|
From:Frances McDormand , Amy Adams , Lee Pace , Shirley Henderson , Tim Potter , Universal , Bharat Nalluri , Universal Studios ,
|
See Product Page
|
User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#471 |
| | Page: << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 11 >> |
 A delightful romp, 2008-10-20
The whole family, from my 87 year old mom to my 18 year old granddaughter, thoroughly enjoyed this light and charming visit to 1930s London.
Miss Pettigrew, having been fired from yet another nanny position due to imposing her "daughter of a minister" values on the family she was serving, ends up homeless and without money for a room or food. Her luggage has been lost and she is as bereft as a soul could be. Even a visit to the soup kitchen goes badly and leaves her hungry.
Through a bit of chicanery, she ends up as social secretary to a flighty, beautiful and somewhat amoral young singer/actress. What follows is a romantic slightly screwball comedy in the best tradition of 1930s.
Amy Adams was born to play the Carole Lombard type Delysia. Frances McDormand as Guinevere Pettigrew is as downtrodden as can be in the early scenes, and then she does not morph from frump to glamour, but from frump to lovely woman. Ciaran Hinds as Joe is wonderful.
This is a movie we will watch again and again.
Charming Characters, Sweet Story, 2008-10-14
I like quirky and slow moving films that are full of characters and creative elements. I liked Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day because that's exactly what kind of movie it is.
Miss Pettigrew, (McDormand) in a desperate attempt to stay off the streets hijacks an opportunity to become a social secretary for a very flaky and lost Delysia (Adams). Delysia, in an attempt to grasp stardom has scrambled and manipulated her way into a messy love quadrangle -- 3 guys with expectations. Miss Pettigrew shares her wisdom borne of regret and loss and interacts with Delysia's "friends."
The lifestyle of Delysia including suggestive comments, a naked man (back and side view), and a flashes of Delysia in her dressing room make this movie not appropriate for children. The message is uplifting and sweet. A happy ending is provided. Dialog and characterization are rich, as are the musical elements. Lee Pace is charming and I always appreciate the acting skill of Ciaran Hinds.
There are moments of Lucille Ball type comedy, a hint of Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee, a melancholy that wends its way through the film, and downright charm. There were several moments and situations that cross over into unbelievable, but I can forgive those because of the underlying heart of the film.
I'll end up buying this film for my library.
A delightful film, 2008-10-11
I really liked this movie and found it to have some very interesting little twists that made it even better. First, Miss Pettigrew who was the center of the film had very few lines and actually didn't drive the action -- instead she was the catalyst for the action. Then when it came time to make her into a "butterfly" ala Pygmalion she really didn't change into Cinderella that you would expect but turned into a mature woman dressed appropriately. Yes -- the film takes place all in a 24 hour period and thus is filled with some very unlikely character intercessions but it was fun and really unlifting. There are some good lines but no belly laughs, the screen play is well written and the cting excellent. If you are looking for a fun film with no bad launguage, no explosions, no car crashes, no nudity, and no drugs -- this is the one. It is a thoroughly delightful film.
Delightful romp in pre-war England, 2008-10-11
Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) has hit rock bottom. She has lost her job, has no home, money, or food. Things are tight in London in the 30's so she has to stoop to a little subterfuge in order to become social secretary to American actress wannabe Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). As a vicar's daughter, Miss Pettigrew is totally unprepared for the world that she is entering as Delysia tries to balance her relationship with three different men. Miss Pettigrew chooses her favorite suitor among the three and tries to influence Delysia to look for love, not money or fame.
Meanwhile a friend of Delysia's tries to blackmail Miss Pettigrew into talking her ex-fiance, Joe, into reconciling with her. When Miss Pettigrew talks to Joe, the results are not quite what the friend had in mind.
This is a delightful movie with great costumes and music which are reminiscent of the 30's. Remembering back to Frances McDormand's wonderful performance as the hardy North Dakota policewoman in "Fargo" and then seeing her as the proper vicar's daughter with a perfect English accent shows what great range this delightful actress has.
Throwback to old 40's films, 2008-10-02
This movie is not about realism but its an escapist film. The performances are a bit over the top, just like Hepburn/Tracy/Grant type films. The plot is thin and the appeal lies in the creation of pre WW2 London. Adams and McDormand carry the film and the men are mainly supporting their storyline. Adams shows her range as an ambitious singer who uses men to further her career and lifestyle. McDormand plays an out of luck nanny who's still trying to find security. She and Adams have a type of mother/daughter relationship. This type of film is not for everyone as it can become overly sweet and implausible. The trick is to let yourself fall into the fantasy world and enjoy 2 great performances.
|
| Page: << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 11 >> |
|