FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Notes On A Scandal [DVD] [2007]

Notes On A Scandal [DVD] [2007]
enlarge	Director: Richard Eyre Actors: Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Andrew Simpson, Tom Georgeson, Michael Maloney Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £1.90 as of 21/11/2009 15:00 GMT details You Save: £18.09 (90%) New (32) Used (38) Collectible (1) from £1.45 Seller: fastdvd2006 Rating: 54 reviews Sales Rank: 4980 Format: Anamorphic, PAL Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 88 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 EAN: 5039036033350 ASIN: B000PE0JA2 Theatrical Release Date: February 22, 2007 Release Date: June 4, 2007 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Gold stars to all for this taut psychological thriller based on Zoe Heller's novel that that gets more insidiously twisted as it unfolds. Oscar-nominated for her chilling performance, Dame Judi Dench gives a master class as schoolteacher Barbara Covett, a frumpy, friendless, and flinty spinster who lives with her cat. A formidable presence, Barbara is standoffish with colleagues and not one for students to trifle with (not that they'd dare). Cate Blanchett, also an Oscar nominee and winner of several critics society awards for her impassioned performance, costars as Sheba Hart, the new, overwhelmed art teacher who first becomes enthrall to Barbara after she steps in to help Sheba discipline unruly students. Barbara cultivates a friendship, and insinuates herself into Sheba's chaotic life, which includes her older husband (Bill Nighy), teenage daughter, and a son with Down's syndrome. Then, Barbara catches the reckless Sheba in a compromising position with a 15-year-old student (Andrew Simpson). Seizing her opportunity, the calculating Barbara does not turn her in. Rather, she wants to "help" her. "She's the one I've been waiting for," she writes in the journals she meticulously keeps, and which provide, in voiceover, her corrosive commentary. This all sounds very IFatal Attraction/I, but no boiling rabbits, please; we're British. Philip Glass's Oscar-nominated score accentuates the growing menace. Though there is little in these characters to admire, (one would think GLAAD would have something to say about the predatory turn Barbara's character takes), INotes on a Scandal/I is a compelling tour-de-force for its Grade-A cast. I--Donald Liebenson/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 54 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...11 Next » Savage pain brilliantly portrayed April 24, 2007 Jaybird (London, UK) 16 out of 19 found this review helpful The film follows the relationship between a beautiful, fey art teacher, brilliantly played by Blanchett and an older, lonely spinster who teaches in the same school, played with all the building sinister accuracy of Lady Macbeth, by Dench. br / br /Initially the friendship between the two women seems mutually supportive: Dench providing Blanchett with support and advice in handling her class; Blanchett providing Dench with friendship and an entre into her happy, wealthy, loving family. br / br /When Dench discovers Blanchett has fallen for one of her pupils, the relationship changes. Dench allows herself to see Blanchett as more than just a beautiful innocent to be enjoyed and admired. This becomes a story of love and obsession, and the difference between the two. br / br /Absolutely storming performances from Dench and Blanchett keep you transfixed throughout; the film's grand Shakespearean themes of love, desire, jealously and loss are transmitted through understated performances form both the central characters and the all supporting cast. br / br /it is tautly directed, and superbly underpinned by the Philip Glass score. br / br /This has to be one of the best films of the decade, unfairly overlooked in the awards, despite its many nominations. Brilliant. Enthralling clash of hidden desires August 3, 2007 Dennis Littrell (SoCal) 27 out of 33 found this review helpful I watched this transfixed. I've never had any doubt about the acting ability of Judi Dench, or Cate Blanchett for that matter. They are both at the very top of their profession. But their work here just blew me away. br / br /However it was not just their superlative acting that carried this film well beyond anything one might expect. It was the superb direction by Richard Eyre who spun out a riveting and emotionally moving experience from something that could have been ordinary: An unfulfilled wife of an older man is seduced by one of her 15-year-old students--or, properly speaking, we should say that she allowed herself to be seduced by one of her students. If it ever comes out, it will be a scandal to be sure since not only is she a teacher but she is a wife and mother. But the boy (Andrew Simpson) is mature for his age and rather clever and very persistent. And so she gives in and finds that she likes it very much, very much indeed. br / br /Such banality, really, this might be. But all along this tale is being narrated by another teacher, a woman in her sixties, an old battle ax, as she calls herself. Judi Dench as Barbara Covett, spinster. Like the others she is interested in this new art teacher (Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart), who is deeper than anyone realizes. From a distance Barbara watches her and takes notes for her diary. She is sharp and candid in her expression with a Shakespearean eye for the foibles of the people around her, whom she watches with consummate cynicism. br / br /We are surprised at what happens next. There is a row in Sheba's classroom. Barbara appears and stills the row, and puts the boys in their place. One of the boys is THE boy. But we don't know that yet. Neither does Barbara. Now Sheba is thankful and now a friendship may develop between the mentor teacher, Barbara, and the ingenue, Sheba. And something to that effect is written in Barbara's diary, and it is here that we realize that she too has eyes for the new teacher. br / br /And now comes the revelation of the affair between the boy and the woman, and it is Barbara who by chance spies them. Now the interesting dynamics of the personalities of the two women begin to show themselves. Barbara immediately calls Sheba upon the carpet, so to speak, and dresses her down. How dare you! I mean he is 15-years-old! Etc. Sheba who needs a confessor tells all, and begs Barbara to keep it a secret until after Christmas for the sake of her family. And now we find out that of course Barbara is certainly going to keep it a secret. This is in fact a wonderful development because now Sheba will be indebted to her. I will not tell, she says. Instead I will help you. But you must end it now. Yes, yes, thank you, thank you, Sheba says. And she does mean to end it, but...well the boy is persistent and she wants him. br / br /The next development is very interesting, but I am afraid that I may have revealed too much already... br / br /The denouement and then the finish are just so very well spun out. The scenes and the revelations come flying out in lickety split fashion, and everything is just so dramatically perfect. I have to hand it to not only the director but the writers--Zoe Heller, who wrote the novel, and Patrick Marber, who wrote the screenplay. The story, the splendid characterizations, and the sharp dialogue enthrall us. How delectable it must of been for Judi Dench to pronounce some of the lines. One is reminded of Nabokov's first person narrator in Lolita in the way that Barbara reveals her flawed and ultimately pathetic character through her own words. This is one of those scripts that make scriptwriters say spontaneously, "I could never, but never, have written it as well." Everything is set up so perfectly, and it comes spinning out in a most delicious way. Well, delicious for the audience. Not so for the protagonists. br / br /Judi Dench has never been better and Cate Blanchett is as good as she was in Elizabeth (1998), which is very good indeed. Awesome September 11, 2007 Mr. Colin Rankin (Braintree, essex United Kingdom) 11 out of 13 found this review helpful I really have little to add to the previous review....it says it all. br /As a male this film left me stunned....it's direction,production and acting are second to none. br /The confrontation between Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench when Cate finally understands what is going on simply blew me away....possibly Cate out-acted Judi for a while here...a great honour indeed. br /I cannot recommend this film enough. Forbidden Love mixed with scheme and intrigue June 1, 2007 Jay (Mauritius) 7 out of 8 found this review helpful Familiarity breeds contempt is clearly shown in this mini masterpiece with some of the best artistes in the film business. Cate Blanchett (Sheba Hart) is a pretty forty year old mother married to her former teacher who is many years her senior with two kids, one of which is a rebellious teenager and the other, Ben who suffers from Down's Syndrome. She takes up the job of a inner city secondary school teacher after not working for ten years because she had to care for Ben. br /Everything seems so perfect in Sheba's world, Happy Family, very nice house even a well done shed and even a confidante in chain smoking Judi Dench (Barbara); an older colleague who is very much a loner save for the attentions of her cat, Portia. br /Yet every garden of Eden has a forbidden fruit and when Sheba has a fling with one of her teenage pupils which Barbara finds out about, hells doesn't break loose , it soothes out slowly like festering pus. br /Suddenly, happy go lucky Sheba feels vulnerable and finds herself constantly leaning on Barbara's shoulder; unknowing that the latter is a schemer 'par excellence'. br /Enough Spoilers here. Performances are top notch and the outcome of forbidden love is explored in more than one dimension. Top Rate with interesting extras. Watch at all costs ! br / Dame Judi shines June 11, 2007 tendermercies (London) 5 out of 6 found this review helpful Judi Dench on top form, outgunning the usually exquisite Cate Blanchett who on this ocassion only puts in a cabable, business-like performance. br /Biting, funny and moving. Defintely recommend this one, unlike the similarly-themed history boys (which is pure rubbish). Showing reviews 1-5 of 54 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...11 Next »

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