Review of Temple Grandin (2010) by Paul M — 21 May 2011

This film is an absolute and complete joy, start to finish. Completely heartwarming and touching, this film excercises an absolutely masterful touch, from the direction, to the story to the performances- Claire Danes is incredible in particular.

I was completely enraptured by this film which kept me in its grip, enthralled by the story of Temple Grandin, a true story that I cant beleive I hadn't heard of before.Not to discuss the real temple grandin on whom this film is based, her story, told here is absolutely moving, and joyful and fascinating .

... I absolutely loved every moment of it.There are very few films that can keep me on the edge of tears whilst simultaneously having a massive grin on my face, but thats exactly what this film does. It makes me angry at regular people though, who I cant understand have to be assholes to anyone who is different, and this film does a great job of making you identify with Temple's strange perspective on life, and how she views the world from an autistic viewpoint.

There are several clever visual tricks that put you in her mind, and these are never overdone, mostly it's Claire Danes performance that does all the heavy lifting.This is truly a celebration of Temples Life- where it could easily have been a misery fest of how difficult and challenging her life must have been, this films strength is that it doesnt spend a second wallowing.

As Temple says 'I'm just different, not less' - and that is the driving force behind how her story is presented here, there was a lot of pleasure, and comfort and satisfaction and great acheivement in temples life, and this is not really a story of a disabled person overcoming in life, it's a story of a 'different' person LIVING their life.

This film is full of massive laughter, great Joy and moments of real pathos - I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. Really one of the best films I've seen this year- check it out if you can.