Philomena
 

This movie is great. Judy Dench at her best. True story that needed to be told!

Movie of the year if you ask me.

In the past month I've gone to Spanish Springs to see four movies. 'All is Lost' with Robert Redford, 'Dallas Buyers Club' with Matthew McConaughey, 'Philomena' with Judy Dench and 'Nebraska' with Bruce Dern.

I liked all four films, I kind of knew that beforehand from the reviews. I like the story driven films but also the action movies as well. I would pick Dallas Buyers Club at the top of the class and I've never cared for McConaughey too much before but then recently I saw 'Lincoln Lawyer' on TV and was impressed. I also had read many good reviews about his previous film 'Mud' but missed it. Dallas Buyers Club is a true story from 1985 about a redneck that contracts HIV. It's kind of raw but that's part of the story and I wouldn't be surprised if McConaughey doesn't win an Academy Award.

One of my favorite movies is 'Sideways', and the director of that film Alexander Payne also did the 'Decendents' which I liked, so I checked out 'Nebraska'. It also had Will Forte who use to be on Saturday Night Live and he was usually funny. The film was OK but not as good as I had expected. I would probably rank it fourth.

Next would be 'Philomena' and 'All is Lost'. The latter has only one character and no dialogue, it all Robert Redford adrift in the ocean on a damaged sailboat. It's very gripping and I would rate it second best of my four and wouldn't be surprised if Redford didn't win some awards. Next I put 'Philomena' as third best in the group. It has a good story with a bit of a twist, but seemed to end with me wanting more from the film, sort of like it was over before I was ready. The acting was good but that was expected.

good heavens, if Dench doesn't win best actress...worth going just to look at her beautiful face.

For those of you that don't know it, Judi Dench was diagosed with macular degeneration over two years ago. She is unable to even read her scripts. She relies heavily on her agent, family and friends to help her with her lines.
She is a wonderful actress and did a great job in this movie.


Judi Dench battling blindness, diagnosed with macular degeneration - Chicago Sun-Times

now I'm even more in awe of her acting in Philomena. she is great.

I didn't know either...praying.

Saw yesterday at The Rialto. As expected a premier acting job by Dame Judy. The story was better than expected. I would say she or Kate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine will win the Oscar.

Saw this movie with my wife last nite and it was wonderful. Some might label it a "chick flick" but this is one guy who enjoyed it.
A very accurate portrayal of "Catholic guilt". Sins of a sexual nature if not the only sins, are certainly the most serious ones. Deliberate and continual lying is considered acceptable behavior, but a single sexual indiscretion merits lifelong punishment.