Grey Gardens

Aroview: Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore resurrect iconic mother-daughter eccentrics Big and Little Edie, in this neat little biopic that’s a must for fans of the cult Maysles brothers documentary.

Courtesy of an obsessive attention to detail, through which keynote scenes and locations are perfectly imitated, the film lives up to the legend of the Beales, whose back-story until now has remained largely unexplored. What we get is a behind-the-scenes reenactment of the making of GREY GARDENS intercut with lush flashbacks to the duo’s halcyon days among the upper crust of New York and East Hampton society. Meanwhile, Lange, and in particular Barrymore turn in uncanny performances that, more than simply cloning mannerisms, capture the spirit and sadness of two ladies at once fiercely individualistic yet debilitated by co-dependency.