Notes on a Scandal review

 Number 842 on the top 1000 films of all time is the British psychological thriller 'Notes on a Scandal.'

Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) is an old, stern teacher who runs her classroom with an iron fist. But she is also unmarried, childless and deeply lonely. She then strikes up a friendship with her school's new art teacher Bathsheba 'Sheba' Hart (Cate Blanchett.) When Barbara discovers Sheba is having an affair with one of her pupils, she decides to use this to her own advantage. Bill Nighy co-stars as Sheba's husband - Richard.

In many ways, Notes on a Scandal reminded me of the the Talented Mr Ripley. Both of them are based on books. And both have similar themes of love, obsession and deceit, as well as homo-erotic undertones. They also feature stellar performances from their lead actors.

I thought Judi Dench was great as the formidable Barbara Covett. She also narrates the film with a world-worn cynicism that is all too relatable for many teachers. Her narration gave the film a brilliant immediacy and throttled the pace along. Despite her cynicism, she is still a sympathetic character. it is implied that she has remained unmarried due to some unrealised lesbianism. It is out of loneliness that she attaches herself to Sheba. It out of jealousy that she starts to act with malice and spite. Remove a "T" from her last name and you're left with "covet."

I was less convinced by Sheba's characterisation. Firstly, "Bathsheba" is a name that's incredibly on the nose. But I found the naivete frustrating. She saw herself as an unwilling victim who was seduced by a 15-year-old boy, and not as the aggressor. However, this would be common behaviour for people in denial of their crimes.

I also don't think Richard was well-characterised. One moment he's friendly towards Covett. The next, he is unduly horrible, the next he's her best mate again. it seems like his behaviour was dictated by whatever the plot needed it to be at that particular moment.

These criticisms are applied more to the writing rather than the acting. Blanchett and Nighy were very good. Although the characterisation was wonky, the plotting was good, as we see how a simple lie starts to unravel. And, all hell breaks loose, when the truth emerges.

Dench and Blanchett both receive Oscar nods for their work, so the acting was obviously great. Yes, the characterisations were off, but the writing was generally good. I just can't get over "Bathsheba" as a name. Why else would you name your character that if you didn't want them to be a married woman being lusted over by a younger man? Only leading to her cheating on her husband with this younger man. You might as well have just called her Jezebel.

Lost in Translation review

 Number 485 on the top 1000 films of all time is Sofia Coppola's romantic comedy-drama 'Lost in Translation.'

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a fading movie-star shooting Suntory whisky commercials in Tokyo, Japan. While there he starts to question his own direction in life. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is also in Tokyo for her husband's photography work. Feeling neglected, she starts looking for something more and finds Bob. The two characters form an unlikely relationship.

Sofia Coppola is a much better director than she ever was an actress. If you've read my Godfather Part III review, you would know that I despised Sofia Coppola in that. However, with Lost in Translation, she crafted a touching, moving and wonderfully understated film. It had moments of levity, but it also left us with plenty to think about. Engaging with themes like isolation and alienation, she creates a subtle, but powerful narrative. There was also some gorgeous cinematography. I particularly loved the shot which shows Bob and Charlotte reflected in a window while Tokyo's nightline is in a bokeh. 

In many ways, Lost in Translation  reminded me of Spike Jonze's film Her. This was an excellent film that engages with similar themes, albeit with more of a science-fiction twist. It also had a similar cinematography that made it so pretty to watch. And, of course, both films star Scarlett Johansson. Considering Coppola was married to Jonze at the time she filmed Lost in Translation, it shouldn't be any surprise that the films were so similar.

I have to admit I don't much care for Bill Murray as an actor. I find that he generally always takes the same role - a cynical, miserly, grumpy old man. In many ways that's what Bob Harris is, but this character did have much more depth than many of other Murray's roles. And I think he did a good job in making Bob Harris quite sympathetic. More impressive though was Scarlett Johansson. At only seventeen, she was incredibly charming. Granted, she was still quite rough around the edges, but she showed her raw potential.

Overall, I did enjoy Lost in Translation. It had some great direction from Sofia Coppola, as well as some gorgeous cinematography. But it was just a moving and understated experience.