Movie Review: Sleeper

Posted on September 9, 2007
Filed Under Box Office |

A great little movie that did get more acclaim than usual but seemed to disappear rather quickly from theatres was “Notes on a Scandal”, starring Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. Based on the novel by Hoe Zeller in 2003, Cate Blanchett gives the usual great performance, however, the scene stealer and exceptional performance was given by Judi Dench (James Bond fans already know).

Without giving too much away of the plot which to some degree is fairly predictable-given where both Cate Blanchett who plays Sheba Hart and Judi Dench who plays Barbara Covett work in the movie, the scandal is obvious. However, the movie rises above what could have been the typical B-movie about obsession to a high quality movie for several reasons, it is not the predictable part of the story that makes this movie great but what Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench are able to do with these characters that make the movie more than it is.

Cate Blanchett really is able to depict a woman who is torn and trapped by a life that she admittedly chose, but wonders if this was the right choice for her and is this all there is to her life. Judi Dench goes even further with her character who is not only obsessed, but also shows a woman who tries to cover her deep sense of being alone by her pompous and uncaring attitude toward everyone. In there movie roles Sheba goes out of her way to befriend Barbara to the point of being obsequious, partly because she is new to the job and due to the ensuing scandal. Barbara a veteran in the job and Sheba gravitate toward each other and the movie gets going from there.

What happens after the scandal is not so predictable and really diverts the movie from being typical to being more realistic, how the best laid plans are not perfect and do not go as they should to satisfy the archetypal movie plot point.

Lastly, the consequences of what we do and the potential fall-out are not what you would expect in the movie either. I have not yet read the book, admittedly, however, I would suspect as almost all books are, that it would certainly be more detailed and intricate and even more entertaining than the movie. Nevertheless, the movie is money well spent and should keep your attention.

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