Review of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) by Scott S — 12 Dec 2010

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) -- [8.0] -- SPOILER REVIEW: Maggie Smith took home the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of Jean Brodie, a charismatic school teacher who dedicates herself to a class of impressionable young women.

The film may sound like an all-girl precursor to "Dead Poets Society," but it's a far more nuanced and provocative take on the 'inspirational teacher' story. Brodie may begin as the hero of the story, but her tenacious influence and overly-romanticized world view end up having a devastating effect on some of her students.

In her (subconscious?) attempt to live vicariously through her "girls," she ends up creating a monster in her own image. "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" is not a pat drama. It tackles thorny subject matter like fascism and sex with minors, and your allegiance to certain characters may oscillate between the second and third acts.

The moral ambiguity makes for one hell of a performance from Maggie Smith. There is a twenty-minute stretch of scenes smack-in-the-middle of the movie where Smith is tasked with showing the kind of dramatic range that every actor hopes and prays for.

Earlier in the film, Brodie's over-confidence can come across screechy and annoying, but in that middle twenty minutes, as well as the final few, the Dame knocks it out of the park.