When Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) joins St. George's as the new art teacher, Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) senses a kindred spirit. But Barbara is not the only one drawn to her. Sheba begins an illicit affair and Barbara becomes the keeper of her secret. NOTES ON A SCANDAL is a story of loneliness, loyalty, envy and love. It's a thrill to see powerhouse actresses lock horns in an emotional battle royal. Notes On A Scandal is is a challenging and rewarding watch.
The Queen
Im not one for anything "Royal". I'm a republican at heart so I wasn't watching this movie for the love of the characters or the monarchy.
Not surprisingly I also wasn't watching it in the hope that I'd be inspired by the Die Hard like action – there wasn't likely to be any and I wasn't surprised.
My wife has English heritage so I was thinking of her when I added this tile to the queue. This is probably a tile that most women of any age interested in the royal family would enjoy. The movie portrayed the family as rather cold and disinterested in associating itself with Diana following the week after her death. If not for the guidance provided by new Prime Minister Blair the public opinion of the royal family would have fallen further.
The cast were excellent and Helen Mirren was well deserving of her Oscar. Ladies expect to hand out the "brownie points" freely if you expect your bloke to sit through this. Watch this one with your mum.
Night at the Museum
My 11 and 9 year olds thought this Ben Stiller movie was a good laugh. It was a fun Saturday pizza and movie night in with the kids.
While the younger members of the family were entertained, this Stiller movie wasn't in the same league as the "Focker" titles. It failed to produce the tickle to the funny bone that leaves you remembering lines to recite in conversations over a beer at the next BBQ. By the time the next BBQ comes this title will be resigned to the museum in my mind and I don't visit it very often.
If you want to turn on and tune out after a hard day and don't want to roll onto the floor with a gut cramp add this to your queue. My tip is don't start watching it too late, you might still roll onto the floor and find your face stuck to the shag pile in the morning.
Not sure what to go and see at the flicks this weekend? Here are the current staff faves.
Shooter ***
Shooter is an action film that takes us back to the old school of no brains all action, it also trys to be deeper than it actually is. Ignore that distraction and the sloppy ending and Shooter is a satisfying action thriller with plenty of bang.
28 Weeks later ***
The devastating rage virus that annihilated the British Isles mysteriously resurfaces in Goya Award-winning director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's sequel to the Danny Boyle directed horror hit that terrified audiences worldwide by offering a breathless new take on the familiar zombie mythos. Fancy being scared silly this weekend then check it out! Why not rent 28 days later from Quickflix.
Noise ***
Police thriller with a difference and offers a far richer exploration of what it means to be a hero or a victim. Noise fuses art and genre as well as any film in recent memory to construct a humanistic portrait of a flawed man searching for a thread of hope.
The Science Of Sleep ****
“The Science of Sleep”, a playful romantic fantasy set inside the topsy-turvy brain of Stephane Miroux (Gael García Bernal), an eccentric young man whose dreams constantly invade his waking life. This movie is the perfect date movie go see it!
