Review of Little Voice (1998) by Ben F — 09 Jun 2007

This could have been such a wonderful, uplifting movie but oh, Brenda, what were you thinking? I realise that LV's mother was meant to be a caricature, a true modern-day grotesque, but your performance was so beyond the realms of credibility as to entirely shatter any suspension of disbelief.

Didn't anyone say, "Tone it down just a bit, please love". Yours is a performance by an over-indulged actor completely out of control and makes Michael Caine's part look like a study in subtlety and restraint (ironic as, for him, it actually is).

The less said about Ewan McGregor the better, but when did he last put in a truly memorable turn? The only star here is for Jane Horrocks, truly captivating in both song and dialogue. Was I delivering a verdict on her alone, this film would score five out of five but, as in the movie, her mother ruins everything.