Whit AlexanderReview: Keeping Mum (LINK)
March 31st 2008 09:42
This was a movie that I hadn't heard about at all before I saw it on a shelf. My boyfriend works in a convenience store that rents movies as well, and a few months ago I spotted this movie. Dame Maggie Smith and Rowan Atkinson were on the cover, and so I picked it up.
Aside from Dame Maggie Smith and Rowan Atkinson, it also stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Patrick Swayze (did you feel a shiver of cognitive dissonance? I know I did). Rowan Atkinson plays Walter Goodfellow, a humorless Vicar focused on his work, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays his ignored and exacerbated wife, Gloria. Patrick Swayze is the troublesome golf-mentor (with benefits) to Gloria.
They have two children, Holly (Tamsin Egerton) a teenager with a boyfriend every other day and Petey (Toby Parkes) a younger kid who can't seem to get rid of his bullies. Gracie Hawkins, played to perfection by Dame Maggie Smith, arrives as the house-keeper and suddenly life gets easier for the family (and messier as well as shorter for a few).
Swayze, by the way, plays his sleaze-bag role to the fullest. Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith are both, as always, wonderful. Rowan Atkinson plays his straight-laced role marvelously, and this cast is just stellar all the way around.
This movie has a superb cast, it's script is quirky and well-written. It's funny and has dark themes without being absolutely morbid. The ending is dark and heart-warming at the same time, figure that one out.
And I've been forgetting to mention the score in the past, but this movie has a wonderful, quirky, and understated score. Keep an ear out for it, you almost don't catch it if you're not paying attention. (It comes and goes.)
This is an odd little near-mystery movie with a great sense of humor, and I recommend it highly. If you're an American are still going "Keeping Wha?" seriously, go out and watch this movie.
I also thought I'd wish both Dame Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze all the luck and wishes, they're both struggling with cancer and I know everyone hopes they recover.
If you stumble across this and want to help, you can donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation through here and you can donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network here.
Aside from Dame Maggie Smith and Rowan Atkinson, it also stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Patrick Swayze (did you feel a shiver of cognitive dissonance? I know I did). Rowan Atkinson plays Walter Goodfellow, a humorless Vicar focused on his work, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays his ignored and exacerbated wife, Gloria. Patrick Swayze is the troublesome golf-mentor (with benefits) to Gloria.
They have two children, Holly (Tamsin Egerton) a teenager with a boyfriend every other day and Petey (Toby Parkes) a younger kid who can't seem to get rid of his bullies. Gracie Hawkins, played to perfection by Dame Maggie Smith, arrives as the house-keeper and suddenly life gets easier for the family (and messier as well as shorter for a few).
Swayze, by the way, plays his sleaze-bag role to the fullest. Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith are both, as always, wonderful. Rowan Atkinson plays his straight-laced role marvelously, and this cast is just stellar all the way around.
This movie has a superb cast, it's script is quirky and well-written. It's funny and has dark themes without being absolutely morbid. The ending is dark and heart-warming at the same time, figure that one out.
And I've been forgetting to mention the score in the past, but this movie has a wonderful, quirky, and understated score. Keep an ear out for it, you almost don't catch it if you're not paying attention. (It comes and goes.)
This is an odd little near-mystery movie with a great sense of humor, and I recommend it highly. If you're an American are still going "Keeping Wha?" seriously, go out and watch this movie.
I also thought I'd wish both Dame Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze all the luck and wishes, they're both struggling with cancer and I know everyone hopes they recover.
If you stumble across this and want to help, you can donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation through here and you can donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network here.
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Comment by Harry
Sydney Diary
Personals
Brisbane Diarystar
Zoo Parent
Nice review -- I'll definitely check this one out. I'd never actually heard of it.
Comment by Bethany
Thanks for keeping up with me, by the way, this is my first REAL attempt at a blog and I've been excited that anyone looks at it.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I knew about Swayze, but I didn't know about Dame Maggie. How terrible...
Nice post.
Michaelie