I wouldn't bother. I usually love Stephen Frears but found this subpar and to be frank, offensive. It struck me as pap colonialist apologia and despite the title, Abdul's character remains a cipher and is mostly there to prop up Victoria's late-life crisis. Judy Dench is predictably excellent in it and the movie is pretty to look at, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. One of the few real disappointments among the films I saw in TIFF.
It was such a terrible movie and then when I found out Frears directed it, I was really angry, because it was so terrible and offensive and he's usually so nuanced and wonderful.
Well, what do people think about this? Am I wrong to really love it?
I think if you enjoy that character's humor (and I do), you'll enjoy that teaser.
Well, what do people think about this? Am I wrong to really love it?
I liked the Ted E. Ruxpin credit!
Chief Engineer: Geordi LaForge
It was such a terrible movie and then when I found out Frears directed it, I was really angry, because it was so terrible and offensive and he's usually so nuanced and wonderful.
Actually, Frears has a reputation for being something of a journeyman director. If a film of his turns out well it usually has more to do with the actors than with him.
The prize for the most overrated director working today has to go to Ridley Scott, though.
But Scott used to be a phenomenal, visionary director. His rep isn't unearned, he's just not living up to it anymore.
Based on reviews and pirated screencaps I saw yesterday, Justice League has Wonder Woman being awesome and Henry Cavill being barechested, so it has at least as much going for it as
BvS
did. Plans to see it this weekend confirmed.
But Scott used to be a phenomenal, visionary director. His rep isn't unearned, he's just not living up to it anymore.
I disagree with this completely. I don't really know how he earned his reputation; Scott's directorial cackhandedness is all over even his older films like "Blade Runner" and "Thelma and Louise". If these movies work it's in spite of him, and because of the script, the acting and the art direction.
It's not universal, from what I hear the original "Alien" works on every level (I've never seen it in full, because I am a horror wimp), and I actually really enjoyed "The Martian". But I stand by my opinion.
Frears's biggest crime is being a bit boring.
I feel like I should have seen more movies this year. I think I saw a total of six movies in twenty trips to the theatre.
I know we are supposed to look at Rotten Tomatoes scores with a jaundiced eye, but Lady Bird is still at 100% with 144 reviews in place. I can't remember if that's ever happened before: [link]
Usually, I would be expecting a backlash by now, but the film is such a loose-limbed charmer, I can't imagine anyone really hating it.
