Hollywood Hidden Lives
Film Review: Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008)
THE GOOD: One of the great things about this film is that it is the type of film that does not get made any more. Sporting an old-fashioned style and look, the film is a farce and a genuine drama, all at the same time. Frances McDormand lends a sincere gravitas to these proceedings as the tough, but down-on-her-luck nanny Guinevere Pettigrew, who out of a moment of desperation, unexpectedly finds herself as the social secretary for the flamboyant American singer/actress Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). What ensues is a trip through high society and Pettigrew’s attempts to keep Lafosse out of trouble, to hilarious, and sometimes touching results. Aside from the excellent production design and visuals, the film is held together by the genuine performances on display by the whole cast. They clearly look as if they are all having a good time, but also find those moments of drama and seriousness to make the whole exercise compelling. Frances McDormand is the gravitating centre of this film, lending it a credence that makes the whole thing work. Amy Adams is great as the ditzy actress who reveals something more hidden underneath. She plays the hysterics and dramatics to perfection, causing a riot throughout every scene she is in. The remainder of the cast is spot on with their old world charm and sophistication. The film, of course, gravitates to a happy ending where all the characters end up with what they deserve, with the final sequence being low key and satisfying thanks largely to the performances of the actors in this scene, which could have so easily been pathetic and contrived. “Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day” is a fun way to spend a few hours and worth taking the trip.
THE BAD: As with old-style Hollywood films, some of what you see is over the top. That may have worked fifty years ago, but it does not really work in a modern film, despite how well it is integrated in to the narrative. Also, despite the best efforts of the filmmakers, they cannot always paper over the modest budget on display, but they do a decent job with what they have.
Review: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewmisspettigrewlivesforaday.htm
Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net – for all the latest reviews on the newest releases.
About the Author
|
|
Queen – Greatest Video Hits 1 $15.59 Queen will, Queen will rock you with this collection of more than 20 of the legendary British combo’s most memorable music videos. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Somebody to Love,” “Flash,” and “Keep Yourself Alive” are among the regal rock anthems featured. 3 1/3 hrs. total on two discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English DTS 5.1; audio commentary;… |
|
|
John Zorn: FilmWorks Anthology, 1986-2005 $9.78 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Playboy / Model Solution [VHS] $39.98 Jack’s father set him up in the perfect job, heading up an L.A. modeling agency. The only catch is that he has a limited time to show a profit or go to work in the family’s oil business. Not willing to give up the playboy lifestyle, he pulls out all of the stops to bring in a very lucrative lingerie catalog account. But as a rival agency goes a step further by using their models as sexual enticeme… |
|
|
Hollywood’s Hidden Lives $9.75 … |
|
|
Playboy – The Model Solution $19.98 Jack’s father set him up in the perfect job, heading up an L.A. modeling agency. The only catch is that he has a limited time to show a profit or go to work in the family’s oil business. Not willing to give up the playboy lifestyle, he pulls out all of the stops to bring in a very lucrative lingerie catalog account. But as a rival agency goes a step further by using their models as sexual enticeme… |
|
|
Star Wars: Rebel Assault II — The Hidden Empire (Jewel Case) $19.99 This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock…. |
|
|
Wrap Your Candy In a Chocolate Sexy Sweater Dress by KD dance, Healthy, Guilt Free Calorie Burning Sweetness, Enjoy With Champagne, Made in New York City USA “What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.” – Katherine HepburnWorn alone or with leggings there are countless looks & uses for the KD dance Sexy Sweater Dress. A fantastic piece for chilling to dance classes or instant sexy cocktail dress sure to turn heads. Comfortable, free flowing & fashionable, you are sure to put this to good use. KD dance was created in … |
|
|
Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars $25.00 Newly discharged from the Marines after World War II, Scotty Bowers arrived in Hollywood in 1946. Young, charismatic, and strikingly handsome, he quickly caught the eye of many of the town’s stars and starlets. He began sleeping with some himself, and connecting others with his coterie of young, attractive, and sexually free-spirited friends. His own lovers included Edith Piaf, Spencer Tracy, Vi… |
|
|
Sam Spiegel: The Incredible Life and Times of Hollywood’s Most Iconoclastic Producer, the Miracle Worker Who Went from Penniless Refugee to Showbiz Legend, and Made Possible The African Queen, On the Waterfront, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Lawrence of Arabia $8.88 Prior to this meticulously researched biography, legendary producer Sam Spiegel had loomed large in countless Hollywood memoirs, but was rarely the subject of close examination. Praiseworthy for negotiating a maze of apocryphal stories and unverified details, Sam Spiegel solves many of the mysteries resulting from the falsehoods of “Spiegelese,” for the renowned producer–whose crowning achievemen… |
|
|
Secrets of My Hollywood Life $1.48 What if… Your picture was taped inside teenage boys’ lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your “good girl” status?It’s a glamorous life, but sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke, costar of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of fame. Then she hits on an outrageously da… |
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
