Little Voice (1998) User Reviews

Raw emotional power from every performance, beautiful in so many ways.

[il_matto · 7/10 · 31 January 1999]

This is a wonderful film that showcases not only the music, but also a full roster of powerful performances. Every one is excellent, but it's the two most subtle of them all that steal the show.

Jane Horrocks has proven that she can be so much more than Bubbles, the airheaded secretary from AbFab. She's more than a match for every other powerful actor on the screen, and considering her co-stars that's quite an accomplishment. Her chemistry with the wonderful Ewan McGregor is remarkable; the story of their characters could have made a gentle, beautiful love story on its own, but as it is, their attraction gives hope for both of these gentle, quiet characters. I would've liked to see more attention paid to McGregor's character, but that could simply be because where McGregor is concerned, there can't really ever be enough.

Michael Caine is deserving of his Golden Globe. Showy as his role undeniably is, he never pushes it too far. This performance is another example of his versatility and his formidable onstage presence.

Brenda Blethyn has become one of my favourite actors since I saw Secrets & Lies; here again, she's a wrecked mother who lives in a dream world, but with added layers of violence and neglect toward her only child. She can speak volumes with her thickly-shadowed black eyes and an omnipresent cigarette. We never get the full story on her relationship with her late husband, LV's beloved father, but the tension and the words unsaid are brought to a boil in a key scene between Blethyn and Horrocks.

Come Oscar time, it would be wonderful to see Little Voice get some recognition.

What an incredible performance

[Stan_Ogden · 7/10 · 27 June 2005]

Jane Horrocks! wow - I had no idea that she is such a tremendous mimic. I was slightly intoxicated whilst watching this film, and assumed that they were using the extracted original vocals of singers such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland etc. I was gob-smacked when the closing title said 'Jane Horrocks performed all her own songs'. Christ on crutches.. to call her gift 'a talent' is a travesty. Anyway.. about the film. The acting is mostly excellent (apart from LV's mother who goes right over the top in parts.. although she does manage to make you cringe and really feel her desperation). Michael Caine plays a great dirty minded but likable agent character (the man's a god - watch 'Get Carter'). I felt genuinely sorry for LV - a sweet and agonisingly introverted girl with an amazing ability to mimic other singers. Thank god Jane Horrocks isn't as shy as the character that she portrays in this film - it would be such a shame if her gift had never been exposed this way.

Quirky and Odd, well worth a rental

[ruddy_jim · 8/10 · 8 September 2003]

A slightly twisted film about a brutally shy young lady (LV), an overbearing cliche come to life mother, a slime ball agent and (of course) a slightly odd, yet kind hero(?) figure played by none other than Ewen McGregor, Little Voice is well worth the rental fee.

This movie is absurd, dark, funny, dramatic and at times heart wrenching. A little compassion will get you a long way towards enjoying it. The roles are played very well by talented actors, engrossing you in their turbulent little world.

If you like your films off the wall, this is the movie for you. If you prefer only mainstream Hollywood stuff, stay away!

A film to make you feel

[Dario006 · 17 April 2004]

Summary:

This is the story of a painfully shy girl who takes comfort escaping the harsh world of her overbearing mother by enclosing herself in a world of music. The peace she finds while playing her late father's records is the only world she's at home in. She sings the songs to her father's memory with an unbelievable ability to capture not just the voices of artists such as Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, and Marilyn Monroe but also the tone, the passion and the quality that made them legends. This ability is overheard by a talent agent who sees fortune in her voice. He tries to rip her out of her private world and force her into the terrifying spot light.

My Opinion:

I watched this film and was amazed. The characters of LV (Jane Horrocks) and Billy (Ewan McGregor) are just so adorable that you love them from the moment they are on screen. The performances of all the supporting players are good but the performance of Jane Horrocks is amazing. It's the kind of performance awards were created to celebrate, but got no where near the kind of recognition it deserved. Hardly saying anything throughout the first part of the film she communicates so much through her eyes and expressions. Then when she sings she does not just 'mimic' the voices of legends but proves she is a legend in her own right.

My brief review of the film

[sol- · 7/10 · 16 June 2005]

An interestingly unusual British comedy, it is not very but funny but it is almost always amusing, despite a couple of silly, even if not dull, romances thrown in. The acting is the department in which the film scores best, with Jane Horrocks excellent as the title character, Michael Caine, who is hardly ever bad to have on hand, and Brenda Blethyn, who generally suits her character quite well, even if she does go a bit over-the-top at times. The rest of the characters played by the other actors are somewhat oddly developed, and it is all rather predictable fluff, but the way light and colour are distributed keeps the film rather fascinating, and it is definitely a good film, albeit not a great one.

And the song fades...

[shu-fen · 7/10 · 20 May 2005]

The movie was not known in my philistine city, don't mention the awarded original production on stage "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice". To most of my townspeople, "LV" forever stands for Marianne's "Louis Vuitton" reticules, the association of John Bull's "Little Voice" ridicule would never come out, very unlikely.

I picked the VCD solely because I was attracted by the bankable casting: Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor, Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, they seldom let fans down. Yet, apologies, apologies. I don't have the slightest iota of a clue about who Jane Horrocks is… well, maybe voice widely heard (in the UK) but face rarely seen (in the Universe). And now I logged on IMDb and am made dumbstruck by the 134 comments. Why has it never been shown in my town? Not even in small movie house. (Shall we bludgeon Hollywood to cranberry jam? Hegemonic, preponderantly.)

Some viewers think that the flick does not deserve so many commendations. To me, my vote 7 goes to mainly the acting, the singing and the casting. If you intend to look for something else from it, disappointment is inescapable. Seeing the wardrobe and the look of BB, MC (funny outdated curly hair) and JB, I can't help thinking about the outrageous 1960s. Time seems to have "frozen" itself in sleazy Scarborough, North Yorkshire but not the wrinkles on people's faces and nor the weight on their arses. In actuality, the music and setting form an appropriate match, old songs in worn-out area.

BB offers me lots of jolly good fun. I always like her acting. Her portrayal of a lonely, horny and vulgar mother of mercenary spirit is so life-like. I can imagine a Cantonese copy with roving eye, someone like the landlady in "Kung Fu Hustle" walking down the street in the red-light area at Wan Chai right after the evening twilight has just arrived. Terpsichore graced EM's feet five years later in "Down with love" where he is a dancing beau at the end of the film. If he were presented the flair earlier, he might have danced in LV's little voice.

LV reminds me of Charlotte Church, the girlish diva. Her mother may not have experienced Mari Hoff's (BB) "predicament" after her daughter's refusal to continue to sing. Nevertheless the turbulent relationship and lavish spending of this opera babe do worry people. All her fans, though I am not one, we don't want to have "The Rise and Fall of A Teen Soprano" on show (too soon), it is forever good to have a prolonged "The Rise to Stardom of a Welsh Cherubim".

One of the sweetest British flicks

[Idocamstuf · 7/10 · 28 May 2003]

I never thought I would enjoy this movie, but I did. It tells the story of a quiet and abused young woman who has a hidden singing talent, this is discovered by an agent(Caine), who then gets her to perform in clubs. This is a very sweet little movie that came as a surprise to me. Its short and simple, like this review. ***1/2 out of *****.

Extremely Touching

[SpikeW · 9/10 · 30 December 2003]

At the risk of sounding overly sentimental, this is perhaps one of the most touching films I have ever seen, and also one of the most surprising.

Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine and Ewan McGregor all turn in superb performances, with Brenda Blethyn being a tad melodramatic but remaining within the bounds of believability. It's a real pleasure to see Michael Caine in particular, in a role of a shoddy, second-rate agent who believes he's found his passport to 'the big time' in LV. That man is such a great actor.

Bypassing Jane Horrocks' astounding ability to mimic people, it's also a pleasure to see her on the big screen again: she does a heck of a lot of voice work, but to be honest I haven't seen her in a major role since 'Life Is Sweet'. She's a real star and can play demented, disordered, deranged or simply different people with such style...

As for 'Little Voice', the story is a fairly standard setup: unbearably shy LV has a talent, is discovered by the local agent, the road to riches and stardom opens... but love is in the offing, so which will she choose? That summary, however, is where the similarity to virtually any other 'standard' setup stops: LV does not want stardom. She doesn't even really know she has her talent, which is completely passive. Her choice is not between stardom or love.

Virtually nothing beyond the basic storyline is 'standard' here. There's no "*gasp* Wow!" surprises, but events turn in quite unexpected directions at all times. Many folks even complain at the end because "it isn't an end" or "it isn't what we want". That's another reason to love the film: it doesn't give the viewer a Hollywood (yawn) ending. It doesn't tie up all the loose strings.

It's like life: there's no tidy endings. Look past the obvious images and look at what's underneath. See the film for what it is, and enjoy.

fairytale

[magnuslhad · 7/10 · 9 May 2016]

A chronically shy young women lives like a recluse, avoiding her deranged, abusive mother and escaping into song with her deceased father's record collection. A local agent discovers her talent and tries to set her, and himself, on the road to the big time. The script reduces character and motivations to their essence, giving the narrative a fairytale simplicity. A wicked, self-centered matriarch lives with a Cinderella daughter, till the local 'king' discovers her and attempts to usurp her for his own nefarious ends. Meanwhile, a prince on a white horse - well, with a white pigeon - waits in the wings to rescue the heroine. The performances play to the archetypes: Caine captures the Lothario gone to seed perfectly, and his on-stage solo at the climax is comically powerful. Blethyn holds nothing back in a display of hedonistic ugliness. While admiring the talent of the actor, the depiction becomes a little one note and grating. Jim Broadbent simply steals every scene, character acting at its finest. The film functions as a showcase for the voice talents of Jane Horrocks, but she brings much more to the role of the daughter grieving for the loss of her father and stuck with a toxic mother. It has that morality play, feel-good factor that a lot of British cinema dealing with working-class lives excels in: think The Full Monty, Brass!, Billy Elliot, with the streak of sentimentality slightly turned down. A good example of British cinema punching above its weight.

I Never Thought I`d Enjoy This

[Theo Robertson · 8/10 · 20 March 2003]

To be blunt the only reason I watched LITTLE VOICE was because there was absolutely nothing else on and I was expecting some sort of substandard Mike Leigh film . And I wasn`t expecting my opinion to be swayed either as the opening credits rolled , based on a stage play and full of actors with " Eee by gum " northern accents and with a foul mouthed mother bullying her painfully introverted daughter this had all the hallmarks of a tedious 90 minutes , but the more the film went on the more I became engrossed . I`ve never seen Jim Cartwright`s play so I can`t comment if Mark Herman`s script is an improvement but what a great script it is , something that touches your heart and makes you smile . The scene with LV singing a medley is uplifting while the scenes with " Take Fat " and Trigger Smith - Knife thrower will make you laugh outloud . This is a great feel good movie with a great cast , Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent are very good ( Well they do have three Oscars between them ) , Ewan McGregor gives one of his better performances and Brenda Blethyn deserved her Oscar nod , but standing head and shoulders above the entire cast is Jane Horrocks as LV . The fact that she wasn`t Oscar nominated in the title role is one of the biggest travesties in recent academy award history

Just to sum up this is a great film . British cinema experienced an upturn in the 1990s with the likes of THE CRYING GAME , FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL , and THE FULL MONTY , but these films are as overrated as much as LITTLE VOICE is underrated . LITTLE VOICE is one of the best Brit flicks from the most recent golden age of British cinema

Little Voice

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 3 November 2006]

From director Mark Herman (Brassed Off), this is a fantastic British film with some laughs, drama, sentimentality and great stars, based on the stage play "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" by Sam Mendes (director of American Beauty). Basically LV "Little Voice" (BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Jane Horrocks) is pathetically shy and lives in seclusion listening to her late father's old records, this obviously drives her abusive, loud-mouthed mother Mari Hoff (Oscar and BAFTA nominated Brenda Blethyn) to distraction. At night however when her father's ghost (Graham Turner) visits, LV sings the songs of the great divas such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Dame Shirley Bassey. Mari has a new boyfriend with loathsome dead-end talent scout Ray Say (Sir Michael Caine), and one night he overhears LV's innate talent and sees a big chance for making money. He gets local run-down seedy night club owner Mr. Boo (Jim Broadbent) to hear it to, Say gambles everything and forces LV to appear on stage at the club. As they prepare the event, LV and equally shy pigeon racer and telephone engineer Bill (Ewan McGregor) form a tentative, gentle friendship. LV did have a little bit of a bad start when she could only sing in the dark, but the second night she really goes for it, knowing that she can see her Dad in the audience. At the end of the performance though, Ray, Boo and Mari are all celebrating, but LV has gone back to seclusion and solace, and on the night when big talent agent Bunny 'Starmaker' Morris (Taggart's Alex Norton) will be in the audience. Say loses his rag and tries to drag LV to the performance, to be taunted by her many impressions, and when he survives falling down the stairs, he knows his career's gone, and he expresses this on stage with a fantastic performance of Roy Orbison's "It's Over", with some dialogue about his situation thrown in. In the end, after surviving a house fire, LV reveals her real name (Laura) and confronts her Mum Mari about the death of her Dad, and it ends with her helping Billy at the pigeon huts exercising them. Also starring Philip Jackson as George and Annette Badland as Sadie. The play was especially written for Horrocks, so no wonder she is fantastic at being shy, singing as the stars and impressions, Blethyn is also great, and Caine sort of steals the show, a great film. It was nominated the BAFTAs for the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. Sir Michael Caine was number 44, and Ewan McGregor number 9 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Caine was number 7, and McGregor number 2 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, and Brenda Blethyn was number 19, and Jane Horrocks number 16 on The 50 Greatest British Actresses. Very good!

Unique

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 4 February 2004]

Mark Herman's follow-up to 'Brassed Off' is another affectionate look at working class English life, although without that film's heart and anger. Instead, it's largely an opportunity for a gallery of British acting talent to enjoy themselves, with Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn all outrageous in their roles. Surprisingly, Jane Horrocks, the ostensible star, has a smaller role than might have been expected, although it's hard to think of anyone else who could have pulled off the part. 'Little Voice' is not entirely coherent, a fairy tale without the ending, but it is wholly distinctive and in places very funny. One of a kind.

Needed more singing

[zetes · 6/10 · 26 June 2011]

One of those little Miramax trifles from Britain that dominated the art-house back in the mid-to-late '90s. It stars Jane Horrocks as the title character, a painfully shy young woman who barely speaks at all, but has an outrageously good singing voice. Michael Caine plays a man from the music business who accidentally discovers her while he's visiting her abusive, skanky mother (Brenda Blethyn). Caine's attentions turn wholly to Horrocks, and Blethyn becomes even more wicked to her. Ewan MacGregor co-stars as Horrocks' pigeon-raising love interest and Jim Broadbent appears as Caine's friend, a night club owner. Brenda Blethyn received an Oscar nomination for her work, but she probably didn't deserve it. It's like she reprises her Secrets & Lies character and cranks up her obnoxiousness to 11. Horrocks is the entire show here, really (though I did like Caine's work). She's quite adorable in her shy mode, and when she does sing, man, does she nail it. The original play (directed by Sam Mendes) was written specifically for her to showcase her talents. I'd probably give the film a passing grade, but, really, there's only one sequence where Horrocks gets to show off in full force. It's exquisite, but I really wanted more. A lot more.

baffling

[writtenbymkm-583-902097 · 4/10 · 2 May 2016]

This movie baffles me. First, it seems to be several different movies. It begins with some laugh-out-loud humor from LV's bizarre mum. I was all set for a very weird comedy. Then LV is introduced. I did not react to her the way other reviewers seem to react. To me, she bordered on mental illness -- refusing to speak, refusing to react, hiding herself away in her room like a recluse with only her records and the memory of her dead father as company, afraid of the world. If I hadn't already read the plot, I probably would've stopped watching, but of course I knew that Jane Horrocks ("LV") would eventually sing, so I kept watching and waiting. (And waiting, and waiting, and waiting...) The movie quickly became a rather morbid drama. Michael Caine was way over the top as the guy who decides that LV's voice is his ticket to wealth, and suddenly the plot becomes his desperate effort to force LV out of her isolation and into the glare of a stage. It was totally unbelievable to me that a girl who panicked at the mere thought of leaving her little cave would suddenly agree to step in front of an audience and sing. Then the movie becomes yet another movie, a story about an almost autistic but hugely talented girl who abruptly breaks free of her fears and performs like a pro, belting out this song and that (yes, Jane Horrocks did sing all those songs herself), in a "bring down the house" performance that was, I'll admit, thrilling and wonderful. But what does she do then? Does she use this sudden great talent to escape from her miserable life? Does she at last become happy and successful, or even try? No. She mumbles and mutters something about "they told me once, they said one time," and throws her career away at the snap of a finger, preferring (according to the movie) to help a strange young man exercise his pigeons, so that the movie ends as a third kind of movie, some sort of deep literary exercise that's neither entertaining nor satisfying, just baffling.

A wonderful movie, with a few annoying flaws.

[Hacman · 19 January 1999]

Little Voice is much more than simply a star vehicle for Jane Horrocks.

It is a very clever translation of a stage play to the screen, which preserves the theatricality of the original by deliberately cartoon-like design and construction of shot, and through calculatedly large acting performances. (Anyone who has seen Michael Caine's TV masterclass on film acting, which consisted largely of advice to reduce every effect to an absolute minimum, will be amused by the sheer scale of his performance in this movie.)

It is a very English movie, in that it shows something of the oppressive decay of an English seaside town. Scarborough is in fact one of the prettier Northern resorts, as some of the external shots in the movie show, but the buildings and interiors could have been shipped directly from the grottier parts of Blackpool. I could smell the rancid chip fat.

It is a fine demonstration of the power of popular songs. When LV sings "Over the Rainbow" in imitation of Judy Garland, anyone with any musical sense will be moved. As Noel Coward said, it's strange how potent cheap music can be.

Contrary to the impression given by some reviewers (doesn't anyone read film credits these days?), Jane Horrocks does not sing every number in the soundtrack. Listen to the original Shirley Bassey belting out "Goldfinger" as Michael Caine (Ray Say) sits in the betting shop punting precious money for LV's launch concert on some three-legged nag. Horrocks is brave to compete with the originals in this way, and she is far from shamed by the comparison.

Unfortunately, Little Voice has some annoying flaws. As in an English seaside postcard of the 1930s, fat people are funny. Why? Because they're fat. Pigs, actually. Roll on the movie where a tubby gets to belt out a Judy Garland torch song.

Horrocks is extraordinary, but all the other actors in the film turn in first rate performances. Jim Broadbent as the seedy nightclub owner and failed comic Mr Boo is brilliant - sad, hopeless and hilarious. Brenda Blethyn as the raucous tart and abusive mother Mari is repulsive and cruel, but also pathetic. Ms Blethyn's performances often annoy me, but to attain the heights of Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford - in a movie that is actually good - is quite an achievement. Michael Caine as clapped out agent Ray Say ranges from vulgarity to charm to vicious selfishness with utter conviction and apparently without effort. He cannot sing a note, but his raging punk rendition of Roy Orbison's "It's Over" reduced the nightclub audience in the movie, and the cinema audience at the Odeon West End, to jaw-dropping silence.

This movie is grand guignol crossed with a postcard by Eric Gill. It is "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" with great songs and North Yorkshire accents. And yes, Horrock's impressions are wonderful. Little Voice is not just a star vehicle, but she surely is a star.

Jane Horrocks Will Knock Your Socks Off

[evanston_dad · 7/10 · 22 June 2010]

"Little Voice" is worth seeing alone for Jane Horrocks' knock-your-socks-off performance.

She plays LV, a painfully awkward and shy woman domineered by her blowsy broad of a mother (Brenda Blethyn). The only time she's able to break out of her shell is when she does impersonations of famous singers (like Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland), and when she does, stand back, because she (and by extension Ms. Horrocks) is a whirlwind of energy. Michael Caine plays a sleazy agent who's equally impressed and sees an opportunity to capitalize on LV's talent.

Ms. Horrocks is a revelation, but only if you don't know that the movie was inspired in the first place by a live routine she was already known for doing. Blethyn received an Oscar nomination for her performance, but it's a shame the Academy couldn't find room to nominate Horrocks, as she's by far the most deserving member of the film's ensemble.

Grade: A-

Come on, knock out a bit, make way for a woman in lust.

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 14 November 2007]

This film by Mark Herman has enough interesting characters that it really keeps your interest.

Brenda Blethyn received an Oscar nomination for her performance, and she deserved it. As the brassy mom who yelled and philandered her husband into an early grave, she is hilarious.

I have to say that this is one of the best performances I have seen from Michael Caine as a loser who sees all his dreams go up in smoke.

Jim Broadbent was also good as Mr. Boo, a failed comic and nightclub owner.

Jane Horrocks was mesmerizing when she sang, especially doing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Ewan McGregor was great as a perfect match for her.

The music was beautiful nostalgia and there performances were first rate.

Good mini-concert; Overwrought Film

[FlixFan-2 · 7/10 · 16 February 1999]

In many respects, "Little Voice is a very strange film. What an incredibly simplistic look at what is basically a mentally ill person. Still, Jane Horrocks does a fine job in imitating the voices of some of the great singers of the past! It's a fine performance deserving of a more cohesive script. The picture is a muddled mess in the last third. Brenda Blythen is waaaay over the top as LV's mother. No wonder her daughter is emotionally ill. Caine is very good as the seedy promoter. And, it's nice to see McGregor in a role not requiring him to use drugs or being out there in some fashion. Still worth the admission to see Horrocks do Garland, Monroe, Bassey, and especially interesting as Billie Holiday.

Extraordinary performance by Jane Horrocks

[cbk780 · 9/10 · 31 December 2006]

This is a small and sweet movie. It is not perfect but it is worth watching.

Brenda Blethyn's performance as an aggressive and self-centered mother is grating. But Jane Horrocks' performance as a shy, introverted young woman who has an extraordinary talent to sing in the style of famous singers is truly awesome. While watching the movie I assumed she was lip syncing because her range, from deep alto to high soprano was so great.

If you are a musician or music lover, you should watch this tour de force of singing.

Quirky & Creative

[romcombuff · 7/10 · 24 March 2013]

I've been on an indie film binge and have been discovering little gems through netflix. I love Netflix for that reason. I found Little Voice and after reading the description thought this would be a Pygmalion-like movie. Sure, it has elements of Pygmalion but it's much darker, quirkier with an ending that's as far from My Fair Lady as you can get. Jane Horrocks is magnificent in the title role, LV. Rather than merely being painfully shy, LV seems slightly abnormal actually - perhaps even slightly challenged. If the movie is released today, a psychologist might provide a more accurate assessment of LV's mental condition. I'm mentioning this point because the only critique I have for this film is the unrealistic relationship between Billy (Ewan McGregro) and LV. While McGregor is always wonderful, I wasn't sure why Billy would have such interest in this oddly immature, challenged LV - I think that part/relationship of the film could have been better developed. But this is still a minor critique of the film. It's a bizarrely sad story that's elegantly told. And...of course, I love British casting of movies. The interesting, worn faces of Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent add so much to each character. I highly recommend.

Big talent in an impressive little film

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 15 February 2011]

I was surprised at how much I liked Little Voice. It looks beautiful, with the photography striking and the scenery, lighting, costumes and locations equally so. The script has its funny and touching moments, and I liked how the story had sweet and subtle Cinderella-like undertones. The pace is also just fine, and Herman's direction compliments the film's strengths very well.

In fact, my only complaints with Little Voice are its length, I feel it is too short, and sometimes in the film the working-class life is depicted a little too crudely.

The acting is the film's biggest pro. Jane Horrocks is simply brilliant in the lead role, and she gets fantastic support from Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent and especially Michael Caine. Ewan McGregor is also very good and charming.

In conclusion, an impressive little film made especially watchable by the big talent on show. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Charming, quirky, inspirational film

[lingmeister · 7/10 · 7 July 2002]

I didn't know what this film was about when I rented it, but it turned out to be something of a surprise. The story is very uplifting, implying anyone could overcome their fears, either directly or indirectly. With all the quirky characters that in their own ways, meant more to people who cared about them. The cast of characters is great, with everyone giving it that extra edge to take the movie to the next level.

Amazing!

[TuckMN · 9/10 · 2 August 1999]

When I first started watching this I could not figure out why Michael Caine won the Golden Globe as Best Actor -- but by the end of this great British film you will know why.

Brenda Blethyn, Mr. Caine, Ewan McGregor and especially June Horrocks turn in stellar performances in this adapted-from-the-play (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) film.

June Horrocks is totally astounding as Little Voice -- especially if the only thing you have seen her in is the British Television programme "Absolutely Fabulous."

She does all of her own singing in this film and does a great job of it. She is absolutely astounding.

While it is difficult to say much of anything about this film without giving away the story, suffice it to say it is one of the finest films I have ever seen.

I am very glad it was produced in Britain and not the United States. The producers here would have tried to make it a MOVIE and it is not -- it is a quiet piece of art.

Please, see this film.

Little Voice: BIG Talent, NOTHING Story

[Bob-45 · 7/10 · 26 July 2001]

It has been reported that `Little Voice' was originally a play written for Jane Horrocks, an incredibly talented mimic. If this is true, then the playwright did Ms. Horrocks no justice. For he made Ms. Horrocks a supporting player in her own showcase, even giving the best roles to Brenda Blethyn (Mari) and Michael Caine (Ray). Blethyn is terrific as the refreshingly crass and slutty Mari, Little Voice's mother. Caine is equally good as the charming, but desperately sleazy Ray, a talent agent. Horrocks performs her mimicry for about eight minutes of a 97minute movie. The rest is populated with predictable `cymbal-ridden' story (You know that one; the producer tells the writer he wants lots of `symbols'. The writer thinks he meant `cymbals' and keeps CRASHING them together.). BOTH Horrocks and the audience would have been better served had she taken her one woman show on the road and spent the time entertaining with her amazing impersonations, which include Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Gracie Fields, Marlene Dietrich and Billie Holliday.

By all means, watch `Little Voice' for ALL the fine performances, including Ewan McGregor (Billy), Philip Jackson (George) and Jim Broadbent (Mr. Boo) Just try not to despair too much about what MIGHT have been. Also, if you live anywhere but the UK, make sure to turn on the `Close Captioning'.

vile, mean-spirited and snobbish

[Shrike-10 · 2/10 · 7 May 1999]

Little Voice is *not* a masterpiece, it isn't even a good film. The prevailing tone is of unspeakable snobbery and patronisation of working class people. The attitude is "Oh aren't working-class people horrible when they try and be cultured? They should stay at home, meditate on the lowliness of their position, and not impose themselves on us cool people." From the moment when a scene of a fat woman disco-dancing is presented as a piece of comic horror, the film sneers at its characters. The "happy" ending occurs when LV and Billy decide, in the style of Caliban "to be wise hereafter, and seek for grace", ie to reconcile themselves to their lowly place in the film makers' worldview. The saddest thing about the film is Brenda Blethyn's appallingly OTT performance as Mari - we know she can do better than this from Secrets and Lies, so we can only blame the director for forcing her to play such a caricature. Ray Say is, by the close of the film, utterly destroyed as a human being, yet the film-makers appear to regard this as a just punishment for crimes against taste.

Everybody involved with this film should be forced to go and see John Water's "pecker", to see how a similar plot can be presented in a warm-hearted manner which is funny without spitting on its characters.