Dan's Papers - July 27, 2007 - Guy de Fraumeni's Hollywod In The Hamptons

The Potter-trained, potty crowd is still flying high with Harry Potter mania, following the release of the seventh and final book of the series only ten days after the opening of the movie version of the fifth, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The true Potter fans will be delighted to learn the outcome of the prophecy that either Harry or the evil Lord Voldemort must die, "for neither can live while the other survives," and since they've been accustomed to knowing the basic happenings of the movie beforehand, the new film will not necessarily reduce any of the stupefying power of the J.K. Rowling empire of witchery.

Sadly, I am too old, a rangy tough gizzard-of-a-wizard, too wise to hazard a guess as to whether following the "final" book, Harry will be retired from the magical Hogwarts and begin a new adult mini-saga. Harry's portrayal actor, Daniel Radcliff, has been appearing on the London stage in Peter Shaffer's play Equus, baring his nude body and soul. You could say he's grown up. Mr. Radcliff is 17, two years older than his seminal character role as Harry. Maybe we mostly see his signature eyeglasses and the scar on his forehead and not the difference in him since he was 11, but miraculously it's pure wizardry that he's held his own, taken on by all the creme de la Devonshire creme of double rich British actors he quietly is the star. I am a movie person. Therefore, I am bowled over by the stellar - yes, I said stellar - cast of British thespians that rule the acting waves. I think the Potter book people also love the movies because it gives faces, great physical fill in and blood to Ms. Rowling's colorful but black-on-white descriptions.

It should be of interest to us that Ms. Rowling's longest Potter novel to date (900 pages) should wind up as one of the shortest movies (2 and 1/4 hours). Pat its new director David Yates (of British TV excellence) on the back for astute prescience in the possible waning of interest in a well-worn book and a storyline with a lot of plot intricacies but not an overload of action! With some very intelligent slimming by Michael Goldenberg, the movie is still substantially fattening of the senses. The Phoenix novel was written after 9/11 and it is natural to see its effect on the political stance of plotting. It begins with a Dementor attack and darkens quickly with adult grimness. Youthful Quidditch games of magical manifestations are swept aside as if by the swift brooms of witchery. Stupify! is the watchword.

Harry and Cho (Katie Leung) continue being lovey dovey and along comes Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), but dark days ahead include Bellatrix Lestrange (terror-striking Helena Bonham Carter) and a stark menace in pink, Dolores Umbridge (wonderfully played by Imelda Staunton) is put in charge at Hogwarts and fascistically installs old-fashioned values, "progress must be discouraged!" It is the men, however, that infest the troubles and woes in Harry's battling the Dark Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes is malevolent as ever). Harry's celebrity has become a sword used against him. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic (Robert Hardy) tries Harry in court for using magic illegally. Poor Harry's reputation has been tarred and he's jeered at school. Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), Harry's foe and sometimes ally, snickers snidely. The shaky headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) comes to his aid and his godfather Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) reveals new secrets that will enhance the defense against Voldemort's oncoming Armageddon. Have I succeeded in stupefying you?

No amount of wand waving can make up for the lack of narrative clarity that beleaguers multipart stories. Somehow, the audience must keep the balance of collected data and that to be anticipated adjusted because the reader or viewer is kind of on a high wire midway between the beginning and the end. Harry's ongoing temptation by the Dark Side continues in its Skywalkeresque don't-let-it-end way. Harry Potter's Order of the Phoenix alights upon bureaucratic impropriety, fear and war mongering, smear campaigns, good and evil armies, Orwellian thought control - I'd better stop now. Mystery is part of the magic and importantly we don't want to intrude upon anyone's enjoying the movie as sheer escape from the aforementioned laundry list of worrisome things the film incorporates into its already controversial, presumed endorsement of witchcraft, sorcery and, of course, the devil.

Magic can perform miracles. Does The Order of the Phoenix indicate a future like the Phoenix? It let itself be burned to ashes then arose to live again.

Guy Jean de Fraumeni is the producer/writer/director of award-winning European and American feature films. He has been a judge at Major Film and TV award competitions, including the Oscars, the Emmy's and various film festivals. Sarah Halsey assists him.