MovieChat Forums > Vera Drake (2005) Discussion > Brilliant ...

Brilliant ...

posted 16 years ago by swt_jne
9 replies | jump to latest

spot on performances by all, especially awe-inspiring poignant and convincing portrayal of heroine Vera Drake by Imelda Staunton. Accolades to Mike Leigh as well for his writing and direction.

[–] perorewen 16 years ago

Yes, it's wonderful! But did you know Mike Leigh did not write a script for the film? He let all the actors improvise all the way. When the script was nominated for the oscars, he had to write the dialouge down from the film.

**********
They blew up Congress!!! HAHAHA!

[–] swt_jne 16 years ago

Thanks, perorewen, for this info....even more impressive then!

[–] anthropo 16 years ago

Overall I liked it, good performances but I didn't like the ending at all.
My rating: 7/10

The Best of Sarah Palin http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzXLYA_e6E&feature=related

[–] perorewen 16 years ago

What exactly did you not like?

**********
They blew up Congress!!! HAHAHA!

[–] anthropo 16 years ago

I wanted some dialog among the family not just sullen faces and blank stares. To abrupt an ending for me. I also wanted some more dialog from Vera about what she did. She had no problem in doing what she did but then fell apart about it once she got caught. I wanted her to stand up for herself and stand behind what she did.

The Best of Sarah Palin http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzXLYA_e6E&feature=related

[–] perorewen 16 years ago

Of course, I agree it would be great if she was able to stand up for herself. To me, though, she just didn't seem like that kind of person. She seemed to mild and humble. And she seemed to much of in a shock of the possibility that she might have killed someone.

And the husband and the son had a very heated dialogue about the subject.

**********
They blew up Congress!!! HAHAHA!

[–] movieluvr4 16 years ago

I agree, it wasn't in Vera's nature to stand up for herself and be vocal about the issue. And you have to remember that it was 1950 in England and abortion was an even greater taboo issue back then. People didn't talk about it on any level. They rarely even refer to her crime as 'abortion' -- more often they just say she was "helping girls out" or the like.

I also agree that, by the end, Vera was in a state of shock and came to realize the severity of her actions -- knowing that one of her 'patients' nearly died (not that *I'm* making any sort of political statement here). She saw that her actions cost her both her family and her freedom.

Overall, I think it was an excellent film. Brilliantly directed and superbly acted by Imedla Staunton.

[–] TheWanderingFish 16 years ago

This is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. All of the performers do a fantastic job, and Mike Leigh once again proves himself one of the greatest currently living directors.

The last two shots are some of the most emotionally devastating in all of film.

[–] Adams5905 15 years ago

Fantastic! Not a single performance off-target, and not a dry eye in the house!..Just some (very minor) complaints: Vera (but then what do you expect, Imelda Staunton was born in Archway, Stan (Ditto: an Essex boy), Ethel, Joyce, Frank, Lily et al...All had perfectly acceptable (north-east London) accents, but Sid sounded like he had been dragged in from over the river (I should know, I lived in saaarff London for over 20 years), and this certainly grated on my ears (and I am surprised...He may be a Manc., but Leigh has set so many films in north London, and he usually gets these things spot on-see Happy-Go-Lucky)...Anyone else notice this? One final word about Phil Davis's performance. There seems to be plenty of (well-deserved) praise for Ms Staunton, but very little for her screen husband, who rarely turns in anything other than a good performance, but this was truly something special...

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...