Who would have thought that Judi Dench, who is known for always playing classy and witty English women, could shake things up as much as she does here? She goes from the normal role we usually see her in ("Shakespeare in Love," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," and Q in "Casino Royale") to a very messed up and sadistic woman, who slowly lures an unknowing Cate Blanchett into her tangled web.
Some movies are defined by their directors, some by their visuals, some by their scripts. And of course, there are some movies that are defined by the performances of the cast involved. Like other films from 2006, including "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "Bobby," "Notes on a Scandal" completely feasts off its remarkably talented actors, all who add a dark layer to this twisted and intense drama.
Judi Dench plays Barbara, a woman who has taught at a poor public school for years. When Sheba Hart (Blanchett) comes to the school, we soon discover that Barbara is a lesbian and is very much attracted to this new teacher, and the two of them become very strong friends right away.
However, Barbara gets her "chance" to keep Sheba near to her as much as she wants. While she is waiting for her companion to arrive at a school play, she is upset that the woman had not arrived yet, and goes outside to check up on her. Inadvertently, she discovers that Sheba is having sex with somebody. Even worse, she discovers that Sheba is having sex with a fifteen year-old student of hers.
Although the film is a little slow leading up to this point, this huge turn in events sets in motion the intensity, the betrayal, and the absolutely glorious acting that Dench, Blanchett, and Nighy (who is refreshing to see in a more serious role after his turn as Davy Jones in the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" film) are all capable of. The three of them (as well as Andrew Simpson, who plays the student whom Sheba is having an affair with) provide the film with performances that capture this ugly situation as well as I can possibly imagine it being portrayed.
The film contains no action elements, and doesn't provide too many laughs either. The plot does not involve an epic journey of any kind, so it probably seems like this is a movie that gets boring thirty minutes in. Although many films like this may suffer that, "Notes on a Scandal" somehow manages to not only maintain its fierce intensity the entire way through, it manages to gain momentum and forcefully charge towards its splendid conclusion.
Throw in a fantastic score from Philip Glass (who is soon becoming the new John Williams after his score for this and "The Illusionist), and you are left with a spectacular film, that would have been even better if it could have set its twists and turns into motion a little bit sooner than it did. A very well-made movie that is as intense as you could make such a film, and a performance from Judi Dench that I believe could be the best of 2006, all in a film that anyone who considers themselves a true moviegoer cannot go without seeing.
Some movies are defined by their directors, some by their visuals, some by their scripts. And of course, there are some movies that are defined by the performances of the cast involved. Like other films from 2006, including "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "Bobby," "Notes on a Scandal" completely feasts off its remarkably talented actors, all who add a dark layer to this twisted and intense drama.
Judi Dench plays Barbara, a woman who has taught at a poor public school for years. When Sheba Hart (Blanchett) comes to the school, we soon discover that Barbara is a lesbian and is very much attracted to this new teacher, and the two of them become very strong friends right away.
However, Barbara gets her "chance" to keep Sheba near to her as much as she wants. While she is waiting for her companion to arrive at a school play, she is upset that the woman had not arrived yet, and goes outside to check up on her. Inadvertently, she discovers that Sheba is having sex with somebody. Even worse, she discovers that Sheba is having sex with a fifteen year-old student of hers.
Although the film is a little slow leading up to this point, this huge turn in events sets in motion the intensity, the betrayal, and the absolutely glorious acting that Dench, Blanchett, and Nighy (who is refreshing to see in a more serious role after his turn as Davy Jones in the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" film) are all capable of. The three of them (as well as Andrew Simpson, who plays the student whom Sheba is having an affair with) provide the film with performances that capture this ugly situation as well as I can possibly imagine it being portrayed.
The film contains no action elements, and doesn't provide too many laughs either. The plot does not involve an epic journey of any kind, so it probably seems like this is a movie that gets boring thirty minutes in. Although many films like this may suffer that, "Notes on a Scandal" somehow manages to not only maintain its fierce intensity the entire way through, it manages to gain momentum and forcefully charge towards its splendid conclusion.
Throw in a fantastic score from Philip Glass (who is soon becoming the new John Williams after his score for this and "The Illusionist), and you are left with a spectacular film, that would have been even better if it could have set its twists and turns into motion a little bit sooner than it did. A very well-made movie that is as intense as you could make such a film, and a performance from Judi Dench that I believe could be the best of 2006, all in a film that anyone who considers themselves a true moviegoer cannot go without seeing.