Judi Dench is marvelous in Philomena. But, her co-star, Steve Coogan, is terrific, too. Steve Coogan plays an out-of-work British journalist who reluctantly takes up Judi Dench’s character’s search for her missing son. The director, Stephen Frears, takes the Steve Coogan/Jeff Pope script and turns it into a plot pretzel. I loved the unexpected twists. The chemistry between Judi Dench and Steve Coogan is special. Coogan’s foppish journalist learns some Life Lessons from Philomena. But the journalist is relentless and discovers key clues about Philomena’s missing son. Philomena is one of the Best Movies of 2013. GRADE: A
George, I hope to see this film. Thank you for writing about it. The indefatigable Judi Dench doesn’t look 79. I’m not familiar with Steve Coogan.
I liked it very much. Pretty terrifying what those Magdalene Sisters did.
Prashant, I’ll go see Judi Dench in any movie she’s in. She one of my favorites. Steve Coogan has had roles in several movies, but he’s a star in PHILOMENA.
Patti, I’m tempted to read the book PHILOMENA is based on. Yes, the Catholic Church has a lot to answer for.
As a Judi Dench fan of long standing I will definitely see this one, probably in Florida.
I know I’ve mentioned it before but we saw her in a musical adaptation of J. B. Priestley’s THE GOOD COMPANIONS in London back in 1974, co-starring John Mills (who really couldn’t sing). The songs were by Andre Previn and Johnny Mercer. We liked it a lot. The woman can do anything (almost).
Jeff, you and I share similar opinions of Judi Dench. Her talent and versatility are incredible!
Okay, well, I guess that spoiler pretty much gave the plot away. Rats, I had thought about seeing this. Well, there’s still GRAVITY I have yet to see, if it’s playing anywhere.
Oh, and continuing the football talk from yesterday, every team in the NFC West won. Again.
Rick, the NFC West is the best division in the NFL. The Super Bowl Champion will be one of those teams.
And hated Denver lost on Thursday night. Oh, the joy!
Bob, Denver is a flawed team. They can be beaten. I’m not sure anyone can beat the Seahawks.
There’s a movie called The Magdalene Girls (IIRC) that showed very graphically what went on in the home they inhabited, which was more like a prison.
I hate to be the holdout, but Densch was never high on my list of actresses. She always seems to be acting, which I find distracting.