Notes on a Scandal
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Movie Reviews of Notes on a Scandal
Movie Review: Astounding!!! Amazing!!! Oustanding!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can think of a million adjectives to describe this movie, but in all honesty, it is one of the few books that made the transition onto film so smoothly and beautifully. I read the book a few years ago, yet a lot of it has stayed with me. "Notes..." is a story of adultery, manipulation, and desperation. While desperation is not usually all that appealing, on both Cate Blanchette(as adulterous Sheba Hart) and Barbara Covet(A mentally ill Judi Dench) it looks amazingly good. I personally like both of these actresses, and after reading the book and seeing that they were playing the 2 most important roles in the story, I felt compelled to rush out and see this film.
Sheba is the artfully dissheveled new Art teacher at an English school, and Barbara is the old maid history teacher. Barbara helps her in a pinch when a few students give Sheba a hard time in class and after the rift, the two instructors become fast friends. Both lonely and sort of desperate for affection, they are similar. Once Barbara finds out about an affair between Sheba and her pupil, Steven Connolly, she uses it to become closer to Sheba instead of turning her and the student in. It's quite a web that Barbara weaves, and Sheba is like a fly in it. While the story could be a bit much for some people, especially if you have a 15 yr. old son, it's so amazing to watch these actresses. They are both perfect in these roles and I had chills watching them and the film progress. It's high drama and will literally have you gripping the arm of chair in some parts. It's Chilling, and Dench makes this movie that much more interesting as she truly becomes the character. You really believe she is truly psychotic.
I recommend this movie to those who appreciate the works of the actresses as they are in top form here. A mezmerizing story and two of the best actresses of all time, what more do you really need at the movies aside from maybe popcorn, candy, and soda?
Movie Review: 5 stars in my notebook!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! I didn't get a chance to see this gem in the theaters but I'm so glad I watched it now. These two incredible leading ladies are well worth the price of rental or adding this to your dvd collection!!
The amazingly talented Dame Jude Dench stars as Barbara, a spinster who teaches high school by day and retreats to her notebooks to record her bitter observances of co-workers, spending her lonely and friendless nights with her cat. Enter the beautiful new art teacher, Sheba (equally wonderful Cate Blanchett), and the tension begins as Barbara starts to imagine a relationship with the married woman, who she eventually befriends. However, once she catches Sheba having an affair with a fifteen year old student, Barbara decides to use the information as emotional blackmail, forcing Sheba into her deceitful arms in an attempt to push Sheba into a more intimate relationship. With Sheba's marriage on rocky ground and her need for something outside the constant needs of her family, Barbara recognizes a woman on the verge and forms her own agenda to create a dependency on her by the object of her desire, Sheba.
With plenty of twists and turns, this psychological thriller delivers on all levels. Judi Dench is completely chilling as a love starved woman, desperate to find a partner to grow old with and determined to obtain that relationship by whatever means. Cate Blanchett also gives a great performance as a young woman who is also lonely and makes the bad choice of giving in to an underage paramour. Both women are broken and lonely and follow different paths; both paths leading to immoral life changing choices.
If you are a fan of either of these ladies or love a good movie with great acting, then this is the film for you! Highly recommended! I definitely plan on adding this one to my movie collection.
Movie Review: Take Note
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't look for conventional bad guys in this film. Not Richard who takes up with the punk / goth Sheba then leaves his wife and children for the younger woman. Not Sheba who marries Richard, perhaps after an affair which provided just enough excitement to keep her interest. Then reality of marriage and life as it is, including years of home and hearth and family and a special needs son whom she attends to devotedly. Then Sheba's out of the house, has a job. She realizes what she's been "missing." A cunning, precocious student capitalizes upon her weaknesses. He's smart, talented, she's flattered by his attentions. She's a passionate soul with a warm receptive audience and she's "earned it." She says as much herself. Sheba becomes addicted to Steven, perhaps as she once became addicted to Richard. A parallel? A married man (off limits) whom she manipulated, a younger student (ditto) who manipulates her. Enter Barbara, who spends her life waiting for circumstances to twist to her direction and then pounces. It's happened before, it will happen again. Barbara has plenty of time, she's also smart and cunning. Catlike even, which fits as her sole companion is her aging cat (which she also uses to her advantage.) What's clear is Barbara hasn't honest true affections outside of how she might also manipulate. Barbara never gives any more than benefits in the long run, and never honestly. Barbara might be lonely and unfullfilled but she gloats in it. She takes copious note of it. She has reams of notebooks complete with little gold stars, clippings and photos detailing her failures. Her notes are family. Her words her therapist. She's flawed. Sheba too. And seemingly quiet, dull, proper people make for the stuff of high tension tragedy.
The score by Philip Glass is perfect.
Movie Review: MY NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Summary: 5 Stars
. . . who was the precious young boy, the wonderful son with Downs? He totally stole the show - someone decent and innocent actually came on the scene like he rode in from another set.
Judi Dench is one of the most beautiful AND talented actresses in the world. Even when she is acting, it is difficult to see her all uglied up, mean and witchy as Barbara Covett, the unmarried history teacher - a woman with nothing but a cat and a diary. However, she does it beautifully. She is an amazing actress.
Cate, who plays Sheba Hart, a slightly bohemian art teacher, is truly gifted in any part she acts but this might be her very best. Her anger, when she experiences the painful disappointment upon discovering Barbara's secret diary, takes a lot of energy just to watch. We knew what was in that diary, as we had heard Barbara's scary voice and thoughts as Barbara wrote the cruel pages in the book. No surprise to us, but Sheba was totally devastated.
Bill Nighy, as the faithful husband, was a wonderful father. Sheba, on the surface, was a wonderful loving mother. However, Sheba had some major battles with lust that haunted her until those weaknesses caught up with her. She just did not run fast enough - in the right direction.
Years ago, after seeing The English Patient, I left the theater saying, "I don't ever want to see that much sand again as long as I live." However, I was back later that week because it was acted so beautifully. When I finished Notes on a Scandal I thought, "I will never watch that movie again!" Yet, it might be one that I find myself watching soon, simply because of the great acting.
Right now? I am still angry with all of them except the son with Downs . . . and the cat.
Movie Review: Performance Magic!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Notes on a Scandal" is a superb showcase for the mighty acting talents of Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett. They absolutely complemented each other - neither one taking anything away from the other's performance.
The story revolves around two female school teachers, one, hopelessly involved with one of her students, the other, hopelessly involved with the other teacher. It is also a rather scathing look at the dark side of love.
An even more interesting observation is that quite frankly, neither character was a sympathetic one. Cate's character, Sheba, was less so simply because she knew better - to become sexually involved with one of your students is simply exercising very poor judgement. Moreover, there was no real indication why she allowed/needed this to happen - there was no real issue in her marriage to support her having an affair. Somehow her revelation that the marriage was "somewhat boring" is, unfortunately not even remotely sufficient enough to understand/explain her behavior...(her son had Downs Syndrome, for godsakes....)
Judi's character, Barbara, began as somewhat sympathetic until she decided to use her friend's secret to her advantage - all in the name of love. Even after learning of the unfortunate demise of a similar relationship, this does not at all excuse her vindictive, obsessive actions.
The emotional rollercoaster provided here was certainly enough to keep one interested in what happens to these two women.
However, the real prize is watching these two wonderful actresses bring such a tenuous situation to film. They do so quite admirably.
I reccommend!!!