Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago at Aug 7 7:24

I've been delaying seeing this film, mostly I think because seeing a wife cheat on a family with a 15 year old boy, and then get blackmailed by a crazy old witch didnt seem like a fun night at the movies, a bit too MUCH drama if you know what I mean, but the performances were so riveting it just drew me in and I kept watching and was stunned by how well the film flowed. So many mind-blowing lines were delivered, some hilarious (but he's mature for his age!), some very deep and philosophical, like most of Judy Dench's lines, and some emotional and perfectly delivered, almost tear-enducing, such as the whopper Bill Nighy delivered near to end to his wife: "I knew who you were when we met. You were young. I knew it might get tough, but I was prepared. You're a good mother, but at times yo...Read more

Rating : 9/10

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago at Jul 4 21:14

Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), the new art teacher, meets Barbara Covette (Judi Dench), the history teacher; they soon become friends. Barbara is lonely with her cat while Sheba has a husband (Bill Nighy), a son with Down Syndrome, Ben (Max Lewis) and a teenage daughter, Polly (Juno Temple). One night, Barbara discovers Sheba's relation with 15-year-old student Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson). Barbara will also embark on an inappropriate relationship with Sheba. I can not for the life of me, figure out *why* Sheba would be interested in Steven. There is no magnetism between them, and Simpson's character evidently has no appeal, no charisma... Despite this, those were great performances by Dench and Blanchett, although at times it seemed that they overacted. Nighy is an excellent ac...Read more

Rating : 8/10

Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago at Jun 12 18:27

The intensity that Dench and Blanchett give to their respective roles is exceptional, and their combined brilliance shines through in this movie. Notes is a provoking story of loneliness and how easy it would be for an intellectual mind to corner itself into a life of delusion and loneliness.

Rating : 8/10

Posted : 2 years, 7 months ago at Apr 22 13:42

Besides The Departed, this is the best adapted screenplay of the year. From a terrific novel by Zoe Heller, Patrick Marber adapts another brilliant piece dealing with sex, affair and deceit. This plot is similar to Patrick Marber's 2004 screenplay of Closer, but different at the same time. Two british film greats, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, star in this provocative drama. Judi being nominated for Best Actress at this year's Oscars and Cate, supporting actress. If Jennifer Hudson would have never sung her way to Oscar gold, Cate could have easily taken a second Oscar. Judi Dench was brilliant, too. Richard Eyre, who also directed Judi Dench in Iris, directs this film. He has not made many films in the past, but is now a respected director. The plot goes (simply) like this: Sheba ...Read more

Rating : 9/10