Notes on a Scandal
Richard Eyre's Notes on a Scandal is one of the year's finest films. It boasts extraordinary performances from all involved as well as biting dialog (courtesy of screenwriter Patrick Marber via Zoe Heller's book) and realistic settings.
Judi Dench is a marvel to behold as Barbara Covett. Barbara has been working as a history teacher for many years and she holds strong opinions about all of her co-workers. We are allowed to find out what's on her mind through a voiceover that works very well. Barbara's life seems pretty hum-drum but all that changes upon the arrival of the new art teacher Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett). At first Barbara doesn't give Sheba much thought but after she helps Sheba break up a fight between two students their friendship really blooms. However, Barbara accidentally finds out that Sheba is having an affair with one of her students, the fifteen year old Steven Connelly (Andrew Simpson). Besides being against the law to have sex with a minor Sheba committing adultery. She is married to the much older Richard (Bill Nighy) and has a teenage daughter Polly (Juno Temple) and a son Ben who has Downs Syndrome (Max Lewis). Barbara now has something on Sheba and she intends to use it to her advantage as she has a more than passing interest the younger woman. You will have to see the film to find out what happens next but I can tell you that it is explosive.
As mentioned before, the film has excellent direction, writing and acting. Dench, along with Helen Mirren in The Queen, gives the best performance of any leading actress this year. Although I think that Mirren will win the Oscar (Dench already has one) their performances are neck and neck when it comes to quality. And Dench is not afraid to have the camera come close to her face and reveal every emotion and every line. Blanchett is also up there when it comes to acting (though she is going to be in the supporting category) and proves that she is one of the finest, if not the finest, actress of her generation. Nighy is wonderful as cuckholded Richard and young Simpson is also very good as Sheba's love/sex interest.
There are a number of things going on in Notes on a Scandal. But loneliness is one of the themes that runs throughout - whether you live alone or with a partner (and children) there are times when you will feel lonely.
Judi Dench is a marvel to behold as Barbara Covett. Barbara has been working as a history teacher for many years and she holds strong opinions about all of her co-workers. We are allowed to find out what's on her mind through a voiceover that works very well. Barbara's life seems pretty hum-drum but all that changes upon the arrival of the new art teacher Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett). At first Barbara doesn't give Sheba much thought but after she helps Sheba break up a fight between two students their friendship really blooms. However, Barbara accidentally finds out that Sheba is having an affair with one of her students, the fifteen year old Steven Connelly (Andrew Simpson). Besides being against the law to have sex with a minor Sheba committing adultery. She is married to the much older Richard (Bill Nighy) and has a teenage daughter Polly (Juno Temple) and a son Ben who has Downs Syndrome (Max Lewis). Barbara now has something on Sheba and she intends to use it to her advantage as she has a more than passing interest the younger woman. You will have to see the film to find out what happens next but I can tell you that it is explosive.
As mentioned before, the film has excellent direction, writing and acting. Dench, along with Helen Mirren in The Queen, gives the best performance of any leading actress this year. Although I think that Mirren will win the Oscar (Dench already has one) their performances are neck and neck when it comes to quality. And Dench is not afraid to have the camera come close to her face and reveal every emotion and every line. Blanchett is also up there when it comes to acting (though she is going to be in the supporting category) and proves that she is one of the finest, if not the finest, actress of her generation. Nighy is wonderful as cuckholded Richard and young Simpson is also very good as Sheba's love/sex interest.
There are a number of things going on in Notes on a Scandal. But loneliness is one of the themes that runs throughout - whether you live alone or with a partner (and children) there are times when you will feel lonely.
posted by Film Fanatic | 2:11 PM
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