Dame Judi Dench is arguably one of the greatest mature actresses of our time period. She is playing another dame, Iris Murdoch. I would have loved if they focused the film somewhat on Iris' success. She won the Booker Prize for the Sea, the Sea. She was awarded Commander of the British Empire and a Dame in 1987, a year before Judi's honor. Judi Dench really pours her heart and soul in this role and it shows. Jim Broadbent who declined a Queen's honor in reality is brilliant in his role as the older John Bayley. Their relationship is quite enduring. They focus too much on Iris' early sexuality as a way to maybe attract attention of film goers to go and see this film. If they did withhold it, it would have been seen on Masterpiece Theatre. I read two of Iris' books, The Bell and The Sea, The Sea. They are both philosophical, intelligent products of fiction. John is absolutely right when he says that Iris lives for words and they are her life. The scenes with the older Iris and John are more important than the younger versions of themselves. I think there was a creative difference in depicting Iris as free-thinking, smoking, young lady rather than the mature, intelligent, private woman of her day. The film is a 10 because of Dench and Broadbent's performances. I liked seeing Penelope Wilton play the older Janet Stone, her longtime friend. One of the subjects that I wished they would explore would have been Iris and John's decision not to have any children. The film also withholds Iris' platonic relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre. Iris and John loved swimming and that was evident in this film. I would have liked to have seen their wedding ceremony. I am not much of a Kate Winslet fan so I never really cared to see her playing younger Iris as a silly, manipulative schoolgirl. I found her Iris to be too selfish. Dench's Iris was much more caring and loving toward John and Janet. Somebody wrote that we can learn a lot about relationships by being more like John and Iris. That is so true. They were really soul mates from the beginning of their relationship and in the end too. John and Iris worked because they allowed the other live and do with absolute trust. Most people are unaware that they lived in squalid conditions in Oxford and that they did not have a television until Iris' illness. They listened to the Archers' radio program on BBC. They lived quietly. Iris donated much of her income from books to charities. When this film came out, I learned about Dame Iris Murdoch and read about her. I am still fascinated by her even watching Judi play as she declined away. Iris said about losing your mind when you live in your mind. If we all lived in our minds, it would be a much happier world. Rest in peace, Dame Iris Murdoch, you are not forgotten. If this film does anything, it is promote interests in your novels and open our minds.
Review of Iris
