “We are grateful for your hard work and heart that Nate, (professional producer) Corin Nelson in addition to their entire team have put to the show, and were happy using what theyve shipped.” The conclusion of Nate Berkus, first reported by Broadcasting & Cable, comes couple of years in to a three-year deal with the show’s core NBC station group. The crowd has dedicated to two new talk shows for fall situated by Rob Probst and Steve Harvey. Nate Berkus never needed off inside the ratings, calculating 1.4 million audiences this season. Im incredibly pleased with my diligent and gifted staff, and pleased with the show we're able to produce each day, Berkus mentioned in the statement.

Dodgers Win Appropriate For Early TV Rights Investing in an offer Fox To Appeal, Bloomberg Reviews

The La Dodgersreceived personal personal bankruptcy court permission Thursday to sell future TV rights towards the baseball games several days before their existing contract with Fox Sports allows, Bloomberg reported. The federal government personal personal bankruptcy judge in Delaware overruled Fox’s objection for the team entering early discussions with Fox rivals. Fox Sports has broadcasting rights using the 2013 season but was fighting to retain exclusive investing in an offer rights under that contract until November. 30, 2012. That contract may have precluded almost every other bidders right before that date nevertheless the judge’s decision Thursday removed that exclusivity.The judge gave Fox 45 days exclusivity get to a completely new agreement while using Dodgers. The countdown for the window started November 30. If no deal is showed up at, Time Warner Cable Corporation. is wanting enter into towards the fray. It already won the rights to broadcast La Opponents games around the new regional sports network which will replace previous rights holder Fox Sports. Competition for sports programming is driving up prices for rights and enabling early investing in an offer round the Dodgers will most likely increase the requirement for they inside the approaching purchase. The Dodgers declared personal personal bankruptcy in June with the notion that comes from purchasing media rights would be familiar with pay creditors. Current team owner Frank McCourt designed to retain possession but Major league baseball made the decision to some purchase to get rid of McCourt, whose stewardship remains under optimal. Fox appeals the ruling. Meantime the Dodgers and Fox will endeavour to find out whether discussions for just about any new TV contract can begin immediately or must wait pending the network’s advantage of Thursday’s ruling. No matter the end result, any acquisition of TV rights demands the approval in the personal personal bankruptcy judge,Mlb as well as the winning bidder for your team.

Rosie ODonnell: Ive Been Engaged For Months

First Published: December 7, 2011 2:34 PM EST Credit: WireImage LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Rosie ODonnell attends Rosies Building Dreams for Kids Gala at The NY Marriott Marquis, NYC, on September 19, 2011Its been a whirlwind romance for Rosie ODonnell and her fiance Michelle Rounds, who announced their engagement on Monday after going public with their romance in September. Now, Rosie, 49, has revealed they have been engaged for quite some time, though the talk show host initially opted to keep the news private. Michelle said to me a few months ago, when we got engaged, she said, How come you didnt say it on your show? And I was like, Honey, I dont know how. I didnt know how to say it, Rosie said Tuesday, on her Oprah Winfrey Network talk show, The Rosie Show. Rosie who has four children with former partner Kelli Carpenter and split from ex-girlfriend Tracy Kachtick-Anders in February admitted the idea of putting her love life out there for the public makes her uncomfortable. You dont want to become one of those celebrities that talks about their relationship ad nauseum and makes it into a fairy tale thing, she said. And then they go and have an affair with somebody. I dont want to say any names, she added, jokingly. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Rosies rep confirmed the engagement news to Access on Monday. The rep told Access the two will continue to split their time between NY City and Chicago, where the star films The Rosie Show. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A&E Buys Cop Drama Getting A Twist From Tom Fontana And Craig Levinson

A&E Network has teamed with Homicide alums Tom Fontana and Craig Levinson for your Box, a completely new half-hour cop drama that occurs largely within the walls from the interrogation room. The cable network has bought two scripts within the project, that is put together by Fontana. El Born Area can be a half-hour drama which includes a small ensemble of detectives simply because they interrogate the key factor suspect or witness from the situation. The spine of each half-hour episode will be the verbal dance between cop and suspect in “the box,” while using complete story in the crime, the analysis as well as the legal hurdles woven into and around the interrogation. The Box takes most likely probably the most thrilling scene from the crime procedural and puts it at center stage in aunique format, mentioned Bob DeBitetto, Leader and General Manager from the&E Network and BIO Funnel. If selected around series, the project might be produced by Arvin Brown (NCIS), George Stelzner additionally to UTA-repped Fontana and Levinson through their The Levinson/Fontana Co. Furthermore for the Box, Fontana and Levinson recently setup Musketeers 3., a cop drama devoted to some rookie cop within the CW, which Fontana is writing additionally to executive creating with Levinson.

This Rock Band Perry Ecstatic Over Grammy Nomination

First Launched: December 1, 2011 4:41 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption This Rock Band Perry Around The Grammy Nomination: Its Wonderful La, Calif. -- This Rock Band Perry received their second Grammy nomination on Wednesday as well as the country trio is finished the moon readily. Its kind of wonderful, lead singer Kimberly Perry told Access Hollywoods Take advantage of Robinson within the Grammy nominations concert in La of the greatest New Artist jerk. Were ecstatic. The boys which i will be deeply deeply in love with the Grammys Im speaking like, designed a celebration from this each year, she ongoing, referencing bandmates/brothers and sisters Reid and Neil Perry. So, for people its like the Super Bowl! The 28-year-old singer mentioned this rock band whose breakthrough hit, Essentially Die Youthful, did not land in any country groups relating to this years Grammy ballot since it was up for top Country Song a year ago features a attempted and examined way of keeping their nerves away at award shows. We always kind of target the assumption that have been not receiving any nominations or honours, so then were amazed, she told Take advantage of. So tonight, i had been amazed! Itll be our first-time to ever go to the Grammys, to become there while using nominees its just apt to be an remarkable evening, she added. The 54th Grammys will air on February 12 on CBS. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Daniel Craig Calls The Kardashians 'F--ing Idiots'

Its safe to say that James Bond himself, "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" star Daniel Craig, isnt Tivo-ing "Keeping Up With The Kardashians." The actor recently chatted with British GQ and had these words for the reality stars that may leave them both shaken and stirred. "Look at the Kardashians, they're worth millions," he said, according to E! Online. "I don't think they were that badly off [financially] to begin with but now look at them. You see that and you think, 'What, you mean all I have to do is behave like a f--king idiot on television and then you'll pay me millions?'" It seems Mr. Craig, who keeps his private life (including his wedding to Rachel Weisz earlier this year) very private, doesnt get why anyone would want to put so much of themselves out there Kardashian style. "I'm not judging itwell, I am obviously," he said. "I think there's a lot to be said for keeping your own counsel ... It's not about being afraid to be public with your emotions or about who you are and what you stand for. But if you sell it off it's gone. You can't buy it backyou can't buy your privacy back. Ooh I want to be alone. F--k you. We've been in your living room. We were at your birth. You filmed it for us and showed us the placenta and now you want some privacy?" Craig had this final sentiment for folks like the Kardashians: A secret is a secret in my mind." Alrighty then. Do you agree with Craig's thoughts on the Kardashians? Weigh in in the comments section and on Twitter!

REVIEW: The Lady Flubs Its Chance to Tell the Story of Aung San Suu Kyi

There’s something immobile at the center of The Lady, a kind of Botoxed biopic with an unlikely director — Luc Besson — manning the syringe. Technically, that something is the figure of Aung San Suu Kyi: Here the Burmese activist is played by Michelle Yeoh, who gets the already wearisome Shepard Fairey treatment on the film’s poster, and seems to have attended the special edition stamp school of acting in preparation for the role. Almost to a scene, Yeoh is so still and serene she’s practically submerged, her dialogue seeming to rise like beatific air bubbles that burst into tiny, untroubled smiles at the surface. Rather than ripple out — and risk the suggestion of any small mercy of movement whatever — Yeoh’s performance forms a kind of undertow that pulls the surrounding story and characters into the hagiographic shallows, where they float like sea monkeys with better set dressing, blooping away about Burmese democracy. Besson begins The Lady with an X-ray of the origin story that opens his last producing project, Colombiana: A young girl bidding farewell to her about-to-be martyred father. Here it is Suu Kyi being kissed good-bye in 1947 by her dad, Burma’s interim prime minister and founder of its independent army, before he is killed in a coup. From there we move to Oxford in 1998, where Suu Kyi’s husband, Michael (David Thewlis), has just been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. Michael’s twin brother (also Thewlis) shows up to offer some words of comfort, and we learn that his wife has been stuck in Burma for almost a decade, and he hasn’t seen her in three years. This little info drop is the first of several pieces of rather pressing news that are revealed, if not dully, then with a distinct lack of dramatic horse sense. Suu Kyi’s story is worthy of Puccini, which is its own challenge, but The Lady lays its cards down so casually that it would be easy to assume that anyone might interrupt an urgent personal visit from England home to Burma — as Suu Kyi does during a subsequent flashback to 1988 — to give a game-changing speech at a massive political rally for peace, or that receiving a Nobel Prize is as easy as buttering up an insider at an academic cocktail party. From that 1988 trip, the story of Suu Kyi’s conversion to homeland activism takes over, but our sense of Burma’s political climate remains murky and malleable. Elections and sentencings happen without any real sense of what’s at stake, beyond the dictatorial gamesmanship of the country’s military junta, led by a cigarette-sucking cartoon of General Ne Win (Htun Lin). Much of what follows alternates between scenes of Suu Kyi — who transitions seamlessly from Oxford housewife with a writing habit to saintly figurehead who is never less than fully turned out in elegant silks with flowers tucked into her hair — inspiring the people with stump speeches for peace, and the General’s fist-shaking schemes to detain her. Detain he does, with years-long house arrests, periods that for reasons that are poorly understood continue despite the fact that Suu Kyi wins a 1990 election by a landslide. Her family — Thewlis and two teenage sons played by Jonathan Raggett and Jonathan Woodhouse — are allowed to visit intermittently, but even when she’s free, Suu Kyi vows not to leave Burma, knowing she would not be permitted to return. What is actually accomplished by this vow is frozen, like the rest of The Lady, inside of Suu Kyi’s Mona Lisa smile. When Besson presses on the romantic drama of the central couple’s separation, the script (written by Rebecca Frayn) tatters under the strain: Thewlis is neutered into a piece of tweedy furniture — constant, supportive, there — who says things like, “If they think I’m going to take this lying down they’ve got another thing coming!” and “Another refusal, and all the while time slipping through my fingers!” Suu Kyi says she has a terrible temper but endures her mother’s death, her family’s absence, and a hunger strike with the same temperate, monsoon-proof expression. Given The Lady’s Teflon, cinema-of-quality surface (the odd vernal, Asiatic vista is thrown in for variety) and almost childishly palatable contents (triple-blended for global smoothness), the film’s two organic moments feel miraculous. The first illustrates the translation of Suu Kyi’s heated standoff with the militia into myth as it is pantomimed across Rangoon in a brief, brilliant montage. The second is much (muuuuch) further on, as Suu Kyi shares in her Nobel Prize ceremony by transistor radio, an award her family accepts in her stead in an unexpectedly lyrical sequence. Knowing that it’s still possible to breathe life into Pachelbel’s Canon only enhances the sense that the rest of this somnolent hymn to a national hero is a sorely missed opportunity. Follow Michelle Orange on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.