The Mother
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Movie Reviews of The Mother
Movie Review: Unsettlling (which is its intent); great writing the key
Summary: 5 Stars
'The Mother' is a very unsettling film...by design. The reason for that and the hallmark of the film is the brilliant script of writer Hanif Kureishi.
How brilliant? Let me give an example: the viewer is taken into a creative writing class, where we're subjected to listen to about two minutes of dreck from one of the participants, 'Bruce,' as portrayed by Oliver Ford Davies. It's jarring to hear because it's so dreadfully bad, and he's so painfully unaware of the fact. That's when you realize: wow, it took talent to write something this bad and juxtapose it against the rest of the film, where the writing is so wickedly good. And, its worth noting that Mr. Ford Davies is one of the UK's foremost stage actors, so this isn't some hack bollixing up lines.
Also attending that class is Anne Reid, portraying the film's protagonist, May (i.e., 'The Mother' in the film's title). She's essentially monitoring the class for the first time. It's being taught by her daughter, Paula (Cathryn Bradshaw). We're aware at this point in the film that there are some undelying issues between the two. Anne is encouraged to read her work to the group. So, she let's loose with a stark, vivid recollection of raising her children while battling what appears to have been an overwhelming depression. The piece - laid back-to-back in the film next to Ford Davies' lame effort - is nothing short of brilliance. In one 60-second or so reading, we see why Anne, Paula...and Anne & Paula are where they are today. The entire movie is filled with these great swatches of writing.
One other thing of note: Daniel Craig, who portrays handyman Darren, is going to be a huge star. For instance, this week in the press he's being talked about as possibly being the next 007. He's also starring in Matthew Vaughn's recent release of J.J. Connelly's 'Layer Cake.' Here in 'The Mother,' he starts off as a pleasant, happy-go-lucky soul. As the movie drifts forward, we begin to see grayer elements. By the end of the film, it's fairly pitch black. Great Acting. Great writing.
Movie Review: Complex human drama that treads in forbidden places
Summary: 5 Stars
This 2003 British import is a more than just the domestic drama it seems at first. It goes deeply into the heart and soul of some troubled human beings and uncovers some disturbing universal truths.
Ann Reid is cast the mother. She and her ailing husband travel a few hours to visit their adult son and daughter in London. While there, the husband dies. She's in deep grief and doesn't want to return home. Instead, she stays with her daughter, a single mother, who is having a robust affair with a carpenter who is renovating the son's home. The mother tries to understand the daughter but she sees that the daughter is really unhappy with the relationship, mainly because the carpenter is married.
The mother, however, is attracted to the carpenter too, even though he is a young man. (He was born in 1978; she was born in 1935). Soon they, too, are frolicking in bed. It's a hot and heavy relationship. Of course there are complications, especially since he is still bedding down the daughter.
I must applaud the acting in this film. Everyone seemed completely authentic, even if they weren't always likeable. The script was unique too as it tread in forbidden places and was full of complex human drama. It was a good story, even if I did find it a little slow paced for my taste. And, also, as I've said before, even though I'm an English speaker, I sometimes wish there were subtitles in British films because I just don't get every single line.
This is a real story that rings true and I did enjoy the experience of watching it. I definitely recommend it.
Movie Review: She could have won the Oscar!
Summary: 5 Stars
Anne Reid is better known in her native Britain on stage, film, and television. In this rare film, she plays May, a newly widowed housewife from the London suburbs who moves to London to be closer to her adult children but is often seen as an inconvenience. She develops a friendship with Darren, the contractor who works in her son's home and is currently involved with May's daughter Paula. He's also married and has an autistic son. Daniel Craig plays Darren and he does a brilliant job in his role.
The relationship between Darren and May slowly evolve. May is not the woman that she appears to be but she is every woman in actuality. She goes her days alone in London by visiting the Tate Modern Museum, the London Eye, and the British Museum by herself. Her performance begins as a dedicated wife to Toote who didn't her having other friends in their home. When he passes away, we slowly learn more about May, the mother herself, and the film reveals the character like peeling back an onion layer by layer.
To her children, May is not supposed to have sexuality because it would be so un-maternal. May is a woman and a human being who was married for a long time. She felt that she would never be desired again or touched again. You can feel and see Anne Reid's heartbreaking performance. Daniel Craig is also wonderful in his pre-Bond role as troubled Darren.
The supporting cast includes Oliver Ford Davies, a well-known British theatrical actor, as a possible suitor, Bruce.
Movie Review: Astonishing
Summary: 5 Stars
A brilliant, brilliant movie. I can't heap sufficient praise on its every aspect. There's an intensity and honesty of Kureishi's script. The spartan sets, the camera switching between intimate details of faces, slippers, fumbling hands and domestic, cool lit rooms, especially from hall to the renovated conservatory; so elegant. The central dynamic between the mum,Anne Reid, daughter, Cathryn Bradshaw, and the lover of both, Dan Craig is one of the most enduring I've beheld. All are, as is aptly said by another reviewer, 'mired in dysfunction'. A profound event!Movie Review: Very Unsettling
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a heavy hitter. The mother betrays the daughter. Mother's aren't supposed to behave this way (bedding their daughter's lover). The mother's loneliness is terribly sad. Her children don't want her around. But you get the feeling that the mother's lack of "mothering" in the past caused the rift. The family doesn't seem to know each other any more. You wonder how they became so estranged. Not all mother's have their children's best interest at heart. This is a disturbing story you can chew on for a long time as the meat's a little tough.