Keeping Mum (2005)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Niall Johnson

Writers (WGA):

Richard Russo (screenplay) and
Niall Johnson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 December 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Some family secrets are best kept...buried.

Plot:

A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an affair and his children are up to no good.

Plot Keywords:

Housekeeper | Golf | Neighbor | Dog | Sermon

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	Walter Goodfellow
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Gloria Goodfellow
Maggie Smith	...	'Grace Hawkins'
Patrick Swayze	...	Lance
Tamsin Egerton	...	Holly Goodfellow
Toby Parkes	...	Petey Goodfellow
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Parker
Emilia Fox	...	Rosie Jones
James Booth	...	Mr. Brown
Patrick Monckton	...	Bob - Pond Workman
Rowley Irlam	...	Ted - Pond Workman
Vivienne Moore	...	Mrs. Martin
Murray McArthur	...	Vicar's Convention Master of Ceremonies
Morgan Gower	...	Reverend Campbell
Rupert Simonian	...	Billy Martin the Bully

Also Known As:

Trunk (UK) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.

Runtime:

103 min | Turkey:97 min (TV version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:M | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:18PL | USA:R | Germany:6 | Iceland:12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | France:Unrated | Hungary:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

Summit Entertainment

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to James Booth (Mr. Brown).

Goofs:

Continuity: The blue Volvo family car parked outside of school has mud on its front-right door, but one minute later it's clean.

Quotes:

Grace Hawkins: [on meeting Grant the Goth] Oh, is it Halloween?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-10-07)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Did You Ever Wonder Why?

Surprisingly wonderful English comedy

This is an almost perfect "naughty" English comedy whose humour is too complicated to be described. Rowan Atkinson, Maggie Smith, and the rest of the cast are perfect. This is the most understated I have ever seen Atkinson, and marks an interesting evolution for him. Two young ladies in front of me were still giggling halfway through the closing credits, and the entire audience, judging from the laughter, had a great time. I chuckled all the way home - think I'll go see it again tonight, as I have an "Unlimited" card, so can see as many movies as I like for 11 pounds a month.

Seriously, this is not a "sweetness-and-light" comedy - it has a dark side, which is evident from the beginning, but that aspect drives the humour, because it touches feelings in us which we must restrain, but in watching the film we are allowed to indulge them. It also has a lot of very deep things to say about marriage and religion (Atkinson plays a shy, self- absorbed country vicar with a beautiful wife and daughter whom he neglects) without indulging in the usual superficial post-modern ironic attacks on either institution. In fact, it has some very intelligent things to say about both of them.

You really must see this movie - it is a gem - if you know people who don't normally go to the movies (like older in-laws) urge them to see this one, or at least rent the DVD.