moonspinner55
Friendless, bitter history teacher at a bustling British high school is at first appalled by--and then strangely drawn to--a new arrival: the lovely, earthy young art teacher who wants everyone to fall in love with her. The flirtatious nature of this ethereal newcomer draws a strapping 15-year-old student into the picture, a sticky situation of which the spinster becomes well aware, eventually using the turn of events to her advantage. For the better part of an hour, director Richard Eyre hypnotically weaves an intriguing web of mismatched lives intersecting within secret complicity and, ultimately, tragedy. Working from Zoe Heller's novel "What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal", screenwriter Patrick Marber creates an absorbing whirlpool of emotional characters and private feelings, while Judi Dench's elderly Barbara alternately seethes and smiles like a Cheshire cat. Both Dench and Cate Blanchett are amazing, however Eyre allows a few of the supporting players too much slack, and the melodrama which takes over in the final third becomes overwrought as a result. Still quite good, with a dangerously dreamy ambiance sweeping its dueling divas up in a cloud of conflict and little gold stars. *** from ****
ironhorse_iv
It's been years since this movie was first released, and I'm still mad that the 79th Academy Awards for getting it all wrong, with 'Note for a Scandal'. It sad that this movie did not win anything. In my opinion, I thought, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett's performance in this movie was very virtuous. Glad, they were nominated, but they deserve to win, along with the soundtrack by composer, Phillip Glass which was very haunting. Not only that, but the adapted screenplay written by Patrick Marber was equally as powerful and thought-provoking as the 2003's novel of the same name by author Zoë Heller in which the film is based on. Set at a comprehensive school in London, the movie directed by Richard Eyre tells the story of a veteran high school teacher, Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) torn by a dilemma in which, she has to choice in reporting, a fellow colleague Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), who she caught having an affair with one of her 15-year-old student, Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson), or losing the only friend that she has, who she secretly is attractive to. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, from the very beginning we are taken into Barbara's world, through her eyes, and supposedly narrating from her diary that she conscientiously writes. The diary was a great added in, to the story as the film is more unforgiving, cold-eyed, wickedly look about keeping secrets, trust, and love in the work place, when it comes to revealing the solid truth. It helps understand the inner working of a mind of a lonely stalker. However, I thought the epistolary take of the book, was somewhat better, as it allows more mystery & doubt in the perspective of Barbara of Sheba, rather than straight forward action to what Sheba certainly had done. Something similar in a way, like how 2008's film 'Doubt' question the ambiguous relationship, a teacher had with a troubled young student. I like films that doesn't show if the sexual act, honestly happen or not. However, since this movie doesn't do that, its falls into the category of being somewhat predictable. Despite that, I do like how the film focuses primarily on the relationship between Barbara and Sheba. In the novel, it is way too broad, focusing too much time on not needed supporting characters, such as both women's huge families, as well as the other teachers at St. George's School. I get that, the original writer want to see, what outsiders thought about the scandal, but I like the intensely between the two main women on their journey in manipulation, loneliness, crises, fear, and forgiveness. It's far more appealing to me than outside opinions. I fascinated to see what drove Sheba to such behavior, and why Barbara would fight so long to try to keep it, a secret. I also like how the film depicts Barbara and other characters in a more favorable light than the novel. I always felt that the book was too cynical for my taste. Don't get me wrong, both Barbara and Sheba are still an incredibly sinister, bitter, manipulative people, but at least, they seem more like a real-like human being with flaws that could be friends with each other, than the unrealistic unlikeable forced duo that they were in the book. Yet, I do kinda hate that the film, clearly albeit discreetly reveals Barbara's wish for physical intimacy with Sheba, rather than allowing it, to be vague and uncertain. I would love to the filmmakers leave that to audience interpretation. Instead, it gave off, the negative attachment that all 'repressed lesbianism' is bad; which might offend some feminist and lesbian groups. Despite that controversy, I found the film to have bigger faults, such as the very anticlimax weak ending, with the movie downplaying, Sheba's punishment for her sins, to the point that the thriller might end bittersweet rather than downright tragic. I don't know, screenwriter, Patrick Marber wanted to show gender bias & discrimination message with his version of the end, but I felt that the ending in the novel was better, as it was creepy & subtle enough to be more open-ended, as it does not revealed whether or not Sheba is imprisoned or not. Plus, it really didn't like the last minute, add on, character, the film goes with their version. Either way, regardless of the movie and source material, the age of consent in England is far too young. Overall: I have to say, 'Notes on a Scandal' is a lot better than those Lifetime: Movies of the Week that are little bit too straight forward, heavy, or too melodrama. What saved this book from being a daytime made-for-TV movie is its smart commentary on class, obsession, liberalism, and borderline of sisterhood and sexual lust. It's a twisted and complicated tale revolving around relationships that will make your skin crawl. A great movie that deserve more praise. It's fascinating.
