It's a general approach to dismiss comedy as light entertainment, "cute" at its best, and I saw that some reviews had made this mistake with Miss Pettigrew, too. Yet, it's a perfect piece of cinema, one of the best I've seen recently.
It has something of the theatre in it, it very much resembles stage productions, and all the better for it. Even the three classic unities (of time, space and action) are almost there, only space not being confined to just one drawing room.
The script is excellently written, both in terms of dialogue and pace. The former is funny and witty, and never becomes moralising (I think this niveau also recalls the theatre, pieces there are most often well-written, as they have to be, and rely heavily on dialogue :)). Not to mention that eloquent British English that really thrills me, both its wording and pronunciation.
The lavish scenery, the costumes and props perfectly catch the atmosphere of the pre-WW2 era in two different worlds: that of the haves and the have-nots. A special note should be made about the score here, which is an integral part of the movie, as much as the cinematography or the acting, and is simply brilliant (which, I dare say, not only swing-lovers like me are going to notice :)).
Still, the major strength of the movie is its absolutely perfect cast, and even better acting on the part of practically all the actors. I cannot name one who isn't up to the mark, there are only wonderful and more than wonderful performances. Frances McDormand and Amy Adams shine in their roles, both having excellent comic timing. Amy Adams has found an astonishing balance to deliver such a fake character credibly nobody would ever normally behave in that affected manner, and still, she is as real as she has to be. Frances McDormand is understated, subtle and awkward, just the perfect Miss Pettigrew. Shirley Henderson is so credibly annoying, one is really left amazed at why on Earth Joe Bloomfield ever wanted to marry her. Which takes me to my absolute favourite among the actors: Ciarán Hinds. His Joe is simply magnetic. His embodiment of the "charmant" reserved gentleman, who is at the same time the greatest flatterer in London, is flawless, and their couple with McDormand works perfectly on the screen. In a way, he is the prince on a white horse, who enters the life of the heroine in a miraculously short time just 24 hours. Yet so authentic that I've been looking for "Joe" ever since, being convinced that he exists he must, I saw him. :) All in all, everything is there, still the film avoids being just an average well-put-together movie: it's unique, it lives, it has a soul to it. 10/10 and a must-see.
It has something of the theatre in it, it very much resembles stage productions, and all the better for it. Even the three classic unities (of time, space and action) are almost there, only space not being confined to just one drawing room.
The script is excellently written, both in terms of dialogue and pace. The former is funny and witty, and never becomes moralising (I think this niveau also recalls the theatre, pieces there are most often well-written, as they have to be, and rely heavily on dialogue :)). Not to mention that eloquent British English that really thrills me, both its wording and pronunciation.
The lavish scenery, the costumes and props perfectly catch the atmosphere of the pre-WW2 era in two different worlds: that of the haves and the have-nots. A special note should be made about the score here, which is an integral part of the movie, as much as the cinematography or the acting, and is simply brilliant (which, I dare say, not only swing-lovers like me are going to notice :)).
Still, the major strength of the movie is its absolutely perfect cast, and even better acting on the part of practically all the actors. I cannot name one who isn't up to the mark, there are only wonderful and more than wonderful performances. Frances McDormand and Amy Adams shine in their roles, both having excellent comic timing. Amy Adams has found an astonishing balance to deliver such a fake character credibly nobody would ever normally behave in that affected manner, and still, she is as real as she has to be. Frances McDormand is understated, subtle and awkward, just the perfect Miss Pettigrew. Shirley Henderson is so credibly annoying, one is really left amazed at why on Earth Joe Bloomfield ever wanted to marry her. Which takes me to my absolute favourite among the actors: Ciarán Hinds. His Joe is simply magnetic. His embodiment of the "charmant" reserved gentleman, who is at the same time the greatest flatterer in London, is flawless, and their couple with McDormand works perfectly on the screen. In a way, he is the prince on a white horse, who enters the life of the heroine in a miraculously short time just 24 hours. Yet so authentic that I've been looking for "Joe" ever since, being convinced that he exists he must, I saw him. :) All in all, everything is there, still the film avoids being just an average well-put-together movie: it's unique, it lives, it has a soul to it. 10/10 and a must-see.