Miss Potter
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Movie Reviews of Miss Potter
Movie Review: Really, a wonderful movie and much more entertaining than I had expected. Really Wonderful.
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this movie a complete delight. It was a story that I did not know and was absolutely captivated by the way this movie told it. It captured late Victorian upper class society beautifully and the kind of family from which Beatrix Potter came very well.
Yes, as all movies do, it took out a few poetic licenses, such as the fact she was 36 in 1902, not 32. Also, the movie doesn't let us know that she had suffered from severe headaches and even fainting spells in her 20s, but still, the movie captures her wonderful eccentricities especially as they relate to her art. Oh, and her brother, Rupert, was sent off to boarding school for his education. However, he is out of the movie quite early and only referred to in passing.
The love that develops between Beatrix (about my favorite performance ever from Renee Zellweger) and Norman Warne (touchingly done by Ewan McGregor) is charmingly done and involves us though we see it coming. A key role in the film is Norman's sister, Millie (very well played by Emily Watson). She is the real ground for Beatrix in the movie, I do not know the real life relationship between the two. They have similar life experiences in being women of proper upper middle class late-Victorian households who did not find a suitable marriageable partner when young. It is a fascinating friendship. Just beware of anachronistically foisting our time's ridiculous views of same sex friendships on those times.
I also think that the actors playing Beatrix's parents deserve real praise. The father, Rupert (Bill Paterson), is an indulgent man who wishes deep down he had been an artist, but to be a proper Englishman of his time and of the class he desired, he had to take up the law. However, he never practices it and spends his days at his club. He is kind to Beatrix, but doesn't take her seriously until he has to. The mother, Helen (Barbara Flynn), is a thoroughly conventional woman of her time with all the social ambition the family will ever need. However, she hasn't a single clue about what a tremendous talent Beatrix is or her art. Helen views Beatrix as really as something the family must bear and try to fix, however difficult that might be. She is kind hearted and loving and has ambitions for her family, but if something has no social utility it is lost on her.
A fine film and a great family film. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Frankly, I was delighted to see these stars shine without the usual gratuitous disrobing, blood, or foul language. I actually found this visit to Victorian times a wonderful respite from the decadence of our time.
Movie Review: sometimes fact can be just as magical as fiction...
Summary: 5 Stars
MISS POTTER introduces us to the woman who invented Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and all the other characters that have enthralled generations of children. Renee Zellweger turns in a delicate and well-rounded performance in the title role, with fine support from Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson.
In Victorian-era London, Miss Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) is a 32-year-old spinster still living at home with her parents (Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn). Her prospects for landing a husband evaporated long ago, so Beatrix decides to parlay her talents at painting and telling stories into a career as a children's author. The "bunny book" is rejected by many publishers until F. Warne & Co. decides to take Beatrix on, albeit reluctantly as a project for the shy and inexperienced Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor). With help from Norman, a whole new world opens up to Beatrix, and in turn, Norman discovers his real feelings for his client.
While MISS POTTER may take some small liberties with the truth, it's an endlessly-delightful movie treat for the whole family. Renee Zellweger invests the character of Beatrix with an edgy, modern sensibility; in many respects Beatrix Potter was a woman born generations ahead of her time, refusing to accept conventions and existing on her own terms. As previously utilised in the "Bridget Jones" movies, Zellweger's British accent is extremely convincing. The movie also explores Potter's efforts to raise awareness in environmental conservation for the Lake District.
The supporting cast is sublime. Ewan McGregor delivers a deft and touching portrayal as the shy Norman, with Emily Watson perfectly-cast as his forthright sister Millie. Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn manage to make a great impression as Potter's parents; they walk the fine line between reality and caricature. Lucy Boynton is marvellous as the younger Beatrix in the flashback sequences.
MISS POTTER is a delightful feel-good movie, wholesome without being sickly-sweet, and with a magnificent cast. The period photography and costumes are beautiful as well. I urge anyone who has ever been touched by the magic of the Beatrix Potter books to see this movie...you won't be disappointed.
The DVD includes the featurette "The Making of a Real-Life Fairytale", "When I Taught You How to Dance" music video with Katie Melua, audio commentary with director Chris Noonan, and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).
Movie Review: Pleasant & Enchanting
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was invited to view this film, admittedly there were a few reservations. A bio of the famous children's author and illustrator in 19th century England was not at the top of my "must see" film list. Although dragged along hesitantly, the film surpassed all expectations, leaving the theatre believing the world is a better place.
Beatrix Potter is a woman to be admired and a model for young women to emulate even in the 21st century. An artist in the fullest sense of the term, she created animal characters and charming stories that continue to be read by millions of children and their parents today. What makes Potter an example is her devotion to her art form and her diligence to be published in a "man's world".
Renee Zellweger is also a true artist, her acting seemingly getting better and better with every new project. Although her English accent has been the butt of jokes in the British media, she has those difficult nuances down pat when speaking the "Queen's English". For this particular role, she trained with a voice coach to ensure the accents authenticity, as many English actresses, wanting the part of the great English author, were poised and ready to pounce on Zellweger's performance, however, her performance left no room for criticism, as her role was played with subtlety and restraint.
One of the many themes in this wonderful film is England's class snobbery, personified beautifully by Barbra Flynn, as Beatrix mother. Ironically, so-called upper middle-class society and money, as Beatrix so eloquently points out in the film, came from the working and merchant trades of the industrial revolution. When Miss Potter wants to marry her publisher (Ewan McGregor) she is prevented from doing so because he comes from the "trade classes". Beatrix attempts to overcome these hypocritical prejudices, and manages to negotiate a proposal to marry the man; however, the tale takes a serious turn at this point, moving the plot in another direction.
Director Chris Noonan, to my knowledge, has not made a film since his masterpiece, Babe. Interestingly in both films animals have the mind and emotions of people. Noonan has brought that same magical atmosphere of Babe to Miss Potter giving each film an innocent quality without falling into sentimentality.
Miss Potter is an enchanting film, pleasant to watch leaving the viewer feeling amiable and positive about the world.
Movie Review: A Hidden Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
Miss Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) has just about given up hope that she will ever get her story published. But she is surprised with the Warner Brothers decided to give her children's story and water color illustrations a chance. What she doesn't know is that they don't hold out much hope for it. They just think it is a good project to keep youngest brother Norman (Ewan McGregor) busy.
Miss Potter has her own vision for the book and is surprised to find that Mr. Warner shares her vision. The two work closely together on developing the perfect book.
Beatrix had planned to just write one, but at the encouragement of Norman, she begins working on more. And as the books begin to sell, the two become closer.
None of this sits well with Beatrix's parents (Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn). Mrs. Potter especially thinks that their daughter should have married into a suitable match ages ago. And suitable can only mean someone with old money. But her parent's objections to her new found fame and relationship are about to be the least of her worries. Can she survive what is to come?
The movie focuses on the beginnings of Beatrix's writing career and her relationship with Norman. Near the beginning we are treated to a few flashbacks to her childhood, but just enough to show how she came to be the woman she was. And, while some details have been changed for dramatic purposes, the main details are true.
All the performances are good and draw you into the story. Parts of the film take place in the English Lake District, and the locations used show just how beautiful that area is.
The ads for the movie showed Beatrix's drawings coming to life. Over the course of the movie, this happens a few times. These scenes never overwhelm the film but add to the current mood.
My only complaint is the movie feels like it moves too quickly. I often wished it would slow down a little and explore the relationships more, especially the friendship between Beatrix and Norman's sister.
The movie was released by fits and starts around the country, making it easy to miss this gem. But if you did, now that it's out on DVD, be sure to catch it.
Movie Review: Smart, inspiring and wholesome
Summary: 5 Stars
"Miss Potter" an engaging, supremely polished film is a biography of Beatrix Potter, the author of the Peter Rabbit stories. Renee Zellweger gives a careful, spirited portrayl of Potter in acting that is definitely award worthy. Potter is a reluctant but fiercly independent, rich single woman living with her parents. She illustrates and comes up with stories in her free time, habits left over from childhood. Two publisher-brothers she approaches decide to give Potter a chance, in order to give their third brother (Ewan McGregor) his opportunity to try his hand at the family business. However, they largely give up on Potter and their brother from the beginning. Soon, though, Potter's books become a success. The rest of the movie deals with how Potter's life changes based on this success. The ensemble is perfect--they do not overshadow each other, but each in their own subdued ways steal part of the show. The story is also packaged in a perfect way, including many instances of mild humor, while the movie does drag a bit and becomes a little (just a little) sentimental towards the end. The score by Nigel Westlake also adds to the perfection. What makes Miss Potter so great is that it is a great movie without being scandalous, without being eyeopening, without being spectacular. The greatness of Miss Potter is in its understatedness--both in its product and in its intrinsic message. Even though Potter is a strong believer in independence, she never sings it from the rooftops. Instead, she finds a way to support herself and persues her own dreams and her own purpose eventually and cautiously--even in the stuffy environment she lives in. Potter shows that we can be strong in our convictions and our spirit, but we don't have to be loud and fast about it. Potter is patient, and through the beauty of nature and the kindness of humanity, she sees the beauty of everything.