Review of Driving Miss Daisy (2015) by Sarfaraz A — 10 Dec 2013

Driving Miss Daisy - directed by Australian Bruce Berseford, adapted from the play of the same name by Alfred Uhry (film carries memories of Alfred's grandmother and her chauffer). Starring Morgan Freeman Dan Aykroyd and Jessica Tandy in title-role. Driving Miss Daisy received 9 Oscar nominations, but won only four including Best Picture, Best Actress - Morgan Freeman was nominated for Best Actor and Dan Aykroyd for Best Supporting Actor.

Film takes place in Atlanta, Georgia 1948 and spans over the period of 25 years. A wealthy elderly Jewish lady Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy) lives with a caring black maid. After minor car-accident, her son Bolee (Dan Aykroyd) hires an elderly tolerant chauffer called Hoke (Morgan Freeman) to drive his mother to market, at synagogue, friends, uncle. She at first, mistreats and ignores Hoke, but having witnessed racial indiscrimination at the hands of patrolling-cops, who also passed mischievous stare at Miss Daisy after finding her Jewish identity.

Movie was heavily marketed for Oscar-buzz. It is to be mentioned that plot of movie passes through major events in the history of the US, such as Martin Luther King's Civil Rights Movement speeches, racial indiscrimination in the US and other trends that were starting to change the course of lifestyle of many.

Morgan Freeman gives splendid performance. He implies perfect English language accent of Georgians. Whoever is going to see this movie, should be compelled to debate on considering this performance one of the greatest. Not to mention, Jessica Tandy; it is matter of utter surprise to notice that such age of hers, she done fair amount of justice to her role. Of importance is to highlight my appreciation of movie, for its work on set-designing and photography.