Notes on a scandal (1 Viewer)

[AlleyCat]

Scariest film I have seen in a long, long time...


I actually REALLY liked it.

I'm not sure whether this is because I knew a girl in primary/highschool who had the identical idea of "friendship" as Barbara or because those two actresses are absolute dynamite together.

Dame Judi is my bitch, she transformed herself for this film, I never stopped believing her performance, it was like a spell, honestly I couldn't break away.

Cate was reasonably good, but her voice sounded forced at times and I thought its' depth was a little artificial. She played the part well, but I thought Emily Watson would've been good in the part, and that's not a good sign, if the audience is spending time considering who else could play the character well.

Although, she was spectacular in one instant in particular.

Spoiler

When the press are outside Barbara's house and she runs out, makeup smeared and says "HEEEARRR III AAAAAAAMMM!" Wow. Just wow. I started crying buckets.

Bill Nighy was also fantastic and very believable, but this film made me so emotionally confused.

Spoiler

I never knew who to align with. I mean, Barbara was a villain, but so in a way was Sheba, and because of this I didn't know what to think. I suppose it's just one of those films that portray a situation that doesn't have an answer. Although, to be honest, I felt for Barbara the whole way through, and couldn't hate her, even though she was so manipulative.

Good direction, wonderful score (it felt like a slasher film from the first minute) adn the costuming, hair and makeup was perfect.

Also, CB looked stunning in this film, I have never seen a film that seized upon her unconventional beauty like this.

4.5 stars.

 

[icecreamdisco]

Also, CB looked stunning in this film, I have never seen a film that seized upon her unconventional beauty like this.

yeah, i noticed how hawt she looked in the trailer. which is odd, since she usually goes a bit de-glam for extra oscar attention in these kinda films.

movie looks totally gay, though my tastes are getting gayer by the day, and i've been agreeing w/ you recently, so i think i'll check it out.

 

[spiny norman]

Bill Nighy was also fantastic and very believable

I disagree with you on this - I thought the acting from Dench and Blanchett was excellent (though didn't much like that scene of Blanchett's you exemplified as being fantastic in the spoiler tags), but found the supporting cast to be lacking, for the most. I thought Nighy was doing well, but found as the tension escalated in the film he (and most of those around) took to some terrible overacting, with only the two leads getting out unscathed (aside for that one Blanchett moment I mentioned).

Nevertheless, I thought it was okay. Agreed with you on the fantastic score. Hated the last scene. And Blanchett did look amazingly attractive in the film.

 

[bubz :D]

I loved it... such a disturbing film. And I thought the Irish boy was cute (hey he's legal!)

Dench scared the shit out of me throughout the entire film, Bill Nighy was pretty good but I do agree about the overacting in that scene where he explodes. Cate Blanchett - just wow. She looked amazing and I think her acting suited the character perfectly.

 

[icecreamdisco]

i thought this was pretty trashy, but i enjoyed it nonetheless. i mean, the final scene is like something out of a horror movie, and completely negates all the film's attempts at humanising dench's character. and giving blanchett's character a son with down-sydrome is such lazy, schematic writing.

but yeah, entertaining, well paced, wonderfully acted (i LOVED bill nighy's overacted meltdown).

oh, and that bit when dench picks up the phone and bizarro jonathan rhys meyers is on the other end, saying "i want your cunt" or something... i squealed with shock. or delight. or arousal. i can't really remember.

i give it 3 flailing bill nighy's out of a possible 5.

 

[AlleyCat]

i thought this was pretty trashy, but i enjoyed it nonetheless. i mean, the final scene is like something out of a horror movie, and completely negates all the film's attempts at humanising dench's character. and giving blanchett's character a son with down-sydrome is such lazy, schematic writing.

but yeah, entertaining, well paced, wonderfully acted (i LOVED bill nighy's overacted meltdown).

oh, and that bit when dench picks up the phone and bizarro jonathan rhys meyers is on the other end, saying "i want your cunt" or something... i squealed with shock. or delight. or arousal. i can't really remember.

i give it 3 flailing bill nighy's out of a possible 5.

Me too! He's all...

"HE'S A CCCCCHHHHHHHILDDDD! *spits* A CHILLLLLLLDDDDD *spits again*"

But in all honesty, I actually loved that part.

 

[cloche]

I utterly agree! I did not expect to leave the cinema highly disturbed - rarely does a film have that effect on me!

Er, spoilers, I guess:
And I agree with you about the characters, too. I mean, I didn't hate Barbara, I thought her stance against the relationship was morally correct and blah blah blah, but I found her friggin' scary! Esp. after she had taken Sheba into her home - I was then anxious for Sheba's well-being (quite silly of me). I think perhaps Cate's ethereal beauty must've had an effect on me, 'cos although she certainly wasn't innocent, I found myself actually sympathising with her!

 

[cloche]

Me too! He's all...

"HE'S A CCCCCHHHHHHHILDDDD! *spits* A CHILLLLLLLDDDDD *spits again*"

:rofl: