Review of Philomena (2013) by Chris M — 02 May 2015
This is beautifully done. At first I thought I was getting another version of Steve Coogan playing himself, but that quickly dissipated as this heartbreaking, human story evolves.
The script/screenplay is terrific, perhaps Coogan's greatest contribution to the film (which is saying something, as his performance becomes more nuanced and layered as the film goes on), as we flick between present day, flashbacks and occasional montages of cinefilm home-movies, and it's not clear at first whether these are real or imagined.
Judi Dench is flippin' marvellous in the title role. From the shrinking, deferential woman at the start, almost press-ganged into taking action by her daughter, she grows and expands as the quest to find her son goes on. In her eyes we get a lifetime of regret, shame, sorrow, anger and hope. When she starts to get a glimpse of what her lost son has become, she lights up and it's amazing.
It's almost never sentimental, and even when it veers that way, the story and performances have truly earned it. This is a lovely film, wonderfully written, directed with restraint, with fabulous characters and performances at its heart. Did I mention how good Judi Dench is?
This review of Philomena (2013) was written by Chris M on 02 May 2015.
Philomena has generally received very positive reviews.
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