Florence Foster Jenkins film screening feedback thread - non testers - chance to win £100 and signed poster! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Ahead of the UK release of new film Florence Foster Jenkins on 6th May, around 35 Mumsnetters attended a special preview of the film with a guest. Read the comments below for their reviews.

NON ATTENDEES If you didn’t attend, in the true spirit of Florence, we would love to hear about the 'talents' you think you have but in reality you know you're not that good at but do anyway because you love them or even the 'talents' your DC have which only a parent would really love - add your comment below and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice and a film poster signed by Meryl Streep.

Here’s the film’s synopsis:
“Starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg and directed by Stephen Frears (Philomena, The Queen), the hilarious and moving new comedy drama FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS is the inspirational true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The film celebrates the human spirit, the power of music and the passion of amateurs everywhere. The voice Florence (Streep) heard in her head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her husband and manager, St Clair Bayfield (Grant), an aristocratic English actor, was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall in 1944, St Clair knew he faced his greatest challenge.”

You can view the trailer for the film below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 9rRVCNffvKk

The film will be on general release in Cinemas from the 6th May.

Book Tickets here:
www.florencefosterjenkinsfilm.com/showtimes

Attendees: for a chance to win a £100 voucher from a store of your choice and a film poster signed by Meryl Streep, please give your film feedback as below:

• What were your general feelings about the film?

• If you were rating the film, where 5 is brilliant and 1 is poor, what would you give it?

• Who did you attend the screening with? What did they think of the film?

• In the spirit of Florence, tell us the things you are no good at but do anyway because you love them.

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I would like to think I can bake, but I'm not great at decorating. I still give it a go and everyone says how good it looks but I can just see all the mistakes. I just try to think that it's the taste that matters

I know I can't sing but I still sing along to cds or the radio, but everyone does that don't they

Thank you for the tickets & the cute tin of earplugs! We had a great time!

• What were your general feelings about the film?

It was joyful! The cast were fantastic! Meryl Streep played Florence with such sweetness you were with her all the way! I think that with another actress in the lead it could've played out like a pantomime but she was hilariously funny one moment then heartbreaking in her vulnerability the next. Hugh Grant was a revelation! I've never seen him give such a nuanced performance, you could really feel that St. Clair loved Florence deeply.

• If you were rating the film, where 5 is brilliant and 1 is poor, what would you give it?

5*

• Who did you attend the screening with? What did they think of the film?

My oldest & best friend, she loved it, we both laughed lots & had a little cry at the end!

• In the spirit of Florence, tell us the things you are no good at but do anyway because you love them.

Zip wiring & Flamenco dancing!

Non tester

I love to think that I can sing, but I know deep down that I am actually really terrible but I don't care. I still sing my heart out when ever I can. It helps liften my sports up

Spirits, not sports haha

Non-tester
I've always loved to sing - in the shower, when cooking etc but I know I cannot sing. The kids tell me to give the cats a chance!

Attended this last week with a fellow MNer and we had a lovely time, thanks very much to MNHQ for the selection!

What were your general feelings about the film?
I didn't know what to expect to start with, as I didn't know anything about the subject matter, but I love Meryl, so figured it would be a good evening out, and the fact it was about a real woman added to my interest. We did have a laugh at the ear-plugs handed out at the start of the screening - an amusing talking point! (Well done PR / Marketing people!) I was very pleasantly surprised by the film, it was funny, sweet, a little sad, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I agree with other posters that it is a heart-warming story, and Meryl is her usual amazing self. Costume and set design were fantastic also.

If you were rating the film, where 5 is brilliant and 1 is poor, what would you give it?
4.5*

Who did you attend the screening with? What did they think of the film?
With another MNer, and she also enjoyed it very much.

In the spirit of Florence, tell us the things you are no good at but do anyway because you love them.
Baking - I persevere time and time again, but other than flapjacks, my efforts inevitably fall drastically short. But my kids eat it either way!

What were your general feelings about the film ?

I really enjoyed the film and found it gentle and entertaining. I wasn't sure what to expect so it was a pleasant surprise to find it wasn't as unkind as it could have been, given the subject matter.

If you were rating the film, where 5 is brilliant and 1 is poor, what would you give it ?

I would give it 5*. Both Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep were wonderful and the appearances by British actors was great.

Who did you attend the screening with? What did they think of the film ?

I was Billy no mates on this one - just me :)

In the spirit of Florence, tell us the things you are no good at but do anyway because you love them.

I am a hopeless dancer, but I really enjoy it. I would love to do something like Strictly, but suspect I'd be the joke participant if I was on it. I'm also a terrible singer, but in the privacy of my own car or shower I can belt out a tune and pretend I'm brilliant.

Non-tester. Film sounds like a lot of fun.

I like to imagine I can sing... and with the birth of DD I have my very first true fan. I wonder how long it will be until she grows out of it :-(

My baby takes dumps of a size and power that make professional child carers recoil in shock. Doctors are baffled. I am proud.

(Not a tester.)

I haven't seen the film, but would love to! I try loads of things like craft, exercise, etc but get all enthusiastic and then lose interest because I don't see immediate results. I wish I had more stick ability!!

Non-tester

I like to think I'm good at baking, but sadly I burn cakes and biscuits far too often! I persist, I dream off GBBO!!!!!

I've always loved painting watercolours and have been doing it for years,. The thing is I'm rubbish at it and when I look at other peoples watercolours, I'm desperate to be good at it. Maybe one day.

I have always considered I am quite good with technology. I have the usual gadgets and happily use them daily. However as soon as something goes wrong I end up having to pass it over to my son!

by Meryl Streep

I like to sing around the house when I'm busy, I'm not brilliant but I do it anway and pretend I'm amazing!!

I think I'm a talented mathematician but never had the oportunity to proove it.

I didn't attend.

Before the dawn of smart phones and cameras I always thought that I was a cracking singer. Unfortunately I now know that I am not. I also thought I was a cracking dancer - now I just blame the drink!!

Thank god I turned 18 before the invention of this technology!!

I like to think I'm good at cooking, but in all honesty... unless you like your food VERY well done I'm pretty rubbish

I haven't seen the film yet but am looking forward to it. As a child I thought I was good at singing and was proud of my version of singing 'Happy Birthday' until my grandparents laughed. It was recorded and when I heard it I can see why they would have found it amusing. It was terrible.

My son loves to draw and is so much better than I will ever be - definately a case of nature rather than nurture - he does not get his talent from me!

My 'talents' hmmm well I like to play music along with my boyfriend playing guitar, the quality isn't important as the focus is on fun. I always wanted to play drums and when my son was a teenager he had a go with a drum kit at school and I was so jealous! I decided that I should go for it, so I got hold of a kit and learned to play a little bit. I get cramp in my shins after a few minutes as I never put the time in! Then this year I finally got a tenor saxophone which is another thing I'd always wanted...this is the one for me for sure! I'm still sounding pretty bad, but it feels right this time. I love it!

I know I'm not very good at singing but I'm a good performer so I love going on the Karaoke. I always do Big Spender, It's Oh so Quiet & Patricia the Stripper. I've even won a karaoke contest on a cruise I went on despite the fact I know I wasn't the best singer but everyone just loved my performance & people kept coming up to me on the ship for days afterwards to tell me how much they enjoyed it

NON ATTENDEE

The film looks fantastic, will definitely be keeping an eye out for it.

Mine is sewing. Despite the wonky stitches, pricked fingers and mismatched seams, it brings me great joy, so I carry on regardless!

My DD1 is very enthusiastic about dancing and when she was little I took her to ballet classes. She really enjoys them and looks really cute in her leotard and tut, but I'm realistic she is a big girl, 99.6th centile for height and weight, she is almost a head taller than all of the other petite little girls in her class. I think she might be more suited to rugby! However I'll keep taking her because she enjoys it, maybe we'll move sideways into tap or street dance!

My daughter thinks she's a fantastic singer. She's really not. She's terrible haha. I don't tell her that though because it keeps her happy :)