When Longing Goes Bad, Very Bad


 

In "Notes on a Scandal," Barbara (Judi Dench), a lonely teacher at a North London school, fixates on new art teacher Sheba (Cate Blanchett), a well-heeled bohemian who lives with her much older husband and two teenage children. When Barbara discovers Sheba’s been having an affair with a 15-year-old student, she attempts to use the information to control her friend and gain her loyalty.

 


FB:


This is a rip-snorting, no-holds-barred acting feast, with Dame Judi and Cate duking it out and leaving no scenery unchewed. In other words, great entertainment. But where does one draw the line between entertainment and manipulation?

 

This is a rip-snorting, no-holds-barred acting feast, with Dame Judi and Cate duking it out and leaving no scenery unchewed. In other words, great entertainment. But where does one draw the line between entertainment and manipulation?

 


 

JH:


Dench’s portrayal of the dumpy, self-deluded, frighteningly manipulative Barbara is mesmerizing. I’m not as enthusiastic about Blanchett – I think I was just beguiled by her cheekbones. But that might be the fault of the writing.

 

I was prepared to buy into the idea of a mom acting out a midlife crisis, but I never really saw what Barbara referred to as her "dead marriage."

I didn’t see what she was rebelling against.

Dench’s portrayal of the dumpy, self-deluded, frighteningly manipulative Barbara is mesmerizing. I’m not as enthusiastic about Blanchett – I think I was just beguiled by her cheekbones. But that might be the fault of the writing.

 

I was prepared to buy into the idea of a mom acting out a midlife crisis, but I never really saw what Barbara referred to as her "dead marriage."

I didn’t see what she was rebelling against.


FB:


Well, one could – though I’m not saying I do – perceive Barbara as a lesbian vampire, judging by her partly sexual longings. In creating the character, the writers have made a troubling choice as opposed to, say, making her a female looking for male companionship, or vice versa. It comes at a cultural moment when a recent commercial depicts two men recoiling at an inadvertent kiss and tearing off their chest hair to recover their "masculinity."

 

Well, one could – though I’m not saying I do – perceive Barbara as a lesbian vampire, judging by her partly sexual longings. In creating the character, the writers have made a troubling choice as opposed to, say, making her a female looking for male companionship, or vice versa. It comes at a cultural moment when a recent commercial depicts two men recoiling at an inadvertent kiss and tearing off their chest hair to recover their "masculinity."

 


 

JH:


It was clear that Barbara was a lesbian, whether she acknowledged it to herself or not. I did think about whether the movie was homophobic, but decided it wasn’t (though some of the characters were). Her longing was quite poignant, actually. As unappealing a character as she was, her loneliness and her desire for love, touch and companionship were compelling. Elderly women in movies are usually saintly and sexless. If they

 

want love, it’s made fun of — think of "In Her Shoes" as just one of a long line of films mocking women of that age.

 

It was clear that Barbara was a lesbian, whether she acknowledged it to herself or not. I did think about whether the movie was homophobic, but decided it wasn’t (though some of the characters were). Her longing was quite poignant, actually. As unappealing a character as she was, her loneliness and her desire for love, touch and companionship were compelling. Elderly women in movies are usually saintly and sexless. If they

 

want love, it’s made fun of — think of "In Her Shoes" as just one of a long line of films mocking women of that age.

 


FB:


All right then, what about the manipulation part? My emotions were ratcheted up by the acting and Philip Glass’s score, but perhaps more so by the basic setup. We’re waiting to see if, when, and how Cate’s indiscretions will be outed, and what the fallout will be. Don’t you feel a little tricked?

 

All right then, what about the manipulation part? My emotions were ratcheted up by the acting and Philip Glass’s score, but perhaps more so by the basic setup. We’re waiting to see if, when, and how Cate’s indiscretions will be outed, and what the fallout will be. Don’t you feel a little tricked?

 


 

JH:


No more so than usual in thrillers, which this was despite being about relationships, not bank heists or underworld criminals. Other than my fascination with Barbara, I wasn’t very engaged by the characters. Sheba seemed shallow and unlikable, and her lover was a blank. He had no appeal to me and didn’t seem to have

 

 

much for her either — I never felt what she saw in him.

The only other person who drew me in was Bill Nighy, as Sheba’s husband. In a bit of parallel structure, he had been her teacher when they met. As always, Nighy was warm, funny and weird, and he had some great lines.

 

No more so than usual in thrillers, which this was despite being about relationships, not bank heists or underworld criminals. Other than my fascination with Barbara, I wasn’t very engaged by the characters. Sheba seemed shallow and unlikable, and her lover was a blank. He had no appeal to me and didn’t seem to have

 

 

much for her either — I never felt what she saw in him.

The only other person who drew me in was Bill Nighy, as Sheba’s husband. In a bit of parallel structure, he had been her teacher when they met. As always, Nighy was warm, funny and weird, and he had some great lines.

 


FB:


I suppose I should show my hand and say I really did enjoy the film. To watch Dench impart a rainbow of emotions with just the minutest facial expression is a real pleasure. And I could spend a day skiing on Cate’s cheekbones, or something.

 

 

I suppose I should show my hand and say I really did enjoy the film. To watch Dench impart a rainbow of emotions with just the minutest facial expression is a real pleasure. And I could spend a day skiing on Cate’s cheekbones, or something.

 

 


JH:


Yes. And it’s darkly funny, insightful on some rarely touched-on issues, and, if you still think that there are no good roles written for women past 30 (let alone past 65), this movie is a great antidote.

 

 

Yes. And it’s darkly funny, insightful on some rarely touched-on issues, and, if you still think that there are no good roles written for women past 30 (let alone past 65), this movie is a great antidote.

 

 


"Notes on a

Scandal"

is rated R for

language and

some sexual

content.

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