View source for W.E.

{{Short description|2011 film by Madonna}}
{{Other uses|We (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = W.E.
| image          = WE film poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Madonna Ciccone]]
| producer       = Madonna Ciccone<br />Kris Thykier
| writer         = Madonna Ciccone<br />[[Alek Keshishian]]
| starring       = {{plain list|
*[[Abbie Cornish]]
*[[James D'Arcy]]
*[[Andrea Riseborough]]
*[[Oscar Isaac]]
*[[Haluk Bilginer]]
}}
| music          = [[Abel Korzeniowski]]
| cinematography = Hagen Bogdanski
| editing        = [[Danny B. Tull]]
| studio         = Semtex Films<br />[[IM Global]]<ref>{{cite web|title=W.E. (2012) - Financial Information|work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=12 March 2021|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/W-E#tab=summary}}</ref>
| distributor    = [[StudioCanal UK|StudioCanal]] (United Kingdom)<br/>[[The Weinstein Company]]<ref name="mojo"/><ref name="wein"/> (United States)
| released       = {{Film date|2011|09|01|[[Venice Film Festival|Venice]]|2011|12|9|United States|2012|01|20|United Kingdom}}
| runtime        = 119 minutes
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* United States
}}
| language       = {{Plainlist|
* English
* French
}}
| budget         = [[GBP|£]]11&nbsp;million (${{To USD|11|GBR|year=2011}} million)
| gross          = $2 million<ref name="mojo">{{mojo title|wemadonna|W.E.}}</ref>
}}
'''''W.E.''''' (stylised '''''W./E.''''') is a 2011 [[historical drama|historical]] [[Romance film#Romantic drama|romantic drama]] film written and directed by [[Madonna Ciccone]] and starring [[Abbie Cornish]], [[Andrea Riseborough]], [[Oscar Isaac]], [[Richard Coyle]], and [[James D'Arcy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-dec-09-la-et-w.e.-20111209-story.html|title=Madonna Louise Ciccone directs 'W.E.,' which clumsily contrives parallel stories about Wallis Simpson and a modern Manhattanite named Wally.|first=Betsy|last=Sharkey|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 9, 2011|access-date=May 13, 2018}}</ref> The screenplay was co-written by [[Alek Keshishian]], who previously worked with Madonna Louise Ciccone on her 1991 documentary ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare|Truth or Dare]]'' and two of her music videos. Although the film was panned by critics and was a [[box office bomb]], it received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]. This marked Isaac's and Cornish's second film together after ''[[Sucker Punch (2011 film)|Sucker Punch]]''.
The film tells the story of two women separated by over six decades. In 1998, lonely New Yorker Wally Winthrop is obsessed with [[Edward VIII]]'s [[Abdication of Edward VIII|abdication]] of the British throne so he could marry American [[Wallis Simpson]]. But Wally's research, including several visits to Sotheby's auction of the Windsor estate, reveals that the couple's life together was not as perfect as she thought. Traveling back and forth in time, ''W.E.'' intertwines Wally's journey of discovery in New York with the story of Wallis and Edward from the early days of their romance to the unraveling of their lives over the following decades.
==Plot==
Wallis "Wally" Winthrop is a young American housewife living in New York City in 1998. Although she is neglected, abused, and left sexually frustrated by William, her workaholic psychiatrist husband, she is comforted by the love story of [[Edward VIII]] and [[Wallis Simpson]]. Wally travels to the [[Sotheby's]] auction of the Windsor estate, which showcases items used by Wallis and Edward in their lifetime and evokes their relationship.
In 1930, Edward throws a party at his new home at [[Fort Belvedere, Surrey|Fort Belvedere]] in [[Windsor Great Park]] and meets Wallis through [[Lady Furness]] (his mistress). They are attracted to each other (despite Wallis' marriage to [[Ernest Simpson]]), and become lovers while Lady Furness is abroad. At Sotheby's Wally is interrupted by a guard, Evgeni, who is interested in her.
Edward and Wallis continue their affair while touring Europe, where he gives her jewels and adopts the initials W.E. By the end of 1934, Edward is obsessed with Wallis. He introduces her to his parents, [[King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], but she is criticized by Edward's sister-in-law [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth]]. A distraught Wallis wants to end the relationship, but Edward pacifies her.
In New York, William refuses to conceive a child with Wally and she turns to [[in vitro fertilisation]]. Attracted to Evgeni, she goes on a date with him. Wally asks Evgeni about Edward and Wallis' story, pondering her relationship with William. After attending the auction at Sotheby's and spending ten thousand dollars, Wally returns home to a drunken William and they fight.
The [[National Government (United Kingdom)|National Government]] refuses to accept Edward's intention to marry Wallis because she is a divorcee. On the night of December 11, 1936, Edward announces by radio to the nation and the [[British Empire|Empire]] that he is [[Abdication of Edward VIII|abdicating]] the throne in favour of his brother [[George VI|Bertie]]: "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love." Wallis, who has fled to Villa Lou Viei near [[Cannes]], hears the speech and reconciles with Edward.
Evgeni desperately tries to phone Wally. Racing to her apartment, he finds that she has been injured by William and brings her to his home in [[Brooklyn]]. As she recovers, Wally finds new hope with Evgeni and the courage to divorce William.
Reading a series of letters in billionaire [[Mohamed Al-Fayed]]'s collection, Wally realises that Wallis was trapped in her relationship with Edward for the rest of her life. In an imaginary dialogue with Wallis, they discuss the similarity of their lives; in the end, only Wally finds happiness. Abandoning her fascination with Wallis and Edward's relationship, Wally learns from her doctor that she is finally pregnant.
==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Abbie Cornish]] as Wally Winthrop<ref name="awe"/>
* [[Andrea Riseborough]] as [[Wallis Simpson]]<ref name="press"/>
* [[James D'Arcy]] as [[Edward VIII]]<ref name="press"/>
* [[Oscar Isaac]] as Evgeni<ref name="press"/>
* [[Richard Coyle]] as William Winthrop<ref name="press"/>
* [[David Harbour]] as [[Ernest Simpson]]
* [[James Fox]] as [[King George V]]<ref name="fox family"/>
* [[Judy Parfitt]] as [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]]
* [[Haluk Bilginer]] as [[Mohamed Al-Fayed]]
* [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] as [[Stanley Baldwin]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54838209 |title=Geoffrey Palmer, TV and film actor, dies at 93 |work=BBC News |date=November 6, 2020 |access-date=6 November 2020}}</ref>
* [[Natalie Dormer]] as [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]]<ref name="eliza"/>
* [[Laurence Fox]] as [[King George VI]] ("Bertie")
* [[Douglas Reith]] as [[Peregrine Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow|Lord Brownlow]]
* [[Katie McGrath]] as [[Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness|Thelma, Lady Furness]]<ref name="thelmafurness"/>
{{div end}}
==Production==
===Development===
{{Quote box|align=right|width=30%|quote=I directed ''Filth and Wisdom'' to teach myself about film-making ... And now, with this self-punishing process of being a producer and a writer and a director, I'm taking the next step.|source=—Madonna, on her decision to direct ''W.E.''<ref name="latmad"/>}}
Madonna had written the script for ''W.E.'' with director [[Alek Keshishian]]. Her husband [[Guy Ritchie]] helped her with the script and screenplay, advising her to meet with actors [[Mark Strong]] and [[Toby Kebbell]] (who had major roles in Ritchie's last film, ''[[RocknRolla]]'').<ref>{{cite news|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|title=Madonna to direct British scandal|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/entertainment/madonna-to-direct-british-scandal-14683382.html|access-date=July 7, 2010|newspaper=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]|date=February 5, 2010}}</ref> Madonna began writing ''W.E.'' after she finished directing ''[[Filth and Wisdom]]'' (2008). She had the idea for ''W.E.'' before ''Filth and Wisdom'', but directed the latter because she felt that she lacked the experience to direct a big-budget film.<ref name="gusvan"/> Madonna described ''W.E.'' as a much bigger story:
<blockquote>
There are more characters, and the three of them basically changed the course of British history. King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to be with an American woman, Wallis Simpson, and that's part of my story, so I've had to do an enormous amount of research and interview people. So I have an enormous responsibility to that, and then I have a responsibility to the actual auction, which really happened. Then there's the new story, the point of view, which is this girl who has this obsession and is going to the auctions and stuff. So it's a much more layered, complicated piece than ''Filth and Wisdom''.<ref name="gusvan"/>
</blockquote>
After the writing began, Madonna realised that she needed help due to the breadth of the subject.<ref name="gusvan"/> She enlisted  Keshishian, who was well-acquainted with Madonna after directing the 1991 documentary ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare|Truth or Dare]]'' and two of her music videos. The writing process was dynamic, with Madonna and Keshishian emailing developed scripts, telephoning, and writing on each other's laptops.<ref name="gusvan"/> Although ''W.E.'' was initially reported as a musical about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Madonna said that the main story was not about them. It was about Wally Winthrop: a young, married New Yorker in 1998 who is obsessed with what she thought was the ultimate love story—[[Abdication of Edward VIII|Edward's abdication of the royal throne]] because of his love for Simpson.<ref name="press"/> Simpson's character was a spiritual guide for Winthrop in the film. Its timeline ranges from pre-[[World War II]] England (1936–37) to 1998 New York City, and the storyline interweaves the two eras. Madonna decided to use the 1998 [[Sotheby's]] auction of Edward and Simpson's estate as a pivot point.<ref name="gusvan"/>
===Inspiration===
{{multiple image
| align = left
| total_width = 300
| image1 = The Duke of Windsor (1945).jpg
| alt1 = Edward VIII looking to his left
| image2 =
| alt2 = Wallis Simpson sitting
| footer = The [[abdication of Edward VIII]], after which he married [[Wallis Simpson]], was the basis of ''W.E.''{{'s}} plot.
}}
Madonna was inspired to direct the film by the controversial lives of Edward and Simpson.<ref name="gusvan"/> She said that if she brought up [[Edward VIII|King Edward VIII]] and [[Wallis Simpson]] at a dinner party or other social gathering, "It's like throwing a [[Molotov cocktail]] into the room. Everyone erupts into an argument about who they were. I mean, they were very controversial&nbsp;– and continue to be. So, of course, I'm very attracted to that."<ref name="obsession">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23858700-has-madonnas-wallis-simpson-obsession-gone-too-far.do|title=Has Madonna's Wallis Simpson obsession gone too far?|last=Wilson|first=Andrew|date=July 23, 2010|access-date=July 28, 2010|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726154349/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23858700-has-madonnas-wallis-simpson-obsession-gone-too-far.do|archive-date=July 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna studied the history of the abdication, and tried to understand what led Edward to give up the throne.<ref name="rsin">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/madonna-helms-romance-of-the-century-20110916|title=Madonna Helms 'Romance of the Century'|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=December 20, 2011|last=Bliss|first=Karen|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>
The singer spent two years researching Simpson's life and writing the script. She wallpapered an empty room in her house with pictures from auction catalogs and photographs of the Duke and Duchess at different ages.<ref name="teleint"/> "I was sitting in a room that was completely and utterly inundated with their images so I could soak up their energy. I was trying to understand the nature of their love story and trying to figure out for myself if there is such a thing as perfect love," she said.<ref name="teleint"/> Uninterested in a biopic about Simpson, Madonna created a modern-day story about Wally Winthrop to provide a point of view: "We can all read the same history book and have a different point of view. So it was important for me to not present the story and say, 'This is the one and only story,' but to say, 'This story moved me and inspired me.' That's how the two love stories were created."<ref name="rsin"/>
One of the first characters Madonna developed for the film was Evgeni, a Russian immigrant living in Brooklyn and working in [[Manhattan]]. The character was inspired by [[Eugene Hütz]], who played the lead role in ''Filth and Wisdom''.<ref name="gusvan">{{cite news|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/madonna/2/|title=Madonna: An Interview|last=Van Sant|first=Gus|date=May 2010|access-date=June 15, 2011|work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]|author-link=Gus Van Sant|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624215753/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/madonna/2|archive-date=June 24, 2011|pages=2–4|url-status=live}}</ref> Another motivation for the project was Edward and Simpson, who became the subject of media scrutiny and public vilification and were ostracised by the royal family. Madonna, interested in the cult of celebrity, found that many of the rumours surrounding Simpson's life were unfounded and wanted to portray Simpson as a human being with imperfections and a vulnerable side. "The message of the film is to realise that in the end happiness lies in your own head and that we are in fact in charge of our destiny," she said.<ref name="rsin"/>
===Casting===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| perrow = 2
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Abbie Cornish (8140596577).jpg
| alt1 = Abbie Cornish smiling at the camera
| image2 = Andrea Riseborough @ Toronto International Film Festival 2011.jpg
| alt2 = Andrea Riseborough, wearing sunglasses
| image3 = James DArcy (8008892914).jpg
| alt3 = James D'Arcy, smiling
| image4 = Oscar Isaac 2013.jpg
| alt4 = Oscar Isaac, left profile
| footer = Clockwise from upper left: [[Abbie Cornish]], [[Andrea Riseborough]], [[Oscar Isaac]] and [[James D'Arcy]]
}}
Madonna began work casting ''W.E.'' after returning from Africa, where she had been on vacation.<ref name="gusvan"/> She remembered finding the casting difficult since many refused to sign for a particular role. Madonna contrasted the process of film casting with recording a new album, where she can easily choose people with whom she wants to work.<ref name="gusvan"/> [[Abbie Cornish]] was signed to play Wally Winthrop, while King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were played by [[James D'Arcy]] and [[Andrea Riseborough]]. Evgeni was played by [[Oscar Isaac]] and Wally's husband, William, was played by [[Richard Coyle]].<ref name="press">{{cite news|url=http://www.madonna.com/news/title/we-press-release|title=''W.E.''&nbsp;– Press Release|date=February 9, 2010|publisher=Madonna.com|access-date=July 7, 2010}}</ref> [[Vera Farmiga]] was initially signed for the role of Simpson, but withdrew when she became pregnant.<ref name="post">{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=Madonna & Vera Farmiga's Royal Engagement|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b170928_madonna_vera_farmigas_royal_engagement.html|access-date=July 7, 2010|publisher=[[E!]]|date=March 15, 2010}}</ref>
The singer saw Riseborough as a young [[Margaret Thatcher]] in the [[BBC]] film, ''[[The Long Walk to Finchley]]'', and wanted her to play Simpson: "I was looking for a certain quality: something fragile, androgynous and yet feminine in a really old-fashioned way. When I saw Andrea, I knew immediately she was the one".<ref name="teleint">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/8974028/Madonna-interview-on-directing-W.E..html|title=Madonna interview: on directing W.E.|last=Hiscock|first=John|date=December 20, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Cornish said about her role as Winthrop, "Madonna is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to define her&nbsp;– and that's admirable. She's studied every aspect of what happened with Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII [...] It's a fascinating insight into class and romance. Madonna's created a contemporary woman—who I will play—called Wally, who is fascinated by what happened to Mrs. Simpson."<ref name="awe">{{cite news|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_Story.aspx?id=ENTEN20100134736&keyword=&subcatg=|title=Abbie Cornish is in awe of director Madonna|date=March 13, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|publisher=NDTV India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710132331/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_Story.aspx?id=ENTEN20100134736&keyword=&subcatg=|archive-date=July 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="post"/> Madonna's daughter Lourdes was offered a part, but the singer decided against the idea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1634999/20100329/madonna.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401082220/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1634999/20100329/madonna.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 1, 2010|title=Madonna's Daughter Lourdes Will Not Be Starring In Her Next Film|last=Montgomery|first=Jason|date=March 29, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|publisher=MTV News}}</ref> However, she later allowed Lourdes to appear in the film as a young Wally Winthrop.<ref name=lourdesrole>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659366/madonna-lourdes-we-abbie-cornish.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309012303/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659366/madonna-lourdes-we-abbie-cornish.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2011|title=Madonna's Daughter's Role In 'W.E' Is Revealed|date=March 7, 2011|access-date=March 7, 2011|first=Eric|last=Ditzian|publisher=MTV News}}</ref>
[[Ewan McGregor]] was offered the role of King Edward VIII,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/2010/03/23/ewan-mcgregor-to-play-king-edward-viii-in-new-film-w-e-produced-by-madonna-86908-22132372/|title=Ewan McGregor to play King Edward VIII in new film W.E produced by Madonna|date=March 23, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]}}</ref> but he was replaced by James D'Arcy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canoe.com/divertissement/cinema/nouvelles/2010/06/07/14295291-relaxnews.html|title=James D'Arcy remplace Ewan McGregor|date=June 7, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127112422/http://www.canoe.com/divertissement/cinema/nouvelles/2010/06/07/14295291-relaxnews.html|archive-date=November 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Producer [[David Parfitt]] and casting director Nina Gold left ''W.E.'', with sources reporting that they had "creative differences" with Madonna and found that she struggled to "collaborate and delegate".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a218750/mcgregor-snub-threatens-madonnas-we.html|title=McGregor Snub Threatens Madonna's 'W.E' Movie|date=May 8, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|work=[[Digital Spy]]|last=Levine|first=Nick}}</ref> [[Margo Stilley]] was signed to play Lady Thelma Furness but left the project, citing "artistic differences" with Madonna: "I had the role, but we had artistic differences. She (Madonna) is really something. I wish the cast luck because they are all really talented."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a238713/margo-stilley-quits-madonnas-we.html|title=Artistic Differences Force Actress to Quit Madonna's Movie|date=July 5, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|work=Digital Spy|last=Stratham|first=Herby}}</ref> She was replaced by [[Katie McGrath]].<ref name="thelmafurness">{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/19/merlins-katie-mcgrath-being-directed-by-madonna-in-w-e-was-a-bit-odd-3321711/|title=Merlin's Katie McGrath: Being directed by Madonna in W.E. was a bit odd|date=December 19, 2012|work=Metro|access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Judy Parfitt]] was signed to play [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], and [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] was cast as [[Stanley Baldwin]]. Real-life father and son [[James Fox|James]] and [[Laurence Fox]] were signed as [[George V|King George V]] and his son, Bertie (Edward's younger brother).<ref name="fox family">{{cite news|title=Madonna casts Fox family for Wallis Simpson film|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10521347.stm|access-date=July 8, 2010|work=BBC News|date=July 7, 2010}}</ref> The BBC reported that members of the [[London Welsh School|London Welsh Center]] expressed an interest in appearing in a scene in which Edward is shocked by the living conditions in Welsh mining villages. A spokesperson for the centre, which was contacted by the film's casting agency, said: "I've had about 15 phone calls this morning, and yesterday was bedlam because everybody wants to be in a film with Madonna." The centre said that Welsh speakers were needed as extras in scenes of Edward's visits to the [[South Wales valleys]] in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/10571501.stm|title=Extras' interest for Madonna's film directing debut|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=July 12, 2010|work=BBC News}}</ref>
[[Natalie Dormer]] was cast as the young [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]] (Queen Mother). Dormer said about the role, "This country tends to remember the Queen Mother as a rather wrinkly 97-year-old, but I am playing her when she was quite an enchanting, engaging twenty- and thirty-something [...] She was quite a savage and savvy game player."<ref name="eliza">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7870311/Madonna-casts-Natalie-Dormer-to-portray-the-game-playing-Queen-Mother.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707060315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7870311/Madonna-casts-Natalie-Dormer-to-portray-the-game-playing-Queen-Mother.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2010|title=Madonna casts Natalie Dormer to portray the 'game-playing' Queen Mother|last=Eden|first=Richard|date=July 3, 2010|access-date=July 28, 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> Dormer's assessment of the role was noted by royal historian [[Hugo Vickers]], who was asked by Madonna to advise her about the characteristics of members of the royal family and confirmed that Madonna depicted the Queen Mother as an unfavorable influence on the relationship between Edward VIII and Simpson.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8566626/Tough-Madonna-increases-fears-about-Wallis-Simpson-film.html|title='Tough' Madonna increases fears about Wallis Simpson film|first=Tim|last=Walker|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=June 9, 2011|access-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref>
===Filming===
Wanting ''W.E.'' to be as authentic as possible, Madonna wanted to film in locations where the royal family live.<ref>{{cite web|title='Queen of Pop' wants help from the 'Queen'|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100134819&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=music|publisher=NDTV|access-date=July 7, 2010|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|date=March 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708133327/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100134819&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=music|archive-date=July 8, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="help">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7436669/Queen-of-pop-Madonna-seeks-help-from-the-real-Queen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317132347/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7436669/Queen-of-pop-Madonna-seeks-help-from-the-real-Queen.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2010|title=Queen of pop Madonna seeks help from the real Queen|last=Eden|first=Richard|date=March 13, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> She moved to the United Kingdom, since the film would take six months to shoot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/madonna-returning-uk-3429912|title=Madonna returning to UK|date=March 24, 2010|access-date=July 7, 2010|author=Staff Reporter|publisher=[[Television New Zealand]]}}</ref> Madonna largely self-financed the film, which cost [[GBP|£]]11&nbsp;million (${{To USD|11|GBR|year=2011}} million).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=2011-09-03 |title=Madonna takes royal risk |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/madonna-takes-royal-risk-1118042155/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jan-29-la-ca-madonna-20120129-story.html|title=Madonna: Back in the Public Eye|last=Keegan|first=Rebecca|date=January 29, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=3}}</ref> Filming began on July 5, 2010; locations included London and the [[home counties]], with trips to New York and France.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Scenes were filmed on the top two floors of the Abingdon Pub, followed by scenes at Club Quarters in [[Trafalgar Square]]. Filming was also done at [[Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/12/05/madonna-s-a-reel-lady-115875-22763638/|title=Madonna's a reel lady|last=Piper|first=Dean|date=December 5, 2010|access-date=December 5, 2010|work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref>
[[File:Stoke Park (8542650611).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Manicured garden|Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire, where exterior scenes were filmed]]
The production moved to France, where Madonna shot scenes with D'Arcy and Riseborough on Palm Beach in [[Marseille]] on July 29, 2010, and in [[Villefranche-sur-Mer]] on July 30.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Scenes were filmed with Cornish at the [[Le Meurice]] hotel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_madonna-taking-ages-to-shoot-scenes-for-new-flick-we_1422901|title=Madonna 'taking ages' to shoot scenes for new flick ''W.E''|date=August 13, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2010|work=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA India]]}}</ref> While shooting with Riseborough, Madonna and her team asked [[Cartier SA|Cartier]] to create copies of Simpson's extensive gem collection for the film. A bracelet slipped off Riseborough's wrist and was lost in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], and Madonna ordered an immediate replacement.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/replica-simpson-jewels-lost-on-madonna-movie_1187067|title=Replica Simpson Jewels Lost On Madonna Movie|date=December 1, 2010|access-date=December 5, 2010|magazine=[[Contactmusic.com]]}}</ref> Designer Arianne Phillips described filming which included Simpson's original jewelry:
<blockquote>
We were able to use archival pieces from [[Van Cleef & Arpels]], which came with a revolving door of security guards. The jewelry schedule was very complicated, because pieces had to go from Switzerland to Paris, and the shooting schedule was changing constantly. It was really a house of cards. There were a couple of times we got caught, scenes got moved up, and lucky for me, Madonna was able to make available her personal jewelry. When you see Wallis spraying the flowers with perfume, her black and white pearl and diamond [[Bulgari]] earrings are Madonna's.<ref name="vanint"/>
</blockquote>
Filming moved to New York in September, where Madonna shot scenes in Brooklyn. D'Arcy had to dance a ballet in one scene; he did not know ballet, and Madonna asked him to learn the steps. According to D'Arcy, the scene was "this extraordinary beautiful dance with [[Figure skating lifts|lifts]] and twirls and I can't do that, but you do because she [Madonna] somehow makes the impossible possible and it gives you amazing self-esteem when you do these things." Madonna also asked him to learn the [[bagpipes]] in six weeks and to ride horses.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/james-darcy-danced-madonna-082955591.html|title=James D'Arcy danced for Madonna|date=May 23, 2011|access-date=June 15, 2011|work=[[Yahoo! News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816172619/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/james-darcy-danced-madonna-082955591.html|archive-date=August 16, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Costumes===
[[File:Stephen Jones (1).jpg|upright|thumb|alt=A smiling Stephen Jones, seated at a table|Milliner Stephen Jones provided the film's hats.]]
After finishing the script and starting work on casting and production, Madonna realised that the film's budget would be high. Simpson's character had about 80&nbsp;costume changes, with dresses by designers such as [[Balenciaga]], [[Christian Dior]], [[Madeleine Vionnet]], and [[Elsa Schiaparelli]]. Most of her actual dresses were in museums (and unobtainable by Madonna), but many of the couture houses offered to recreate the dresses for her.<ref name="gusvan"/> When she asked for a [[Michael O'Connor (costume designer)|Michael O'Connor]] wedding dress (on display at the [[National Museum of Costume]] in Scotland) for a scene with Riseborough,<ref name="gown"/> museum general manager Margaret Roberts said that they were happy to send Madonna the dress: "Our Marriage in the Movies exhibition is packed with fabulous gowns that tell a story not only about the history of the period they represent, but also of Hollywood glamour and style [...] This is a dress that was made for the movies, so when we received the request from Madonna's production company, we were only too happy to oblige."<ref name="gown">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/scotland/south_scotland/10553365.stm|title=Madonna film seeks museum help for Wallis Simpson film|date=July 8, 2010|access-date=July 12, 2010|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Other fashion designers who worked on the film included [[John Galliano]] and [[List of Brazilians#Fashion designers|Issa]], who provided clothes; [[Pierre Cartier (jeweler)|Pierre Cartier]] supplied the jewels, and [[Stephen Jones (milliner)|Stephen Jones]] the hats.<ref name="obsession"/>
Madonna enlisted costume designer [[Arianne Phillips]] to create the film's dresses. The costumes included vintage pieces; others were remade based on patterns obtained from the museum, and the rest were freshly made.<ref name="gusvan"/> In a November 2011 interview with ''[[W (magazine)|W]]'' magazine, Philips said that she "started doing research in 2009, a year before [''W.E.''] began filming ... To me, Wallis Simpson was a style icon, but I didn’t know she was a couture client well before she met Edward. She was also a hungry whore for jewelry. Edward gave Wallis jewelry to make her feel royal. My first task was figuring out how to re-create those famous gifts."<ref name="wma">{{cite web|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/2011/11/madonna-on-set-we|title=Madonna: On Set W.E.|work=[[W (magazine)|W]]|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113153442/http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/2011/11/madonna-on-set-we|archive-date=November 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna sent a box of her research to Phillips so the designer could get a head start on the project.<ref name="vanint">{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/life/Film+fashion+follows+couture+titled+couple/5882322/story.html|title=Film fashion: 'W.E.' follows couture's titled couple|last=Moore|first=Booth|date=December 19, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2011|work=[[The Vancouver Sun]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117055308/http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Film+fashion+follows+couture+titled+couple/5882322/story.html|archive-date=January 17, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The singer understood the attention to detail needed to create the costumes, drawing from her own clothing which included [[Haute couture|couture]]. Phillips researched the clothing on display at the fashion departments of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York, the [[Musée de la mode et du textile]] in Paris, and the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] in London.<ref name="vanint"/> She then went to Los Angeles, where retailer Doris Raymond of The Way We Wore boutique opened her library of 1930s couture. There Phillips watched old newsreels from the [[University of California, Los Angeles|University of California]] archives.<ref name="vanint"/> When filming began, the designer moved into Madonna's guesthouse in London to watch the newsreels together and scrutinise the dresses.<ref name="vanint"/> Phillips contacted designers such as Cartier and [[Van Cleef & Arpels]] to replicate a cross bracelet and ten other pieces.<ref name="wma"/> For the gowns, undergarments, and dresses needed for Simpson's 60&nbsp;costume changes in the film, Phillips scoured the archives of [[Vionnet (company)|Vionnet]] and Schiaparelli and redesigned Simpson's clothing. Riseborough's first dress in the film was a re-creation of a dress owned by Simpson. Phillips accessorized one dress with an [[organza]] skirt and a diamond-bow brooch at the neck and obtained duplicates of others from the Cos Prop costume store in London.<ref name="vanint"/>
<blockquote>
Some of the pieces that the duchess actually ordered I thought were hideous. Those wouldn’t work for the movie, so we modified and invented. Wallis wasn’t pretty; she was handsome, at best. In England, it was noted over and over how unattractive she was. But Wallis was a lot of fun—very entertaining. She had a freedom to her that was definitely reflected in her clothes; the duchess was all about presentation. And that became her refuge and her prison.<ref name="wma"/>
</blockquote>
According to Phillips, Edward's choice of clothes was specific and he rebelled against what his father dictated as the protocol for dress; he wore navy-blue tails (instead of black) as formal wear.<ref name="vanint"/> The designer saw his original clothing at the [[National Museum of Costume]]. To re-create the look, Phillips contacted the [[luxury goods]] company [[Alfred Dunhill]], which understood the [[bespoke]] tailoring available in London's [[Savile Row]].<ref name="vanint"/> Dunhill provided Phillips with a tailor and fabrics from the mills which had created Edward's original fabrics. Phillips tailored the baggy look of the 1930s suits to make them appealing to a contemporary audience. All the costumes were hand-made, with a total of 60&nbsp;costumes created for Simpson and 30&nbsp;for Edward.<ref name="vanint"/>
===Music and soundtrack===
{{main|W.E. (soundtrack)}}
[[File:Abel Korzeniowski at FMF byVetulani 03.JPG|thumb|upright|left|alt=Abel Korzeniowski, standing and speaking into a hand-held microphone at a film-music festival|The film's soundtrack was composed by Abel Korzeniowski and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London in April 2011.]]
Polish composer [[Abel Korzeniowski]] composed the film's music.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Madonna-to-compose-song-for-WE/articleshow/8089430.cms|title=Madonna to compose song for 'W.E'|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref name="official">{{cite news|url=http://we-movie.com/|title=Official W./E. Trailer and Website|date=November 21, 2011|access-date=November 21, 2011|publisher=[[The Weinstein Company]]}}</ref> Madonna had heard Korzeniowski's work on the soundtrack of the 2009 drama film, ''[[A Single Man]]''. The singer remembered being "struck by the score's 'bittersweet' qualities, this melancholic, romantic, sweeping emotional kind of heartbreaking beauty."<ref name="kor"/> She asked ''A Single Man'' director, fashion designer [[Tom Ford]], about Korzeniowski and decided to sign him to compose ''W.E.''{{'}}s score.<ref name="kor">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/korzeniowski-following-madonna-s-marching-orders-1118047373/|title=Korzeniowski: Following Madonna's marching orders|last=Chagollan|first=Steve|date=December 16, 2011|access-date=December 16, 2011|work=Variety}}</ref> Madonna had incorporated parts of ''A Single Man''{{'s}} score into the screenplay and [[rough cut]] of ''W.E.''<ref name="kor"/> The score features [[string section|strings]], electric guitar, [[harp]], viola and piano, and the combination of instruments was used to bridge the film's two time periods.<ref name="kor"/>
Korzeniowski and conductor Terry Davies recorded a [[Heritage Orchestra|60-piece orchestra]] at London's [[Abbey Road Studios]] in April 2011, concentrating on the characters' emotional states; he was not very concerned with differentiating the film's time periods.<ref name="kor"/><ref name="presswe"/> The composer said in a ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' interview that for the scenes featuring Simpson, he tried to make the score more modern than for those with Winthrop.<ref name="kor"/> Madonna wanted Korzeniowski to keep the score simple and direct, thinking that as a classically trained musician he would overcomplicate the score.<ref name="kor"/> "It is not the type of score where you go through crazy harmonic changes and modulations," said the composer. "This was one of the very precise notes I got from Madonna, that I was not supposed to over-think this music."<ref name="kor"/> The score was inspired by the film's irrational love, which Korzeniowski said could be "just an illusion". He wanted the music to reflect the film's powerful and conflicting emotions through the melodies, which alternated between despair and sorrow and hope and joy.<ref name="presswe">{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/we-music-from-the-motion-picture--composed-by-abel-korzeniowski-to-be-released-digitally-on-interscope-records-jan-31st-137895083.html|title='W.E. Music From The Motion Picture' Composed by Abel Korzeniowski to be Released Digitally on Interscope Records Jan. 31st|date=January 21, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2012|agency=[[PR Newswire]]}}</ref>
Madonna contributed "[[Masterpiece (Madonna song)|Masterpiece]]", a new song produced by [[William Orbit]] which she co-wrote with [[Julie Frost]] and [[Jimmy Harry]], to the soundtrack.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} In the song, she sings about the pain of being in love with someone who is a great work of art: "If you were the Mona Lisa/ You'd be hanging in the Louvre/ Everyone would come to see you/ You'd be impossible to move."<ref name="idola"/> A ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' writer described "Masterpiece" as a "slowed-down, moody ballad" which was "simple, direct and reminiscent of her sound in the 1990s". Its lyrics echo the film's love story: "And I'm right by your side/ Like a thief in the night/ I stand in front of a masterpiece/ And I can't tell you why it hurts so much to be in love with a masterpiece."<ref name="bbbiz"/> The song plays over ''W.E.''{{'s}} end credits and was later included on Madonna's album, ''[[MDNA (album)|MDNA]]''.<ref name="idola">{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/6100542/madonna-unveils-her-masterpiece|title=Madonna Unveils Her 'Masterpiece'|author=Idolator Stuff|date=December 3, 2011|access-date=December 5, 2011|publisher=[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]]}}</ref> The soundtrack was released [[music download|digitally]] through [[Interscope Records]] on January 31, 2012.<ref name="presswe"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00702OAA2|title=W.E. – Music From The Motion Picture: Abel Korzeniowski|website=Amazon|date=January 31, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>
==Promotion and release==
[[File:Madonna Toronto Film Festival.jpg|thumb|upright|Madonna at the premiere of ''W.E.'' at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival|alt=Madonna in a black dress, smiling and looking down]]
In February 2011, Madonna held a private screening of the film's trailer at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]]. The screening, which included a question-and-answer session with the singer, was intended to sell the film to distributors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/madonna-to-promote-w-e-in-berlin-1118032067/|title=Madonna to promote 'W.E' in Berlin|last=Lodderhose|first=Diana|date=February 11, 2010|access-date=February 11, 2010|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Its rights were sold to [[Optimum Releasing]] for the UK market, [[the Weinstein Company]] for the United States release, and [[Village Roadshow]] for Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/optimum-grabs-madonna-pic-1118032157/|title=Optimum grabs Madonna pic|last=Mezza|first=Ed|date=February 13, 2010|access-date=February 13, 2010|work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="wein">{{cite magazine|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/06/13/madonnas-we-weinstein/|title=Madonna's (sort of) directorial debut acquired by Weinstein|last=Ward|first=Kate|date=June 13, 2011|access-date=June 14, 2011|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> Weinstein promoted the film as Madonna's first full-length directorial film; the company considered the 81-minute ''[[Filth and Wisdom]]'' (her previous film) a short film.<ref name="wein"/> Although Madonna hoped to premiere the film at the [[Cannes Film Festival|2011 Cannes Film Festival]], it was not ready in time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/report-madonnas-we-rumored-get-164310|title=Report: Madonna's 'W.E.' Rumored to Get Venice Premiere|last=Lyman|first=Eric J.|date=March 4, 2011|access-date=April 10, 2011|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> ''W.E.'' was shown at the [[Venice Film Festival]] on September 1, 2011, with Madonna and the principal cast attending the premiere.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/venice-film-festival/8736809/Madonna-and-Kate-Winslet-grace-the-red-carpet-at-the-Venice-Film-Festival.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903113838/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/venice-film-festival/8736809/Madonna-and-Kate-Winslet-grace-the-red-carpet-at-the-Venice-Film-Festival.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2011|title=Madonna and Kate Winslet grace the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival|date=September 2, 2011|access-date=September 16, 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> The film was also shown at the [[2011 Toronto International Film Festival]] that month.<ref name="latmad">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/09/madonna-movie-we-release-date-toronto-premiere-reviews-venice.html|title=Toronto 2011: Madonna says she has auteur dreams|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|date=September 10, 2011|access-date=September 16, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a331814/madonnas-we-to-screen-at-toronto-film-festival.html|title=Madonna's 'W.E' To Screen At Toronto Film Festival|last=Fowler|first=Tara|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=August 8, 2011|work=Digital Spy}}</ref> Stills from ''W.E.'' were published in the September 2011 issue of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/besotted-and-repulsed/|title=Besotted and Repulsed|date=August 5, 2011|access-date=August 8, 2011|last=Horyn|first=Cathy|work=The New York Times}}</ref>
In the film poster, D'Arcy carried Riseborough on his back in a romantic pose. David Wharton of Cinema Blend said that although the poster was "artfully" done, "It's the sort of thing the movie industry does all the time on their posters, just like the 'floating heads' trope or the 'looking through somebody's legs' pose [...] but I'm a sucker for a well-done movie poster, and this just seems lazy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Poster-Madonna-W-E-Colorful-Kind-Lazy-28280.html|title=Poster For Madonna's W.E. Is Colorful But Kind Of Lazy|last=Wharton|first=David|date=December 10, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2011|publisher=Cinema Blend}}</ref> A second poster was released, featuring Riseborough and D'Arcy as Wallis and Edward about to kiss on a beach.  In January 2012, Madonna appeared on two television shows and talked about the film. She first appeared on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Nightline]]'', where she chatted with host [[Cynthia McFadden]] about ''W.E.''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/lynn-crosbie/the-madge-we-love-to-hate-is-back/article2304435/|title=The Madge we love to hate is back|last=Crosbie|first=Lynn|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=January 23, 2012|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> Madonna then appeared on ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'' with D'Arcy and Riseborough.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/12/madonna-new-album-title?newsfeed=true|title=Madonna reveals new album title|last=Michaels|first=Sean|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=January 23, 2012|work=The Guardian}}</ref> The film premiered on January 11, 2012, in the UK and on January 23 in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9008914/Madonna-claims-perfect-love-is-unattainable-as-she-attends-W.E.-premiere.html|title=Madonna Claims Perfect Love is Unattainable|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=January 24, 2012|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677775/madonna-we-oscar-nomination.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125050844/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677775/madonna-we-oscar-nomination.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2012|title=Madonna Has 'Fingers Crossed' For A 'W.E.' Oscar Nod|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=January 24, 2012|publisher=MTV News}}</ref>
[[The Weinstein Company]] announced in June 2011 that it planned to release ''W.E.'' in New York and Los Angeles on December 9, 2011, expanding to additional markets during the month before a wide mid-January release.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/06/madonnas-romantic-drama-set-to-bow-this-december-w-e-weinstein.html|title=Madonna's romantic drama 'W.E.' set to bow this December|last=Sperling|first=Nicole|date=June 29, 2011|access-date=June 30, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> After the film's screenings at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, Weinstein decided to cut its running time by about ten minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story96661.htm|title=Madonna's 'W.E.' to be cut by up to 10 minutes|date=September 19, 2011|access-date=September 30, 2011|publisher=[[Zee News]]}}</ref> Its planned release was changed to a limited, one-week run beginning on December 9, 2011, before a worldwide release on February 3, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674125/madonna-we-film-delayed.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112001535/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674125/madonna-we-film-delayed.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2011|title=Madonna Delays 'W.E' Release To 2012|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=November 10, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011|publisher=MTV News}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Critical response===
After its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, ''W.E.'' divided critics before being panned upon the U.S. theatrical release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16061458|title=Madonna Film Divides Critics In Venice|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|last=Witherspoon|first=Jane|publisher=[[Sky News]]}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has a score of 12% from 115 reviews and an average rating of 4.24/10. The critical consensus reads; "''W.E.'' exhibits director Madonna's keen eye for striking style, but this shallow biopic is too enamored with aesthetics to offer any insight into its subject."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/we_2011|title=W.E. (2012)|access-date=February 15, 2019|via=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> It has a [[Metacritic]] score of 36 out of 100, indicating generally unfavorable reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/we|title=W.E.|access-date=February 15, 2019|website=Metacritic}}</ref> According to Steve Pond of ''[[Reuters]]'', ''W.E.'' probably would not help in "turning Madonna's faltering movie career".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS235860432420110901|title=Madonna's 'W.E.' Gets a Big N.O. in Venice|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|last=Pond|first=Steve|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Kyle Buchanan of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' wondered if ''W.E.'' would be a front-runner at the [[Golden Raspberry Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/09/madonna_we_reviews.html|title=Reviews for Madonna's W.E. Are Not O.K.|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|last=Buchanan|first=Kyle|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]}}</ref> David Gritten of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the film three stars and a mixed review: "''W.E.'' is a bold and confident story about an American woman's obsession with the Windsors". Gritten praised Riseborough and Cornish's performances, but thought that the film looked like a commercial for expensive items and fashion and appealed only to younger women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8735064/Venice-Film-Festival-2011-W.E.-review.html|title=Venice Film Festival 2011: W.E., Review|last=Gritten|first=David|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>
Xan Brooks of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film one star, describing it as "a primped and simpering folly, the turkey that dreamed it was a peacock."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/01/w-e-madonna-wallis-simpson-review|title=W.E.&nbsp;– review Madonna's jaw-dropping take on the story of Wallis Simpson is a primped and simpering folly, preening and fatally mishandled|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|last=Brooks|first=Xan|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that the film resembled a documentary about a woman on a shopping expedition, and found Wally and Evgeni's affair particularly dreary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/we-venice-film-review-230267|title=W.E.: Venice Film Review|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Oliver Lyttelton of [[IndieWire]] also criticized the film, saying that "the use of music is horrible" and "We've never looked forward to Madonna going back on tour more, if only because it means that we'll know, for certain, that she won't be using that time to direct another movie."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/09/01/venice_11_review_w.e_madonna_abbie_cornish_premiere/|title=Venice '11 Review: Madonna's 'W.E.' Is A Royal Disaster|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011|work=[[IndieWire]]|last=Lyttelon|first=Oliver}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Although Mark Adams of ''[[Screen Daily]]'' singled out Riseborough's performance as a highlight, he found the film disappointing overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_madonna-s-crown-slips-with-mediocre-w-e-reviews_1582534|title=Madonna's crown slips with mediocre W.E. reviews|last=Collett-White|first=Mike|date=September 2, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> Leslie Felperin of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' was also disappointed in the film, writing that it was "burdened with risible dialogue and weak performances". More attention was paid to the costumes than to the story, which she felt had much potential.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945931?refcatid=31|title=W.E. (UK)|last=Felperin|first=Leslie|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Colin Kennedy of ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'' called the film "disastrous", and its "judicious casting and handsome design [were] marred by a callow director's shaky shot selection".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/film/reviews/887865-w-es-central-conceit-results-in-a-film-that-is-just-conceited|title=W.E's central conceit results in a film that is just conceited|last=Kennedy|first=Colin|date=January 20, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2012|work=Metro}}</ref> Simon Reynolds of ''[[Digital Spy]]'' described the film as "impeccably turned out with exquisite costume design", but felt that it was "barely enough to disguise its wildly inconsistent tone, chop-change visual style and snoozy performances."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a358865/we-review.html|title='W.E.' Review|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|date=January 16, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2012|work=Digital Spy}}</ref> Dan Carrier of ''[[Camden New Journal]]'' gave the film one star out of five, calling ''W.E.'' "a horrible film to watch" and saying that Madonna "should never be allowed to go anywhere near a director’s camera again."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camdennewjournal.com/reviews/cinema/2012/jan/cinema-review-james-d%E2%80%99arcy-and-andrea-riseborough-madonnas-we|title=Cinema: Review&nbsp;– James D'Arcy and Andrea Riseborough in Madonna's W.E.|last=Carrier|first=Dan|date=January 20, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2012|work=[[Camden New Journal]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517114248/http://www.camdennewjournal.com/reviews/cinema/2012/jan/cinema-review-james-d%E2%80%99arcy-and-andrea-riseborough-madonnas-we|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Diego Costa of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' gave the film three out of four stars. He called ''W.E.'' "a shameless visual pleasure" and a "perfectly fine piece of [[Oneiric (film theory)|oneiric cinema]]", praising Madonna's direction and Korzeniowski's music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/w-e/5963|title=W.E. Review|last=Costa|first=David|date=December 11, 2011|access-date=January 20, 2012|work=Slant Magazine}}</ref> Damon Wise of ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' gave the film three out of five stars and noted the harsh criticism of Madonna: "A lot has been said about Madonna and her new film&nbsp;— about how bad and inept it is, as if it's somehow worse than 99 percent of the other movies released weekly. That's right: up there with ''Showgirls''. Let's give the director a break here." He praised Riseborough's performance and said, "In the short term, this will see ''W.E.'' dismissed as a vanity project but, in the long term, history may well find it to be a fascinating comment on 20th-century celebrity from the ultimate insider."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137466|title=Review: W.E.|last=Wise|first=Damon|date=January 24, 2012|access-date=January 24, 2012|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref>
===Box office===
[[File:Madonna @ 69th Annual Golden Globes Awards 01 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Andrea Riseborough and Madonna in gowns|Andrea Riseborough and Madonna at the [[69th Golden Globe Awards]]]]
Globally, the film was a commercial failure. In the United Kingdom, ''W.E.'' opened in 172 cinemas and grossed £183,000 (including advance screenings). Despite its limited release, it was the week's 14th-top-grossing films and peaked at number 20 in its first week of UK DVD sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/24/war-horse-spielberg-uk-box-office?newsfeed=true|title=Spielberg's War Horse wins at a canter at UK box office|last=Gant|first=Charles|date=January 24, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2012|work=The Guardian}}</ref>
===Accolades===
At the [[69th Golden Globe Awards]], ''W.E.'' won [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] for "Masterpiece" and Korzeniowski was nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]].<ref name="bbbiz">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/464716/madonna-trent-reznor-land-golden-globe-nominations|title=Madonna's 'W.E.' Lands 2 Golden Globe Nominations|date=December 15, 2011|access-date=December 15, 2011|magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/awards-season/full-list-of-golden-globes-2012-winners/story-fn4sol8z-1226245585134|title=Full List of Golden Globes 2012 Winners|date=January 16, 2012|access-date=January 18, 2012|work=Herald Sun}}</ref> Although "Masterpiece" was shortlisted for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song award]] at the [[84th Academy Awards]], it was ultimately ineligible. According to [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] rules, a song cannot compete for the award if it appears after the film's closing credits have begun, and "Masterpiece" does not begin playing until more than one minute into the credits.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/12/oscars-best-song-short-list-national-she-him-no-madonna/|title=Oscars' Best Song Short List: The National, She & Him (But No Madonna)|last=Hogan|first=Mark|date=December 20, 2011|access-date=December 21, 2011|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> Arianne Phillips received an award for Excellence in Period Film at the [[Costume Designers Guild|14th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/costume-designers-honor-dragon-tattoo-293665|title=Costume Designers Honor 'Dragon Tattoo,' 'Harry Potter' and 'W.E.'|first=Gregg|last=Kilday|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 22, 2012|access-date=February 23, 2012}}</ref> and was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS372754064620120124|title='The Artist,' 'Hugo' Lead Oscar Nominations|last=Pond|first=Steve|date=January 24, 2012|access-date=January 24, 2012|work=Reuters}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{AllMovie title|542630}}
* {{Mojo title|wemadonna}}
* {{IMDb title|1536048}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|we_2011}}
{{Madonna}}
{{Abdication of Edward VIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:W.E}}
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2011 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:British romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of George V]]
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[[Category:2010s French-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Madonna]]
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