Review of Philomena (2013) by Kevin C — 07 Jun 2014
Not really sure i'm the target audience for this, but I enjoyed it immensely. This funny, intelligent tearjerker features a wonderful performance from Dench and an equally good one from Coogan.
It's an odd couple road movie. She a Daily Mail-reading Catholic; he a Guardian-reading, world-weary atheist. Dench combines comedy and pathos, without straying into caricature. Coogan underplays beautifully, whilst his anger quietly building to a climax. And the two major plot twists are done really well.
This film could easily have been a mega-schmaltz. It could also have been patronising and glib. But Frears manages to get the tone right. Even hardened cynics will find it hard not to be moved by Philomena's quest for her son.
However, i'd recommend Mullan's "Magdalene Sisters" as a companion piece, just to ensure you have some righteous anger against the church.
This review of Philomena (2013) was written by Kevin C on 07 Jun 2014.
Philomena has generally received very positive reviews.
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