Film Review:
By:
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Rated R.
Cate Blanchett, Judy Dench, Andrew Simpson
In Dench's richly narrated Queen's English, Sheba Hart (Blanchett) is the new teacher on Barbara Covett's turf. Covett (Dench) is a classic old maid whose polish exceeds the gleam on a winner's cup. She lectures her craft with aplomb and wields a sentence as though it was Excalibur. A feverish scribbler, Covett keeps a fastidious diary as an outlet to her constant stream of thoughts. Though she is well on in years, her mind has a fierce edge to it and her loneliness is fathomless.
As the new art teacher gets her school-yard legs, Covett watches with pleasure. She becomes rapidly enamored of the new teacher's "white peach" skin and willowy indigenous beauty. The old virgin seeks to make of Sheba Hart a new friend. Mrs. Hart is overwhelmed by the scrapping teenage boys in her class and welcomes the experience and mettle of Miss Covett, who refers to herself as "a battle ax." The two women ease into a comfortable rapport and things canter along nicely.
Nicely that is until -- 15-year-old Steven Connelly (Simpson) decides to brandish the charged blade of his burgeoning manhood at his lovely new art teacher. The Irish boy decides it is time to take some extra instruction after class. He backs his art teacher into a corner one day and pins her to the wall with dancing, crystal blue focus. His intentions are obvious to Mrs. Hart and she eventually buckles under the pressure. Though daunted and reluctant, she is a lively soul and knows full-well that this is the fasted ride at the fair. Oh the daring of it. Oh the forbidden fruit. Young Connelly is man enough to sense her reluctant alacrity. He seduces her fair and square and we have to be amazed at the boy's guts, despite his naughtiness.
Poor Mrs. Hart -- now she's caught in a raging flood river current down a one-way street to this fetching Irish yob. Reckon the slam of that. Too bad Miss Covett happens by one day and has a peek through some slats at the school yard. Sees the whole bloody thing. Now we definitely have a situation.
Emotionally-needy Miss Covett suddenly has a platform from which to wield control over her new love interest. And wield it she does. Hart's home life is peopled with loving husband and children. She has a bona fide life outside the school yard. But like many desirable women, her sanctioned feast is heaped with illicit deserts beyond a normal woman's mouthful. "Oh dear, oh dear," says Rabbit, "when it rains -- it pours."
This film was tense as a piano wire from beginning to end. Blanchett is magnificent. The story is eloquently told and flaunts why English is the Carrera of the narrative road
War Canoe Grade A
Rated R.
Cate Blanchett, Judy Dench, Andrew Simpson
In Dench's richly narrated Queen's English, Sheba Hart (Blanchett) is the new teacher on Barbara Covett's turf. Covett (Dench) is a classic old maid whose polish exceeds the gleam on a winner's cup. She lectures her craft with aplomb and wields a sentence as though it was Excalibur. A feverish scribbler, Covett keeps a fastidious diary as an outlet to her constant stream of thoughts. Though she is well on in years, her mind has a fierce edge to it and her loneliness is fathomless.
As the new art teacher gets her school-yard legs, Covett watches with pleasure. She becomes rapidly enamored of the new teacher's "white peach" skin and willowy indigenous beauty. The old virgin seeks to make of Sheba Hart a new friend. Mrs. Hart is overwhelmed by the scrapping teenage boys in her class and welcomes the experience and mettle of Miss Covett, who refers to herself as "a battle ax." The two women ease into a comfortable rapport and things canter along nicely.
Nicely that is until -- 15-year-old Steven Connelly (Simpson) decides to brandish the charged blade of his burgeoning manhood at his lovely new art teacher. The Irish boy decides it is time to take some extra instruction after class. He backs his art teacher into a corner one day and pins her to the wall with dancing, crystal blue focus. His intentions are obvious to Mrs. Hart and she eventually buckles under the pressure. Though daunted and reluctant, she is a lively soul and knows full-well that this is the fasted ride at the fair. Oh the daring of it. Oh the forbidden fruit. Young Connelly is man enough to sense her reluctant alacrity. He seduces her fair and square and we have to be amazed at the boy's guts, despite his naughtiness.
Poor Mrs. Hart -- now she's caught in a raging flood river current down a one-way street to this fetching Irish yob. Reckon the slam of that. Too bad Miss Covett happens by one day and has a peek through some slats at the school yard. Sees the whole bloody thing. Now we definitely have a situation.
Emotionally-needy Miss Covett suddenly has a platform from which to wield control over her new love interest. And wield it she does. Hart's home life is peopled with loving husband and children. She has a bona fide life outside the school yard. But like many desirable women, her sanctioned feast is heaped with illicit deserts beyond a normal woman's mouthful. "Oh dear, oh dear," says Rabbit, "when it rains -- it pours."
This film was tense as a piano wire from beginning to end. Blanchett is magnificent. The story is eloquently told and flaunts why English is the Carrera of the narrative road
War Canoe Grade A
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