Yesterday on my day off from school, after my voice lesson, my parents and I went to see the movie Philomena (Directed By Stephen Fears). It stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. It is based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. It is about the true story of an Irish mother named Philomena Lee's 50-year-long search for her son, whom she was forced to give up for adoption at the abbey where she stayed after her affair. It then tells of Martin Sixsmith, who is a journalist, reporting her story and helping her to track down her son. This eventually lands them in America and brings an interesting turn of events. It includes touching themes of love, family, faith and separation. The movie starts out making you think you are watching the long lost son's life, but then you realize that it is actually the journalist (Steve Coogan) who just lost his job and is trying to find a new money making career. But at the same time you are following Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), who is an Irish mother keeping a deep secret of her lost son, who was put up for adoption. As you see both of these primary characters go into two different churches, it is so clear what their views on faith consist of. The way Stephen Fears shows us this with so little language is extraordinary. These two major characters are very different in terms of their views on life, their faith, personality and charisma. This creates some very funny and bittersweet moments between them.
I think the most emotional part in the movie (which made me cry a lot) was when you are watching Philomena as her younger self, played by Sophia Kennedy Clark, in the abbey. You watch her lose her son and you watch her suffer under the strict rules of the nuns running the abbey. You start to get so attached in this part of the film that it gives you a true empathetic feeling towards her older self. I also personally love how in this part of the film the camera smoothly flips to us seeing Philomena sitting thinking back to young Philomena. You begin to realize how privileged you are to be given such an accurate glimpse into this sweet woman's horrible past. The director does this several times in this movie, but only with Philomena, thus giving you a personal connection and sympathetic feeling towards her throughout the movie.
Judi Dench is no doubt the stand out in this piece. She captures Philomena's memories as if they were her own and is so pure but simple in her acting performance. Ms. Dench is a true professional on the camera. She seems so comfortable that it makes you feel as if you were invited into the movie. At some points I totally forgot that I was even watching a movie, but felt that I was living the story. Ms. Dench also captures the funny and genius lines in this film. She inhabits Philomena's positive and amusing approach on life, gaining some laughs as she rambles on about the book she's reading or when digging in her bag to find Lemon Cremes and Tunes.
Steve Coogan does a very good job of playing off of her performance, as the somewhat nasty but intellectual journalist Martin Sixsmith. It is most certainly a very hard character to portray as we hardly know anything about his past, while we know so much about Philomena's, and because he is not the most likable character, while Philomena certainly is the one your cheering for. It is also a very hard task to top Ms. Dench's marvelous performance, which he did impressively get close to.
I felt very touched as I walked out of the theater. I was left feeling satisfied and comforted. I felt like I had taken a magnificent adventure down a beautiful road and I hope, and truly recommend, that you go take that adventure yourself.
Personal Recommendation Rating: 9/10
Philomena (2013)
Rated: PG-13
Run Time: 98 Minutes
For More Information: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/?licb=0.32048304192721844
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