Beautiful British model Julie Christie (as Diana Scott) reflects upon her vacuous life as a swinging sixties jet setter... "Darling" is a time capsule. It's best-remembered for providing Ms. Christie with her "Best Actress" Oscar. Christie, if less her character, epitomized "Mod" in 1965. More extraordinary, in hindsight, is the work of director John Schlesinger - his ability to telegraph observations with a sharp bite, and to elicit fine performances, is on display throughout, and would reach fruition in a few years.
Christie's "Diana" is not very engaging in either a positive or negative way. You really don't like her much... You really don't dislike her much... She simply portrays empty sexual urgency. The film's narrative would have been improved by having the film's most likable character, Dirk Bogarde's "Robert Gold", as the moderator - yearning to understand Christie's mysterious and impossible to satisfy urges. Her pointless narration could be replaced by her male companions, beginning and ending with Mr. Bogarde.
****** Darling (8/3/65) John Schlesinger ~ Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey, Roland Curram
Christie's "Diana" is not very engaging in either a positive or negative way. You really don't like her much... You really don't dislike her much... She simply portrays empty sexual urgency. The film's narrative would have been improved by having the film's most likable character, Dirk Bogarde's "Robert Gold", as the moderator - yearning to understand Christie's mysterious and impossible to satisfy urges. Her pointless narration could be replaced by her male companions, beginning and ending with Mr. Bogarde.
****** Darling (8/3/65) John Schlesinger ~ Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey, Roland Curram