Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Janae Milner
Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.
TheLittleSongbird
'Philomena' had so much going for it. An incredible true story, an attention-grabbing trailer that immediately made me want to see it, a talented director responsible for some good and more projects and a talented cast on board (doesn't get much better than Judi Dench).Am so glad about seeing 'Philomena'. It is one of the classic examples of films based on true stories/real events that treats its subject with respect and honesty, rather than any rose-tinting, "Hollywood-ising" or taking sides. It is also a classic example of a film that makes me proud to be a Brit, really like these kinds of films so never doubted that 'Philomena' would be good. It is a film that balances pathos, a little humour, insight and truth perfectly while executing the individual elements every bit as much, something that not many films do as successfully, and one that can be enjoyed by any age or gender, pretty much anybody really, without any prejudice or generalising.It is a lovely looking film, not flashy, gimmicky or over-cinematic (a good thing because it is not that kind of film) but the beautiful scenery and slick photography is effective and elegant in its simplicity without being simplistic or TV film quality. It suits the gentle tone beautifully. Stephen Frears' direction is tightly controlled and sympathetic, bringing his own personality while doing an even better job at accommodating the two leads and their chemistry together. The music is pleasant and understated, not bombastic or intrusive which considering the subject would have been the completely wrong approach. Steve Coogan's script is one of 'Philomena's biggest strengths. Of all the films seen recently, the script here is one of the cleverest and most beautifully balanced. Particularly standing out elements-wise are the heart-breaking pathos and the thought-provoking insight. Everything here feels very honest and there is even some gentle ironic humour to stop things from being too serious that brings a smile to one's face and makes one laugh.The story, an incredible story done justice, is told beautifully, having some breathing space to give depth to the characters and content while also being alert that things never become dull. It refrains from artistic license to try to appeal to younger viewers which was appreciated. There are some nicely done and genuinely surprising twists and the ending just about rang true, although there may be some viewers questioning the moral aspect. 'Philomena' excels in not taking sides or being one-sided, the characters are charming while not shown to be too perfect and nobody is vilified or painted unfavourably. In lesser hands or given the Hollywood treatment this would most likely not be the case, love biopics but they have not always had a track record at sticking to the truth.Other than the script, it's the cast that's also particularly good. The supporting cast are all strong and well-suited but it's the two leads that shine most. Their chemistry sparkles and Coogan is amusing but also very compassionate, a remarkably nuanced performance. Even better is Dench, who is simply outstanding in every sense and allows one to root for her character every step of the way and relating to her in a terrible situation.In conclusion, a beautiful film in every meaning of the word. 10/10 Bethany Cox
areatw
'Philomena' tells the fascinating true story of Philomena Lee and her 50 year search for her son, who was given away against her will by Catholic nuns. The film follows Philomena and a journalist, Martin Sixsmith, who assists her in her attempt to locate her missing son.Everything about this film is excellent. Judi Dench delivers an outstanding, heartfelt and I would say Oscar-worthy performance as Philomena. The rest of the cast, including Steve Coogan as Martin Sixsmith, are also excellent. A story like Philomena's deserves the very best script and acting, and I'm pleased they did the story justice.Overall, 'Philomena' is an excellent biographical film that I would highly recommend. No fake Hollywood nonsense, just a real story told exactly how it should be. 'Philomena' is a fascinating film.
Jemae
Great plot, this had the potential to be a fantastic movie but the main character/s never had obstacles to over come. Everything was just all of a sudden handed to them and it just ruined the movie for me. But other than that it was kinda a good movie and it should have run a bit longer
oOoBarracuda
Philomena is a film that snuck up on me completely. It was a film I had wanted to see badly when it came out in 2013, but I sadly missed the chance to see it in cinema. After Philomena left cinemas, I had forgotten about it until my wonderful monthly viewing planner came to be. Yet another reason I am glad I began to organize a monthly viewing schedule; I'm given a second chance to see films that I have wanted to see but missed. Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, tells the story of a woman who was forced to give up her child she had out of wedlock, and her search to find him 50 years later. Directed by Stephen Frears, Philomena is a human story delving into relationships in the most genuine way. On the anniversary of the birth of the child that was taken from her, Philomena (Judi Dench) feels ready to face her experience and seek out the son she has thought about daily for the last 50 years. Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is a shamed journalist dismissed from the Labour party unsure of how to get work or what to do next. When Philomena's daughter meets Martin by chance, she gives him a brief overview of her mother's story hoping to entice him to help. Martin, despite being currently unemployed, wants to stay away from human interest stories, but eventually reluctantly comes around to tell Philomena's story. Philomena tells Martin about her life, becoming pregnant out of wedlock then being sent to a Catholic Convent to deliver her baby. The convent would take care of the children and allow the young mothers to avoid medical costs and provide them with an outlet of childcare. What the mothers didn't know, however, was that the children would also be taken from them and given to adoptive parents. Once this happened to Philomena, she was heartbroken, never forgetting her son Anthony. With the help of Martin, Philomena is ready to track down her son, which quickly takes her from her home in Ireland to America. I may be in the minority here, but I always get pretty excited to see the glowing W of the Weinstein logo. I almost always fall for films distributed by the brothers and typically enjoy their output so seeing that beloved W before the opening credits was a good indication that I would enjoy Philomena. My favorite film technique, when it is well-used, are flashbacks. Philomena employs such meaningful and seamless use of flashbacks that the story is incredibly enhanced. The driving force behind Philomena is the human relationships we see develop throughout the film. The relationship you expect isn't even the one that takes precedence, as you become much more invested in Philomena and Martin than the search for Philomena's son. Stephen Frears does a beautiful job of showing the reality of people from very different lifestyles pushed together for a story, and the ups and downs they encounter together. Philomena wants to experience the search for her son with Martin alone, telling her daughter to stay home. It seems odd initially to see a stranger endure such a personal journey with Philomena until you realize that even though Philomena is searching for her own child, he was taken and thusly is a stranger to her. It is so beautiful to see the gradual strengthening of the relationship between Martin and Philomena, who at first are only tolerable of each other, eventually, becoming dear friends. The personal journey of a woman desperate to know if her stolen son ever thinks of her, Philomena is a raw, genuine film to be seen by all.
