Notes On A Scandal
But she’s also got a secret. Barbara learns of it when she spies Sheba, in the arms of a 15 year old student (Simpson). Barbara’s initial shock quickly dissipates as she realises the power she now holds over her new ‘friend’.
- Director:
- Richard Eyre ('Iris')
- Writer:
- Patrick Marber
- Cast:
- Judi DenchCate BlanchettBill NighyTom GeorgesonMichael MaloneyAndrew Simpson
Reviews & comments
Compelling and memorable
This film was simply compelling. Not a huge Judi Dench fan, I am now after seeing this film. Her performance in this film was thoroughly authentic, complementing Blanchett's convincing portrayal of a dissolute teacher tainted by her middle class label. The connection between these women was about their loneliness with one so detatched, Ba (Dench), she...
An intriguing tale...
Wonderful acting and intrigue by the bucketful this film was a delightful surprise. I didn't know anything about this film before going in to see it and I think that made it even better! I saw the trailer for it a week after seeing the movie and was thoroughly disappointed! It gave away most of the plot. Poor people who hadn't seen it already. Even the big...
Enjoyable, if a little underwhelming.
I enjoyed 'Notes On A Scandal', but felt a little under-whelmed by the end. The ending I thought was a bit of a non-event. The characters are multi-layered and very interesting. The performances, as you might have gathered from all reviews here, are very good - including also Bill Nighy. And did anyone else think Sheba went a bit too far at the end?...
Dame Judi pitches her performance perfectly
I am an unashamed Judi Dench fan. Bias declared I will go onto say that her performance is intense but subtle. No over-acting here. The person she presents to us is humanly complex and I left the theatre both horrified by and sympathetic to her. Not a feel good film but a disturbing thought provoking film which I will be chewing over and relishing for weeks...
a visual reading
Great script, like a book being read with gorgous visuals. Superb acting and casting. For those who love movies about obsessions, this delivers. I wish I hadn't seem the trailor as it gave too much away. Entertaining despite inplausible romantic locations and with a cliched ending. Very enjoyable cinema for the ladies, despite the flaws.
Variety
pressThe riveting interplay between Dench and Cate Blanchett draws blood with every scene, thanks to a precision-honed script and Eyre's equally incisive direction...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressNotes on a Scandal won't be everyone's cup of tea. But if you like your films strong, this one is not to be missed...
Los Angeles Times
pressIn bringing Heller's book to the screen, director Richard Eyre ("Iris," "Stage Beauty") and screenwriter Patrick Marber ("Closer") have tossed the book's subtlety out the window, along with its psychological complexity, its running theme of self-deception and its dark, extra-wry sense of humor...
Hollywood Reporter
pressEyre does a fine job overseeing performances by a terrific cast that rings true until female hysteria takes over the final act. But in tone and theme, the film has all the hallmarks of playwright-screenwriter Marber's stark, uncompromising misanthropy, if not misogyny...
Empire Magazine
pressIntelligent, classy and skin-crawling. You won't see a better acting masterclass this year...
BBC
pressImposing spaces, muted colours and a spine-tingling score heighten the journey into the dark recesses of Barbara's mind. With every manipulation, it becomes creepier and more compelling...
Variety
pressThe riveting interplay between Dench and Cate Blanchett draws blood with every scene, thanks to a precision-honed script and Eyre's equally incisive direction...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressNotes on a Scandal won't be everyone's cup of tea. But if you like your films strong, this one is not to be missed...
Los Angeles Times
pressIn bringing Heller's book to the screen, director Richard Eyre ("Iris," "Stage Beauty") and screenwriter Patrick Marber ("Closer") have tossed the book's subtlety out the window, along with its psychological complexity, its running theme of self-deception and its dark, extra-wry sense of humor...
Hollywood Reporter
pressEyre does a fine job overseeing performances by a terrific cast that rings true until female hysteria takes over the final act. But in tone and theme, the film has all the hallmarks of playwright-screenwriter Marber's stark, uncompromising misanthropy, if not misogyny...
Empire Magazine
pressIntelligent, classy and skin-crawling. You won't see a better acting masterclass this year...
BBC
pressImposing spaces, muted colours and a spine-tingling score heighten the journey into the dark recesses of Barbara's mind. With every manipulation, it becomes creepier and more compelling...
Compelling and memorable
This film was simply compelling. Not a huge Judi Dench fan, I am now after seeing this film. Her performance in this film was thoroughly authentic, complementing Blanchett's convincing portrayal of a dissolute teacher tainted by her middle class label. The connection between these women was about their loneliness with one so detatched, Ba (Dench), she...
An intriguing tale...
Wonderful acting and intrigue by the bucketful this film was a delightful surprise. I didn't know anything about this film before going in to see it and I think that made it even better! I saw the trailer for it a week after seeing the movie and was thoroughly disappointed! It gave away most of the plot. Poor people who hadn't seen it already. Even the...
Enjoyable, if a little underwhelming.
I enjoyed 'Notes On A Scandal', but felt a little under-whelmed by the end. The ending I thought was a bit of a non-event. The characters are multi-layered and very interesting. The performances, as you might have gathered from all reviews here, are very good - including also Bill Nighy. And did anyone else think Sheba went a bit too far at the end?...
Dame Judi pitches her performance perfectly
I am an unashamed Judi Dench fan. Bias declared I will go onto say that her performance is intense but subtle. No over-acting here. The person she presents to us is humanly complex and I left the theatre both horrified by and sympathetic to her. Not a feel good film but a disturbing thought provoking film which I will be chewing over and relishing for...
a visual reading
Great script, like a book being read with gorgous visuals. Superb acting and casting. For those who love movies about obsessions, this delivers. I wish I hadn't seem the trailor as it gave too much away. Entertaining despite inplausible romantic locations and with a cliched ending. Very enjoyable cinema for the ladies, despite the flaws.
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