"Nothing Like a Dame" is a British documentary from 2018 that is known under the title "Tea with the Dames" here in Germany, so a bit unusual for sure that they picked an alternate title for my country that is still in the English language, maybe because that one is easier to understand by the masses here in Germany for whom English is not the native language. But it makes kinda sense as this is of course a very British film. One other film where they took that route that immediately comes to mind for me is Taken that was named 96 Hours here I believe. Anyway, back to this one here. It is not a long movie by any means at under 85 minutes and the director is Roger Michell, who has directed more than just a few fairly famous movies in the over 25 years since he started (Notting Hill for example). He is South African though, maybe not what you'd expect as I would have thought a Brit would be in charge of directing these 4 Dames. Anyway, the one thing I like here is the explanation very early on. We find out that the quartet meets every once in a while for a little talk in general, not only for this movie now, but they really seem to be friends and have been for quite a while. I suppose that also explains why Atkins and Plowright are in here who are probably today not that known to too many anymore compared to Redgrave perhaps and a few others. Anyway, there you have the names of the 4 you will see in here from beginning to end. Plowright is the oldest and she will turn 90 this year. The other ones were born in 1934 and thus are five years younger. Little side-fact: Maggie Smith is exactly to the day 50 years older than myself. I think Eileen Atkins really looks amazing for mid-80s. But she is probably the one I found most attractive too from these 4 during the younger years, even if I must say there is something about Maggie too when she played Jean Brodie etc. The other two weren't really my cup of tea physically, but I still think they have aged better than Smith probably. Nonetheless, I like it that now that this film got released, they are all still alive and hopefully doing well. Plowright seemed to be struggling a bit with her health, but maybe that was also just her eyesight. Strangely enough Dench's vision seems to be okay still as far as one can tell from this film here because I read years ago already that she is slowly turning blind, but I guess they found a way to keep that from happening or at least slow it down.
So yeah, what are the Dames doing here. I think the title here is a bit misleading, the German title, as they were most of the time drinking alcohol and not tea. It would probably be too much to mention each and every thing that is included in here and what the dames are talking about. Major focus is on their theater work, more than on their cinema work overall, which surprised me a bit. Then they talk about how they met each other back then, also how they worked together in younger years. Many of their projects are included. We find out what a deal breaker Mrs Brown was for Dench 20 years ago that really started her Oscar career and incredibly elevated her career to the point where she is probably today the most sught after actress over 80 still. The other ones are joking a bit around over that. As for Smith, I did not like how she seemed to be a bit of a foul mouth and also let others feel that like when she was talking to that photographer on one occasion as if asking eventually after basically telling him to go that hopefully he is not angry at her now would change anything. Her comments about Miriam Margolyes weren't very nice either. I mean very early on, everybody was joking around that the director and his crew seemed incompetent because they obviously had to get used to the idea of their meeting being filmed this time. If it is really true that they meet regularly that is. Okay what else? Laurence Olivier is featured on several occasions, so people who care about and are interested in him will have a solid time watching this too. i watched a German dub today and honestly it took me a little while to get used to that, basically until they moved inside. The early part outside felt rather strange, also because the original voices were louder than expected. So my suggestion is if you aren't a native English speaker, still go for the original, maybe with subtitles if necessary.
Near the end, we also see the scenes from when Prince Charles made them Dames at official ceremonies, which was a nice little inclusion I'd say. And of course, there's anecdotes being told by the "girls" constantly like how Atkins found out she was sexy, not beautiful (I think she was both), how Maggie Smith couldn't care less about (her success on Downton Abbey) and honestly neither do I for that show never did much for me and I thought it was a better soap opera, how hearing aids are the new must-have, how scarf lady Plowright's career may have been helped or hurt because of her marriage to Olivier and how tanned Judi Dench does not want to be treated like a sick lady and is more than willing to let people know she can cope on her own, even if she gets stung in the buttock by a hornet. This and a lot more is what you will see and find out when watching "Nothing Like a Dame". I thought it was a funny little movie, not too long for its own good and also nice that it really never takes itself too seriously. Actually, this could have been a nice start for an idea for a film series when they meet every 10 years and talk about how things have changed like it has been done on other occasions, but well I suppose they are too old for that. Still I hope they will stay a bit with us nonetheless and like they said they really will keep working as long as they can physically, so I suppose good news for us as that means that we will see them in more upcoming movies, even if the big blockbuster days of Bond and Potter are over for the two/four. I must admit though I am a bit surprised that this film we got here almost receoved no awards attention whatsoever. I would not have expected that and I would have thought British awards bodies, most of all the BAFTAs obviously, would enjoy it and give it some credit. But this lack of awards recognition should not keep you from watching, especially if you know and like some of the actresses in here. Probably a better watch for people 60+ who have seen more films from the quartet, but I as somebody in my mid-30s had a fun time too and it's definitely not true that younger audiences should skip it because of their age. That would be ageism. I give this film a thumbs-up and recommend checking it out.
So yeah, what are the Dames doing here. I think the title here is a bit misleading, the German title, as they were most of the time drinking alcohol and not tea. It would probably be too much to mention each and every thing that is included in here and what the dames are talking about. Major focus is on their theater work, more than on their cinema work overall, which surprised me a bit. Then they talk about how they met each other back then, also how they worked together in younger years. Many of their projects are included. We find out what a deal breaker Mrs Brown was for Dench 20 years ago that really started her Oscar career and incredibly elevated her career to the point where she is probably today the most sught after actress over 80 still. The other ones are joking a bit around over that. As for Smith, I did not like how she seemed to be a bit of a foul mouth and also let others feel that like when she was talking to that photographer on one occasion as if asking eventually after basically telling him to go that hopefully he is not angry at her now would change anything. Her comments about Miriam Margolyes weren't very nice either. I mean very early on, everybody was joking around that the director and his crew seemed incompetent because they obviously had to get used to the idea of their meeting being filmed this time. If it is really true that they meet regularly that is. Okay what else? Laurence Olivier is featured on several occasions, so people who care about and are interested in him will have a solid time watching this too. i watched a German dub today and honestly it took me a little while to get used to that, basically until they moved inside. The early part outside felt rather strange, also because the original voices were louder than expected. So my suggestion is if you aren't a native English speaker, still go for the original, maybe with subtitles if necessary.
Near the end, we also see the scenes from when Prince Charles made them Dames at official ceremonies, which was a nice little inclusion I'd say. And of course, there's anecdotes being told by the "girls" constantly like how Atkins found out she was sexy, not beautiful (I think she was both), how Maggie Smith couldn't care less about (her success on Downton Abbey) and honestly neither do I for that show never did much for me and I thought it was a better soap opera, how hearing aids are the new must-have, how scarf lady Plowright's career may have been helped or hurt because of her marriage to Olivier and how tanned Judi Dench does not want to be treated like a sick lady and is more than willing to let people know she can cope on her own, even if she gets stung in the buttock by a hornet. This and a lot more is what you will see and find out when watching "Nothing Like a Dame". I thought it was a funny little movie, not too long for its own good and also nice that it really never takes itself too seriously. Actually, this could have been a nice start for an idea for a film series when they meet every 10 years and talk about how things have changed like it has been done on other occasions, but well I suppose they are too old for that. Still I hope they will stay a bit with us nonetheless and like they said they really will keep working as long as they can physically, so I suppose good news for us as that means that we will see them in more upcoming movies, even if the big blockbuster days of Bond and Potter are over for the two/four. I must admit though I am a bit surprised that this film we got here almost receoved no awards attention whatsoever. I would not have expected that and I would have thought British awards bodies, most of all the BAFTAs obviously, would enjoy it and give it some credit. But this lack of awards recognition should not keep you from watching, especially if you know and like some of the actresses in here. Probably a better watch for people 60+ who have seen more films from the quartet, but I as somebody in my mid-30s had a fun time too and it's definitely not true that younger audiences should skip it because of their age. That would be ageism. I give this film a thumbs-up and recommend checking it out.