Indie Gems: Philomena

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Nun rage.

Oh Philomena, I almost went to see you in theaters so many times, and I kept getting side tracked by other things. But you were worth the wait.

50 years ago, a woman named Philomena (Judi Dench) was forced to give her son up for adoption by some nuns who's roof she was living under. Actually, "forced" might not be the correct word. They flat out did it without her consent and didn't even tell her about it. Another women did just minutes before her son is driven away. In comes a journalist, Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) who picks up her story and wants to help her find her son. Their journey is quite extraordinary.

Philomena is adorable, naive, and I just wanted to give her a hug. Dench plays her so brilliantly. That was a very well deserved Oscar nomination she got. Coogan was great too as Martin. I shared a lot of his disbelief at what these nuns did. There's a brilliant scene where he tells one of them: "If Jesus were here, I think he'd knock you out of that fucking wheelchair." 

Of course the ending made me cry, it was kind of set up for cheap emotions in my opinion, but it worked on me, so mission accomplished. Philomena might not have been the strongest Best Picture nominee, but it was a cute little film that deserves your viewership.

Grade: B+

Memorable Quote - "I didn't even know I had a clitoris, Martin!" - Philomena (Judi Dench)

Comments

  1. msmariahMay 9, 2014 at 4:03 PM

    I keep wanting to see it but it's too heartbreaking for me. I cry every time I see the trailer. Seeing a child taken away from a mother who loves him is just too much for me After I had my own baby I turned to mush.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2014 at 6:26 PM

      Oh man, I know the feeling. I'm such a wuss since becoming a mother. Anything to do with kids just crushes me in movies now.

      Delete
  2. Candice FrederickMay 9, 2014 at 7:07 PM

    yesss such a lovely movie, and dench was perfection. i really loved the religious and social commentary as well. oh and when philomena was talking about big momma's house. that was hilarious

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2014 at 6:27 PM

      OMG Yes! I loved that scene, she was so excited over a generally shitty movie. lol

      Delete
  3. thevoid99May 9, 2014 at 7:30 PM

    I was fortunate in seeing this film in my local multiplex as I had low expectations in seeing it yet was pleasantly surprised. Especially in the chemistry between Judi Dench and Steve Coogan as I thought it was deserving of a Best Picture nod despite the fact that I had a lot of other films that I thought were much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2014 at 6:28 PM

      It definitely did. I preferred this one over Nebraska, for example.

      Delete
  4. s.May 10, 2014 at 10:24 AM

    I really loved the movie, it was extremely touching. Cheap methods of getting the audience to tear up always work on me, especially if they involve kids (or dogs). Coogan was hilarious in the movie and Dench was brilliant. Fairley was badass, she was so cold when she talked to him about getting Philomena to give him the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 10, 2014 at 6:28 PM

      Oh I know! Lady Catelyn would not have approved of that. lol

      Delete
  5. Ayush ChandraMay 11, 2014 at 1:59 AM

    Great review, thanks for sharing all this..

    ReplyDelete
  6. JoshMay 21, 2014 at 1:27 PM

    Yeah, "cute little film" sums it up just right. Dench and Coogan were brilliant together, and the film really tugs at your heartstrings.

    ReplyDelete

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