{image1}Who could have believed Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath? Despite any fears, however, the Hollywood star makes a good showing as the darkest of 20th century American poets in the new biopic, "Sylvia," directed by New Zealander Christine Jeffs, who made a splash with her debut feature, "Rain," two years ago.
While at university in England in 1956, Plath met fellow poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig) and together the pair began a stormy life together. Plath had already considered suicide many times and had tried her hand at it, unsuccessfully, a few times, too.
At first, Ted and Sylvia are the model couple. Two brilliant poets working together in one house. But when they hit road blocks in their work, road blocks appear in their relationship and Plath's jealousy becomes all-consuming.
But just when we begin to think that she's being unreasonable, we realize that Hughes is giving her every good reason to be on the lookout for potential competition for his affection.
Despite the fact that they have children, the couple seems to pay scant attention to them and when Hughes leaves home, he strolls past his daughter on the way to the car without the slightest sign that he even sees her there.
That was part of the Sylvia and Ted's problem. Each was ensconced in their own little world and no one could get in. Worse, neither could get out enough to make the effort to forge a long-lasting bridge.
The ending is inevitable and certainly no secret to anyone even remotely familiar with the basics of American literature, but although we see it coming, it is no less difficult to confront.
Paltrow shows a hitherto unseen depth and self-assuredness in portraying the complex Plath, whose dark side was tempered by a joie di vivre that may have rarely reared its head in her verse.
Craig is also fine as Hughes, a similarly complex character that waffles between his caring and love for Sylvia and his complete fascination with himself.
A biopic is not always an easy thing to make, but Jeffs makes it look easy, with fine casting, a good script and a rosy glow that serves as a counterpoint to a terribly sad story all around.
"Sylvia" opens Fri., Dec. 5.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
