Before I write anything about what I think about this movie I just want to say two things. I definitely recommend it but in my opinion you don't get what you expect. What I mean by this is that according to the way the film is marketed and the recommendation of a friend of mine I was led to believe this movie would be a little more lighthearted than it turned out to be. What I got was a sociological horror film. A movie that while sprinkled with charming, funny, and even romantic moments, turned out to be one of the most uncomfortable viewing experiences I can remember having. What made it so uncomfortable was that it rung so true for me. I happen to have friends who are from the Upper East Side in addition to having gone to school there though it was not private mind you and I've had the misfortune of having to cater to people like this at one of my old jobs. My stomach turned and my blood boiled as I watched the different characters that populate the Upper East Side. Mrs. X seemed to me to be sympathetic compared to how much worse they can be. I saw a woman who yearned for the same love and affection that her child craved from her. The moments where she is vulnerable were heartbreaking although the rest of the time I cringed at her. Her husband was beyond redemption for this reviewer and luckily his time on screen was limited. Listening to some of the complaints of the other immigrant nannies in the movie (a group this reviewer has also come across quite a lot) elicited a no less stomach churning reaction. One might just go, "Hey, this is the way it is and no one put a gun to their head." Whether that may be true or not it makes it no less painful to see women like these sacrifice themselves for people who are completely engulfed in a swamp of luxury taken for granted and for comfort to make them forget just how miserable they are. Especially when you have someone like Mrs. X who seems to have enough of a soul left to make you wish she would wake up and get out while she can (Mr. X is already too far gone). Nothing however is more tear inducing than the little boy. You know that unless by some miracle his parents wake up and realize how indifferent they are being that this is a boy who will more than likely grow up to be one of the characters on GOSSIP GIRL. All jokes aside knowing that this is not an unreal scenario and that perfectly good boys and girls who only crave love and attention from their parents are likely to find themselves miserable and hollow like their parents, because of their parents, is a nothing less than horrifying and sad.
Although far more disturbing I would have preferred if that random, tagged-on ending meant to provide a happy-capper feeling had not been there. It's like trying to tell an audience that there is no Santa Claus when you can't take something like that back.
For the record this reviewer is not usually the uber-sensitive type. There are very few buttons left to push on this end. I've seen everything under the sun that could evoke these kinds of feelings and very rarely do they succeed (i've seen horror and exploitation films more bearable than this). This movie just happened to be set in a world that I find reprehensible beyond the max and it involves children and there's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing an innocent child suffer under the care (or rather thereof) of the not so innocent.
Although far more disturbing I would have preferred if that random, tagged-on ending meant to provide a happy-capper feeling had not been there. It's like trying to tell an audience that there is no Santa Claus when you can't take something like that back.
For the record this reviewer is not usually the uber-sensitive type. There are very few buttons left to push on this end. I've seen everything under the sun that could evoke these kinds of feelings and very rarely do they succeed (i've seen horror and exploitation films more bearable than this). This movie just happened to be set in a world that I find reprehensible beyond the max and it involves children and there's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing an innocent child suffer under the care (or rather thereof) of the not so innocent.