Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Alex]

Just saw Notes on a Scandal and it is a rock solid performance from Judi Dench.

I've now seen all five nominations for Best Actress and I would rank them (from top to bottom):

Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Kate Winslett - Little Children
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada

All moot of course, since Mirren will win in a landslide. It has been decreed.

Was less impressed by Cate Blanchett, though she does do a pretty good orgasm (if you ignore the fact that it is being provided by a 15-year-old). Bill Nighy continues to impress me with every appearance on screen. He doesn't have much time to do anything and still does more than you could fairly expect.

It is very unflinching and I am glad it doesn't romanticize any of the three relationships in the movie. Could have done without the final scene in the movie but pointless prologues seem to be all the fashion these days. People apparently just can't live without certainty as to what happens after the actual end of the story.