tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post8065474808288947764..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: Monday Monologue: Barbara's RevengeNATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-15001960019213044972008-05-14T05:55:00.000-04:002008-05-14T05:55:00.000-04:00Wow, what a post! My thoughts exactly, especially ...Wow, what a post! My thoughts exactly, especially the tub scene. Marvelous!!Vikram Johrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016674284703056882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-12985335989514569582008-05-13T16:17:00.000-04:002008-05-13T16:17:00.000-04:00Mine:1. Mirren2. Dench3. Winslet4. Gyllenhaal5. Cr...Mine:<BR/><BR/>1. Mirren<BR/>2. Dench<BR/>3. Winslet<BR/>4. Gyllenhaal<BR/>5. Cruz<BR/><BR/>Nathaniel, what a breathtakingly well-written, sharp-eyed critique. I'm very jealous right now. And it's made me want to watch the film again. Right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-47453645551091965082008-05-13T14:42:00.000-04:002008-05-13T14:42:00.000-04:00strong list there. I still haven't seen HBC's movi...strong list there. I still haven't seen HBC's movie. but i like the rest of your list.<BR/><BR/>BROKEN RECORD: i'm still baffled as to how Helen Mirren managed 100% consensus with so many great female performances surrounding her.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-48370368024343955352008-05-13T14:38:00.000-04:002008-05-13T14:38:00.000-04:00I really think Barbara is not necessarily a lesbia...I really think Barbara is not necessarily a lesbian. She's lonely in a destructive way and this is all movie says about the character.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, Dench was my #2 last year. Here's the top 5:<BR/><BR/>1. Bonham Carter (Conversations with Other Women)<BR/>2. Dench (Notes on a Scandal)<BR/>3. Gyllenhaal (SherryBaby)<BR/>4. Cruz (Volver)<BR/>5. Bening (Running with Scissors)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-8728899184980222162008-05-13T11:07:00.000-04:002008-05-13T11:07:00.000-04:00Judi Dench doesn't ever "phone it in", and in "Not...Judi Dench doesn't ever "phone it in", and in "Notes on a Scandal", she was bloody brilliant. If I didn't love Helen Mirren in "The Queen", I would have easily picked Judi Dench to win the Oscar that year. Check her out in "Cranford" right now where she's rocking it too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-52914353604957843842008-05-13T02:37:00.000-04:002008-05-13T02:37:00.000-04:00Yes, in a rare year of me matching up 5/5 with Osc...Yes, in a rare year of me matching up 5/5 with Oscar, Dench took the Gold from me:<BR/>1) Dench<BR/>2) Cruz<BR/>3) Streep<BR/>4) Mirren<BR/>5) Winslet<BR/><BR/>But you know I worship her in whatever, whenever. And that includes <I>Mrs Henderson</I> when, in the absense of Joan Allen, I also think she should have won!<BR/><BR/>RobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69947845606390220402008-05-13T02:04:00.000-04:002008-05-13T02:04:00.000-04:00Mine was1. Cruz (Volver)2. Streep (Devil Wears Pra...Mine was<BR/><BR/>1. Cruz (<I>Volver</I>)<BR/>2. Streep (<I>Devil Wears Prada</I>)<BR/>3. Barclay (<I>Suburban Mayhem</I>)<BR/>4. Linney (<I>Jindabyne</I>)<BR/>5. Dench (<I>Notes on a Scandal</I>)Glenn Dunkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05424659636310160482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-72735064731267406242008-05-13T00:38:00.000-04:002008-05-13T00:38:00.000-04:00She was my win last year. And then a second place...She was my win last year. And then a second place tie (Winslet and Cruz) and Mirren in 4th and Streep in 5th. I believe this is the ONLY time that when I've done nominations they have matched 5/5 with the Academy...Michael B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06587665362502209914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-11592956267588311292008-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:002008-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00I'm a big Judi Dench fan... in my personal awards ...I'm a big Judi Dench fan... in my personal awards which I've made since 2000, she's been nominated for 3, an amazing feat and won for Notes on a Scandal.<BR/><BR/>Her work in this film is electrifying. The line-up that yr was excellent (1.Dench, 2.Mirren, 3.Streep, 4.Winslet, 5.Cruz for me) and had a 3/5 with my personal ballot (Watts and Dallas Howard instead). However, Dame Judi's performance rose from all the others delivering one of the decade's best.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598583335366876238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-8014419190887531552008-05-12T23:59:00.000-04:002008-05-12T23:59:00.000-04:00Thank you for making it possible that we can all w...Thank you for making it possible that we can all weigh in on a subject like "Notes on a Scandal", Dench., etc. Great Blog, Good comments, and FABULOUS ACTING in that film! <BR/><BR/>Seriously, Dench is genius no matter how you slice it! The first glance of her "phoning it in" is really her ability "making it look so flipping easy". In all reality, WHO COULD REALLY DO WHAT SHE DOES!!?? REALLY??<BR/>Friggin' brilliant! <BR/><BR/>She is just ALWAYS so *present* and *being the character*.<BR/>Then to have both Dench and Blanchett (another unbelievable genius who is so *present* & amazingly *in the moment*) in the same film...in the same scenes together!? JUST PERFECTION for any storytelling!<BR/><BR/>Marber's script was pretty brilliant, aside from only a few trite moments (the *stroking scene* seemed a little too hetero male fantasy), otherwise it was truly en pointe.<BR/><BR/>Dench, Blanchett, Eyre (another total genius - whether for theatre or film - totally amazing!), and Marber. <BR/>A truly brilliant and phenomenal cocktail of artists and artistry!<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for the Blog and the topic to comment on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-28739067376794901222008-05-12T22:41:00.000-04:002008-05-12T22:41:00.000-04:00Par --you crack me up. Kurtis --thank you.Cal --i ...Par --you crack me up. <BR/><BR/>Kurtis --thank you.<BR/><BR/>Cal --i don't do take backs ;) but yeah, i always second guess my self. there's 3 women i want to give the gold medal too. but theat's true most yearsryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16417770325536692463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-3505886860894748832008-05-12T21:55:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:55:00.000-04:001. I adored Dench's nominated phone-in work in Mrs...1. I adored Dench's nominated phone-in work in <I>Mrs Henderson Presents</I>. What can I say? I'm partial to a grand dame.<BR/><BR/>2. I like to take the same tact as Dusty in regards to <I>NoaS</I>. As if it's sort of asking us to make our own minds up in regards to whether Dench was a loony psycho or if Blanchett deserved to be forgiven, while also playing with camp.Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194113062830373898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-38551922450324187692008-05-12T21:43:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:43:00.000-04:00Nat - I have not been by to comment in quite some ...Nat - I have not been by to comment in quite some time, but when I saw a monologue from "Notes on a Scandal" posted, I couldn't resist. This was one of my very favorite films of '06, a stunning match-up of two of the world's finest actresses. And if I may, I was just as entranced by your exquisite writing as I was by the words from "NoaS"'s script in this post.Kurtis Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07946031309738374597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-74154872442240110932008-05-12T21:23:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:23:00.000-04:00And yet a Brit phoning it in seems to still be mor...And yet a Brit phoning it in seems to still be more forgivable than an American phoning it in.The Jaded Armchair Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511211427198395696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-20400302608590028372008-05-12T21:16:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:16:00.000-04:00as a keeper of diaries, a cat lover, a person who ...as a keeper of diaries, a cat lover, a person who lives alone and on occasion has been attracted to a younger person of the same sex, as well as being reasonably proficient in the art of the withering putdown i'd just like to say...<BR/><BR/>i love barbarapar3182https://www.blogger.com/profile/03647653154201086767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-40095190087550175892008-05-12T20:40:00.000-04:002008-05-12T20:40:00.000-04:00Now think again and give Dench that Gold Medal. Yo...Now think again and give Dench that Gold Medal. You know Streep's Miranda could never beat this performance. Just a blonde stunt, you know, from a great actress. It's not this deep and controled portrait of rage and loneliness. Think again.<BR/><BR/>- cal rothAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-18084901654793192662008-05-12T20:02:00.000-04:002008-05-12T20:02:00.000-04:00IDK, Dame Filmbitch. I'm usually pretty sensitive ...IDK, Dame Filmbitch. I'm usually pretty sensitive to the gay stereotypes that too often rear their heads in films. But I didn't have problems with <I>Notes</I>. I found the film less a demonization of a predatory lesbian, more a (pretty accurate?) reflection on a society that would redeem a child molester before a repressed older lesbian. The scene in which Judi's on-screen sister asks whether or not she's seeing "anyone" sticks with me as an example of her exile from normalcy.<BR/><BR/>If Judi'd found happiness in the end, wouldn't we balk at how unrealistic a film it was?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56272008729756635352008-05-12T17:01:00.000-04:002008-05-12T17:01:00.000-04:00ooopss ... just read your post ... lol ...I felt t...ooopss ... just read your post ... lol ...<BR/><BR/>I felt the same way about how Michael Douglas got away with it. But, in fact, the original ending sends him to the slammer for Close's death. It's up to the wife to figure it all out and find the evidence to exonerate (msp.) her husband. <BR/><BR/>For some reason, I was more forgiving of Scandal. Maybe it's because Blanchette is a woman and Douglas is a man. But, you have to admit, Blanchette caught more heat (from her husband, her lover's mother, etc.) than Douglas did.Cinesnatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244752542602944093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57828181563826877372008-05-12T16:57:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:57:00.000-04:00Hmmnn ... Nate, what is your take on Fatal Attract...Hmmnn ... Nate, what is your take on Fatal Attraction then, if not ...<BR/>an evil predatory spinster STRAIGHT WOMAN attempts to destroy a heteronormative marriage ... ?Cinesnatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244752542602944093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-6562264689152757382008-05-12T16:41:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:41:00.000-04:00Judi Dench immediately made every old lady teacher...Judi Dench immediately made every old lady teacher I had in grade school immensely more interesting.<BR/><BR/>In hindsight that is. I had one who did, in fact, go crazy.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13178975866741187681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-6395568579875269932008-05-12T16:37:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:37:00.000-04:00I agree with you on that one, Nat.My friend even s...I agree with you on that one, Nat.<BR/><BR/>My friend even said at the end of the film "She's gonna do the same with the new one"... gee, she was just trying to find a partner, it's not like she's Hannibal Lecter.<BR/><BR/>I think she's also "punished" for being attracted to younger women... as if straight men weren't attracted by younger women as well. <BR/><BR/>I despise that homophobic sous-texte<BR/><BR/>LarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-50092194917940084442008-05-12T16:28:00.001-04:002008-05-12T16:28:00.001-04:00p.s. i think it's the best work Dench ever did on ...p.s. i think it's the best work Dench ever did on film.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-26815617595109419472008-05-12T16:28:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:28:00.000-04:00anonymous --if it was an isolated incident sure......anonymous --if it was an isolated incident sure... but the evil spinster lesbian goes way back in cinema. and from the very first chords in the score your meant to fear this woman precisely FOR her sexuality.<BR/><BR/>plus the character who sleeps with a minor is forgiven by the film and allowed to return to a marriage that will somehow go on... but the spinster evil lesbian will just continue to prey on young girls.<BR/><BR/>BLECH.<BR/><BR/>it's very similar to fatal attraction. The married "normal" person can make sexual mistakes and be forgiven for them by the film and audience but the "other" must be punished.<BR/><BR/>i reject that.<BR/><BR/>but i still love love love Dench's performanceNATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-66803219884503398722008-05-12T16:11:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:11:00.000-04:00"The film's politics are horrendous: boo hiss --an..."The film's politics are horrendous: boo hiss --an evil predatory spinster lesbian attempts to destroy a heteronormative marriage!"<BR/><BR/>Isn't that a teensy bit exaggerated? Isn't complete acceptance by a society also being allowed to show fatal flaws in everybody ? This time the evil bitch happens to be gay... In The Devil Wears Prada she was straight.Big deal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-62470357236442667112008-05-12T16:09:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:09:00.000-04:00As a repressed lesbian I was deeply offended by th...As a repressed lesbian I was deeply offended by this film. I thought Dench's outfits were horrendous. How could she think she'd get any pussy with those awful blouses ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com