Adapted from Winifred Watson's novel by the same name and starring the talented Frances McDormand, this film is a gem. The pace was crisp & whimsical, the acting delightful, and the script full of deliciously witty banter. McDormand has the rare gift of conveying hilarity with her subtle facial expressions alone, and she uses it to perfection here.
Amy Adams holds her own opposite her, hitting just the right notes with her character's requisite over-the-top theatrics & the young-girl tenderness that lurks beneath. Shirley Henderson is so good as the funny and scheming Edythe that she would have stolen the show were she not accompanied by the other two strong actresses. If you liked her in this film, be sure to see her in 'The Way We Live Now', where she also shines, but in a slightly different way!
The sub-theme of WWII was absent in the book and added to the film for creative reasons, and it really worked without making the film heavy or maudlin. I also loved the soundtrack. The period sets & costumes were so gorgeous, I had to keep pausing for a longer look.
Don't miss the Bonus Features on both sides of the DVD.
~NN
Amy Adams holds her own opposite her, hitting just the right notes with her character's requisite over-the-top theatrics & the young-girl tenderness that lurks beneath. Shirley Henderson is so good as the funny and scheming Edythe that she would have stolen the show were she not accompanied by the other two strong actresses. If you liked her in this film, be sure to see her in 'The Way We Live Now', where she also shines, but in a slightly different way!
The sub-theme of WWII was absent in the book and added to the film for creative reasons, and it really worked without making the film heavy or maudlin. I also loved the soundtrack. The period sets & costumes were so gorgeous, I had to keep pausing for a longer look.
Don't miss the Bonus Features on both sides of the DVD.
~NN