Notes on a Scandal
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Movie Reviews of Notes on a Scandal
Movie Review: Superbly acted taut psychological drama
Summary: 5 Stars
Both Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give outstanding performances as two teachers at the working class school of St George's who form an unlikely alliance. Dench plays the stern, craggy veteran but lonely history teacher Barbara Covett who takes Blanchett the new flighty, bohemian type art teacher Sheba Hart under her wing. They develope a true friendship and Dench becomes a welcomed guest to Blanchett's family which includes a aged husband Richard played nicely by Bill Nighy (a second marriage for her) and two kids, one mentally challenged with Down's syndrome.
Blanchett feeling unfulfilled in her home life unwisely commences a tabooed affair with her 15 year old student Steven Connolly played by Andrew Simpson. Dench accidently observes one of their love trysts and uses this to blackmail Blanchett into more firmly cementing their relationship. Dench in reality is a covert lesbian and desires Blanchett's attention and affections. As she becomes more and more demanding, Blanchett feels pressured to abide by Dench's rules, ultimately failing.
The demanding and now scorned Dench feels compelled to let slip the secret of Blanchett's affairs, with disastrous consequences for both women.
This film fueled by the wonderful acting performances of Dench and Blanchett percolates and ultimately explodes as the gripping psychological ramifications of the actions of the main characters ultimately leads to tragedy.
Movie Review: The scandal is the half of the sin!
Summary: 5 Stars
Notes on a scandal is one of the most extraordinary films of 2006. It's useless not to remind previous and notorious scandals in the recent past.
This mature picture explores with impressive eloquence the sadness and hopeless life of a very young teacher who lives a boring life with a husband too much older than her and a lot of problems to face daily in her home.
So, in order to evade herself from the quotidian reality, she will be involved with a child that even might her child , a teenager into a suede and ardent a love affair.
But the main plot is much more ambitious, since there' s an old teacher (in a towering performance of Mrs. Judi Dench one of the two best mature English actress, the other as you may guess is Helen Mirreen), who epitomizes the symbol of the most merciless loneliness, will be the central focus of attention around the film, the way that she surreptitiously, gets to introduce into the intimate world of this young teacher, and the way she will push the bottom of red alarm will ignite a true avalanche of inner frustrations that will unchain a set of unpleasant events.
Memorable performances of all the cast and an impeccable camerawork make of this film one of the ten best films of this year, without any hesitation.
Don't miss it under no pretext!.
Movie Review: perhaps the best movie i've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
i got around to seeing "Notes on a Scandal", and am very glad i did.
briefly Judi Dench plays a 'spinster' secondary school teacher nearing
retirement. Cate Blanchett is in the role of a married-with-children,
30-something newcomer to the faculty. Dench is as bitterly cynical as
Blanchett is naively idealistic.
they become fast friends. but, Dench's emotional neediness gets out of
hand when she starts using an indiscretion Blanchett has committed to
exercise increasing control over the younger woman's life.
both Dench and Blanchett have received high praise, but i think
Blanchett's performance was over-hyped, and Dench's under-recognized. to
be sure, Blanchett's portrayal was much more fully developed as 'the
blonde' (if the reader will permit this retro descriptor) than that of
a number of actresses whom i could name, but won't. however, that's
about it. by contrast, Dench's performance was positively
*jaw-dropping*. she *was* her character. and, Bill Nighy, as
Blanchett's 20-years-older husband, was excellent.
i recall thinking to myself, as i watched 'Notes': this is the *best*
movie i've ever seen. fwiw, [...]. to the extent this is true, the
credit must go to Dench.
Movie Review: Is There Nothing That Dame Judi Dench Cannot Do?
Summary: 5 Stars
Since this film has been reviewed to death, there isn't much left to say about it except to comment on the fine performances of both Cate Blanchett as Sheba and Dame Judi Dench as the strange and twisted Barbara. From her walk, to her died burnt sienna toned hair with just a bit of the white roots showing to her pull-over blue sweater, she manages to pull off a performance that is quite wonderful. Yes, she can play frumpy. Blanchett also gives a nuanced performance as the troubled Sheba who has an affair with a fifteen-year-old student. As the cliche goes, these women, along with Bill Nighy, who plays Sheba's husband Richard, literally tear up the furniture. The score is by Philip Glass, someone whose music I usually don't care much for. In this film, however, as well as "The Hours," it is perfect.
I have no idea how often older women seduce children in Great Britain but this phenomenon-- the movie is based on a novel by Zoe Heller-- is quite prevalent in these United States. There is of course a double standard here as men who have sex with fifteen-year-old girls usually get sent away for a very long time as opposed to the light sentences that many women receive-- some of them merely get house arrest-- for similar crimes.
This has to be one of the best films of 2006.
Movie Review: I've never felt so much pathos for so many characters
Summary: 5 Stars
The story of this film is an illicit affair had by a new teacher at a school played by Blanchett. Add to this an older lesbian teacher played by Dench who fancies Blanchett's character. The sparks start to fly when Dench becomes aware of Blanchett's affair with a 15 year old pupil at the school and becomes confidente and manipulator of Blanchett to achieve her own ends. Blanchett is married to a much older man and has a handicapped child as well to add to the complexity.
The screenplay to this film is stunning. It was written by Patrick Marber who is more well known for acting and co-writing the script of the Alan Partridge character on BBC television.
Anyway, this film belongs to Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. They are both wonderful actresses. Dench just shades it for her ability to convey sympathy in the audience for her character. We realise that loneliness is a terrible thing and that it is a human need to have companionship regardless of the extreme lengths that people will go to achieve it.
I think the Battle Of The Brits for Best Actress at this years Oscars was an unfair contest. Helen Mirren won for The Queen. This was a marginal performance compared to the towering performance of Dame Judi Dench in this film.