Radio Lady Reviews: “Notes On A Scandal” (Opens January 5, 2007 in Portland, OR and other cities.)

“Notes On A Scandal” is a British psychological thriller-drama. It’s brutal, dark, and surprisingly witty. In its laid-back, sophisticated way, it achieves its objectives and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Tongue in cheek, I’m tempted to say this movie should have been titled, “The Devil Wears Dench,” since Oscar winner Judi Dench stars as the scholarly, proper, but twisted Barbara Covett. Judi delivers wonderfully, and Cate Blanchett, playing the victim Sheba Hart, matches her performance. The movie also features a clutch of other talented actors.

I don’t want to spoil this for you, so I’ll tell you only a little more about the story. These two lead actresses are teachers at an English middle school. Dench is a lonely, grandmotherly-appearing woman in her final year before retirement. Blanchett plays a new teacher at the school who is struggling to establish herself with other teachers and her students. Blanchett’s character has a complicated family life which includes her husband Richard, an older man played by Bill Nighy, daughter Polly, played by Juno Temple, and a son, Ben, who has Down syndrome, played by Max Lewis.

The two women get involved with each other in an initially surface relationship that turns dense and deadly as the plot unfolds. The movie is very intelligent, well paced, and very powerfully acted. When the beautiful young teacher Sheba is amorously pursued by one of her fifteen-year-old students, Barbara sees an opening for achieving her ulterior ends. In her own quiet way, she is more menacing than some other screen villains we have known, because her evil conduct is so unsuspected. Dench plays Barbara deftly, revealing here and there, subtly, with a look or a smile, the undercurrent that is behind her actions. The manipulations that take place build to a tremendous crescendo in the last reel when Blanchett unleashes all over Dench.

You really must experience this film for yourself, but both my husband and I found it quite mesmerizing. There is a good deal of information around the Internet about Zoë Heller’s original book, and some readers were disappointed. The script adaptation by Patrick Marber is quite literate – and as spare and captivating as the script he did for the movie “Closer”. The good thing about it is that the story does not require you to have read the book. Just for the record, I didn’t read the book, but nevertheless found the script quite compelling. Judi Dench once again shows us the superb acting talent that she is. Dench, as Barbara Covett, definitely deserves an Academy Award nomination for her excellence in this role. Blanchett as Sheba also deserves consideration for her top-drawer performance. I’ve just added “Notes On A Scandal” to my list of top ten films for 2006.

Regrettably, “Notes On A Scandal” has opened in “limited release” in the United States, and has been on some screens since Christmas, putting it in movie theaters in time to qualify for awards. But it’s clear that people are having a hard time finding it in their cities. If you’re in Portland, Oregon, the movie is opening on Friday, January 5, 2007. For other cities, please check your local listings. My guess is if this movie wins some awards in the January-March 2007 period, it will be released more broadly. Be patient, please!

I’m giving this movie an “A” on Ellen’s Entertainment Report Card.

MPAA Classification: R (Profanity, sexual situations)
United Kingdom, 2006
U.S. Release Date: 12/25/06 (limited)
Running Length: 1:33
Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Simpson, Bill Nighy
Director: Richard Eyre
Screenplay: Patrick Marber, based on the novel by Zoë Heller
Cinematography: Chris Menges
Music: Philip Glass
U.S. Distributor: Fox Searchlight

Teacher’s Lunge: Barbara clings to scandalous colleague Sheba.


Barbara (Judi Dench) is a spinster school teacher who preys on the younger Sheba (Cate Blanchett) in "Notes on a Scandal."

you make it sound interesting, and I do like Cate Blanchett. I probably should be more familiar with Judi Dench than I am; it may be I like her too, just don't connect the name as well. Or, I haven't seem her in much.

:shrug:

:hi:

:hug: - I hope you have a wonderful 2007


edit - typo, I need a new keyboard...

Thanks for your good wishes!