Monday, August 29, 2016

‘Florence Foster Jenkins’

By: Callie Ball

Stephen Frears (director of successful films like “The Queen” and “Philomena”) directs Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg of “The Big Bang Theory” and Academy Award Winner Meryl Streep in his newest project. “Florence Foster Jenkins,” which is based on the real life Florence Foster Jenkins, who was a wealthy socialite in 1940’s New York City. She dreamt of becoming an Opera singer, while also being oblivious to the fact that she can’t sing.

Stephen Frears directs the film beautifully, giving it comedy, yet containing heartbreaking undertones. Frears with screenwriter Nicholas Martin will have you laughing one minute and shaking your head the next. Frears doesn’t explore the darker side of the story; he keeps it light hearted while still giving you all the information you need to understand each character and why they are the way they are.

Meryl Streep, delightfully funny as Florence Foster Jenkins, gives us a woman who has a childlike view of life and the world. You will be laughing with her, at her and crying for her. By the end she will have you wishing you were just as oblivious to the judgements of the world as she.

And keep your eye on Simon Helberg as his facial reactions are worth the ticket in themselves. 

“Some may say that I couldn’t sing, but no one can say that I didn’t sing.” – Florence Foster Jenkins.

0 comments:

Post a Comment