The Notorious Bettie Page
Frustratingly skin deep.
This somewhat threadbare biopic tells tale of glamour model Bettie Page, who found fame in the "gentleman's" magazines of the early '50s. We race from her early years and a whirlwind of abuse, through her increasingly risque (if repetitive) photo shoots, up to a 1955 "Smut Probe" Senate hearing, as she all the while tries to reconcile her religious beliefs with the notion that she might be doing something wicked. Star Gretchen Mol is certainly game, and what charm the film has is primarily due to her sweet but intelligent performance. The fuzzy black and white photography lends it a period veracity (look out for the glorious Technicolor Miami though), but a lack of insight into Bettie's motivation makes the overall experience frustratingly skin deep. [Paul Greenwood]