Notes Of A Scandal

[Ulysees]

Went to oldies movie time at the local odeon today with my mam and neice and they usually show movies newly out on dvd. Watched this today and was spellbound by the acting not only of dench and blanchett but the boy.

Must say as a mother of 2 sons it did make my stomach churn. He did look young too which made it worse.

Amazing movie though and well worth seeing.

Good movie, but not as good or as subtle as the book.

I agree with you. I really enjoyed (is that the right word?) it. Thought Cate Blanchett was excellent, and the boy was really good. I have 2 boys as well, and thought it was a nightmare scenario, made worse because you couldn't even hate her character for doing it, could you?

I really fancy seeing this. I love the book. I expect I will have to fib to dh and make up a scene involving exploding aliens in order for him to agree to watching it!

No you couldn't hate her but then again he looked soooooo young. I'd have taken her head off though if it'd been my son. Judy Dench was shockingly good.

i saw this a few weeks ago on a plane journey, and was quite impressed by it, thought judi dench was excellent, and thought it was a good move casting someone who looked so young, so it wasnt looked on as some kind of star crossed lovers type film

I loved the book and hated the film. Thought all the subtlety was lost.
Cate Blanchett looked beautiful though, and I enjoyed watching her house.

In the book the boy is scary and predatory, but I think that isn't a very pc position, so in the film he wasn't like that at all.

yes i see your point but oh the boy. Thought it funny how he played her at 15 and was so knowing.

Aloha, I thought he was quite predatory in the movie - is he worse in the book? God, how scary is that?

yes he was stalking her

That's why I loved the book so much, the older teacher is terrifying not because she is a sexual predator but because she is so lonely, which makes her totally desperate and so totally ruthless. The boy is driven not just by his sexuality, but by discovering that he can have power over someone else, and someone older, with more money and of a different class. Also of course, he is a man with power over a woman. It is not a very pc view, which sees all young men as the victims of older women.
She behaves with such stupidity I was shouting at the page at her. I thought it was a really powerful thriller.

I have to say I was appalled by the after dinner creative dance scene in the film - could barely watch!

I agree Aloha,very odd

I watched this last night and detested it. I wanted to slap Cate Blanchett.

her character I mean

I thought it was great. I thought it was a bit like a Chabrol or something, an unrepentantly bourgeois film done without apology. The end was shocking(ly bad) though and I know what you mean Aloha.
In general creative dance scenes make me vom - or indeed hopping scenes along the south bank - but this one was ok I thought, just the quality of the acting.