Well Deserving Best Actress Academy Award
353337
Just loved the acting of Kate Blanchet in this movie.  I felt her pain; I felt her guilt and I felt what little joy she was experiencing.  The scenes and costumes were breathtaking.  I do wonder if the shallowness of the super rich is accurately portrayed - I hope not.  Must say that this is definitely a women's movie, though.
513748
Special effects were great. Very well done for one person to be able to drive
the whole movie and do it well. Suspense, unknowns, loneliness, beauty, and
a superb actress make it a win, win, win.
3563728
What a pleasant surprise to find out there is some great acting to go along with a very important story. There's definitely some parts that will not sit well with the squeamish but once you get past that you have a real story on your hands. In any other year this film owns the Oscars.
1345007
Watching this well-acted movie, I can't help but think of my mother-in-law, a Stanford graduate and drama major, who once bested Olivia Dehaviland in a beauty contest and then turned down a contract offer from MGM. Too much, Too Soon accurately captures why my wife's mother wanted nothing to do with the Hollywood lifestyle.  Dorothy Malone delivers the goods and does it with relish.  Her dramatic portrayal of a Barrymore who allows herself to be swept away by adoring fans and a swift river of booze, is tantilizing.
4014793
As with all of Barbara Stanwyck film's worth buying. One of her early movies with all the charm of young Missy being a girl with her feet firmly planted on the ground but wanting the man of her dreams to come along. Barbara plays against Gene Raymond, her man in this sweet movie with oodles of chemistry. She is meltingly lovely as usual as Shelby Barrett, and I am firmly on her side right from her first appearance. You might of guessed that I am a fan of this fascinating lady, then saying that I am not blind to the worst of the scripts she has been forced to endured in her long career. Woman in Red is little known but not one of those later less than perfect movies she appeared in.
616901
I had heard about this movie before, of course, but mostly just what the title meant: a man tries to convince his wife she is going mad. I didn't know why or anything else about it, except that it involved a mystery, and probably a murder.

Ingrid Bergman plays the lead, Paula, and she glows even as she goes mad. She goes mad so convincingly and so beautifully.

Charles Boyer is Gregory, her wicked husband. Why is he gaslighting her? Yes, the title has become a verb over the years.

Joseph Cotten is Brian Cameron, who has something to do with Scotland Yard and something to do with the beautiful opera star who was Paula's aunt (picture obviously is of Bergman) and who was murdered when Paula was something like 12 years old. Bergman successfully played herself as a 12-year-old: that's talent. Also good makeup and hair experts.

And speaking of very young actresses who played this movie to perfection, there is Angela Lansbury (yes, Jessica Fletcher) as Nancy, the young housemaid. She was nominated for an Academy Award for this, her first movie role.

Unless you've read about it a good bit more than I had before I saw it, I'm guessing you won't be able to tell who is trying to help Paula and who is helping Gregory, especially among the minor characters.
2974174
Just so we're clear, I'm reviewing the FILM and not the DVD...

Ok, so I've seen Wilder's 1974 film and liked it more than most, but it never really sat comfortably with me as `the film it could have been'.  The material is so ripe and yet the film had this filmy `un-eventfulness' that corroded what could have been absolute perfection.  Like I said, I liked it more than most and yet I still recognize that something was off, despite a killer cast and director.  Then I saw `His Girl Friday' (a film I was unaware was based off the same stage play) and it all clicked.

Hildy NEEDS to be a woman.

It is funny to think that a mere gender change can make all the difference, but the same dialog spouted between ex-lovers makes a much broader impact, and it doesn't hurt that the chemistry created contains a stiffer upper-cut.  Lemmon and Matthau make a great team, don't get me wrong, and they built on that chemistry for years, but there is something about the way that Russell and Grant spar off one another that is otherworldly.

The film centers on Hildy, a newspaper reporter who is reporting to her boss, her ex-husband Walter, with her resignation.  She is quitting the newspaper business and getting married.  Walter isn't going to take this lying down.  Not only is he still infatuated with his ex-wife, but she is his best reporter, and he isn't about to lose her.  So, he manipulates the situation to get her to stay for one last report, and once she's been bitten by the bug she has a very hard time walking away.  As the situation spins out of control thanks to circumstances beyond all control, these two are forced to reevaluate what it is that they want from each other and their lives; and their careers.

I find it baffling that this was ignored entirely by Oscar.  Not only is Rosalind Russell Oscar worthy here, but Grant is also at the top of his game, and the sensationally written dialog certainly deserved an Oscar nomination.  This is one of those great comedies of times past that deserves all the attention it can get.  One of the best!
256072
What more could a movie buff ask for? Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift; 3 great actors of film in ONE movie! I am a 20 year old college student and let me tell you that there is just something about this movie that captures me. I LIKE this film very much. This movie is complex, yet understated but if anything is to entice you to buy this movie, it should be the performaces. Both Hepburn and Taylor were nominated for Oscars for thier roles here and it is easy to see why; their performances are brilliant and mesmerizing. Clift is also good here too, but the film truly belongs to the two female stars. If this film was good enough to capture a 20 year olds attention, then that should be proof as to just how good the movie and the performances in it are! The DVD also features stills from the movie, is available in both widescreen and full screen and also features bios on all the stars!
3545347
When F. Murray Abraham stood before the Academy and announced that Geraldine Page had won the Oscar for Best Actress, he called her "the greatest actress in the English language." Now that was over the top, yes, but Page was never better or more moving than in this brilliantly understated role. It serves as the capstone of a long and distinguished career, and every film lover owes it to himself or herself to see it, if only to understand how powerful and beautiful a simple, honest movie can be. It still chokes me up.
2931850
Anne Hathaway's scene in the movie was amazing and brought tears to everyone in the theater. Definitely a show stopping performance full of emotion. I hope she wins her Oscar nod.
1921013
Heartwarming in a gravely way.  Terrific acting by all and a total Oscar worthy and sensitive performance by Lilly Tomlin.  This movie  proves you can't judge a older woman by her cover.  See it.
3910696
In this age of computer generated imagery, of elaborate sets and high celebrity payrolls, it
is good to see films that stick to the basics of sound storytelling, superb acting, and
beautiful cinematography. A new film called The Artist not only sticks to those basics,
but to the fundamentals of filmmaking in its most rudimentary format. The Artist is a
silent film. Yes, you heard me correctly, it is not a talkieand it is as captivating and
endearing a film as you will see in theaters today.

The Artist tells the story of silent film star George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin)
and a young protg he helps to discover named Peppy Miller (played by Berenice Bejo).
The time was 1927 Hollywood (then the town was called Hollywoodland), and the
talkies were the latest rage. Valentin refuses to have any part of the new format, while
Peppy uses same to become a rising star. The two cross paths many times as she is on the
rise and he falling in a miserable descent.

This is a story that could only be properly told on film. Its subtly, charm, and nuance
needs to be captured in well-planned close-ups and high concept sequences. The two stars
are wonderfully expressive and deliver performances in silence that beat many of todays
talkies (even the ones up for awards).

The supporting cast in this film deserves recognition as well. We all know John
Goodman, who plays the producer at Kinograph Studio. Even in silence, he plays his
gruff, barking studio executive perfectly. And while you may not know his name, James
Cromwell is one of the most beloved character actors of our time. He plays Valentins
limo driver Clifton.

As far as tributes go, this movie does more to capture the essence of early filmmaking
than Hugo, a very good work this year from Martin Scorsese (visit capemayfilm.org for a
review). So many predictions are surfacing about how The Artist will sweep the Oscars
this year that you almost feel like they're a jinx. And while Im not the biggest fan of the
Golden Globes, this film has topped the nominations including one for Best Movie in the
Comedy/Musical category (and unlike My Week with Marilyn, it actually belongs in this
section). Suffice it to say you will likely see this films title all over Oscar nightall well
deserved.
3506854
When this film was released in 1957, it was controversial because of the inter-racial relationships on a British colonial island, Santa Marta, a fictional place. The island looks beautiful with the cinematography. The film deserves high marks for the colorful art direction, costumes, and atmosphere. The film also has an all-star cast like Harry Belafonte, Dorothy Dandridge (in a supporting role), a young Joan Collins, Joan Fontaine, the fabulous Diana Wynyard, James Mason, and others in the cast.

The film's writing might need to have been improved but the engagement among the actors is worth watching. It's a bit of soap opera with four couples and their relationship on the island. The standout performance for me was seeing Diana Wynyard, a British veteran actress, play Mrs. Fleury.

Granted, the film's writing might have been because of the inter-racial relations between the wealthy whites who dominated the island and the thousands of blacks who live and work for them at times.

The DVD is first rate even though I wanted French subtitles at times. The film is widescreen and simply stunning to watch even now over 50 years later.

There are extras like the trailer but mostly the A&E complete episode on Biography about Dorothy Dandridge in the film. Instead of showing just a clip about her role in the film, the DVD shows an excellent episode from 1998 featuring Dorothy's biographer, former sister-in-law Geraldine Banton, former husband Harold Nicholas, former brother-in-law Alwayn Nicholas, co-stars Diahann Carroll and Nichelle Nichols.

There is also Halle Berry who played her in the HBO film biography where she earned accolades for her performance and would be the first African American female actress to win Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Film Academy Award. It's ironic since Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to get nominated in the category and lose to Grace Kelly.  But Diahann Carroll, her co-star in the film, Carmen Jones, noted that the nomination itself was an honor even though she lost. She was in the same category as Grace Kelly, Jane Wyman, and Judy Garland. It's ironic that Judy Garland never got over losing to Grace Kelly for her performance in the film, "A Star is Born."
2731737
This Ross Hunter technicolor production is glossy and sophisticated. It is a perfect, first class showcase for Doris Day, as she takes a dramatic turn in this film. Here, Ms. Day plays the role of Kit Preston, an American heiress newly married to the successful and busy British businessman, Tony Preston, played with panache by the ever dapper and debonair Rex Harrison.
While Kit's wealthy Aunt Bea (Myrna Loy) is visiting them in their beautiful home in London, Kit begins receiving a series of unnerving, anonymous calls, making threats upon her life. After notifying Scotland Yard of the threats, Kit continues to get these calls, which people are starting to think that she made up to get her busy husband's attention. She is also starting to believe that someone is following her and has some unnerving incidents occur, including one in which she is pushed in front of a moving bus and nearly run over.
Who is the stalker? Is it the handsome construction foreman, Brian Younger (John Gavin), working on the building next door, who seems to know Ms. Preston and makes his telephone calls from the pub around the corner? Is it Malcolm (Roddy McDowall), the son of Kit's maid, who is always shaking his mother down for anything he can get? Is it an executive at Mr. Preston's firm, Charles Manning (Herbert Marshall), who seems to be having money trouble and is an old love interest of Aunt Bea? Or could it be Tony, her loving husband, from whose firm someone has embezzled over a million pounds?
The red herrings fly fast and furious in this film, but the discerning viewer should be able to figure out who the crank caller is with relative ease. Notwithstanding this, the film is charming, suspenseful, and well done. Doris Day, beautifully gowned and coiffed throughout the film, is terrific as the unnerved, histrionic heiress, showing herself more than capable at handling dramatic roles. Myrna Loy is wonderful as her concerned aunt who, along with others, is beginning to think that all this is in her niece's mind. Rex Harrison, with his urbane, sophisticated air, is perfectly cast as Kit's successful and well connected husband. Roddy McDowall is excellent in the small role of the malevolent Malcolm, and John Gavin is perfect as the handsome hunk.
This is a stylish, well done film of psychological suspense, deftly directed by David Miller. Fans of Doris Day, as well as those who like a well paced mystery, will enjoy this film.
4217415
I believe it is a known fact that Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett are two of the best current actresses in the business today.  In this 2006 film "Notes on a Scandal" they are at the top of their form giving searing performances with Dame Judi as the diary writing, bitter, older,cat loving  spinster and sexually frustrated Barbara Covett and Cate Blanchett as the "doe in the headlights", gentle and somewhat nave Sheba Hart.  They really do "burn up the screen" when gentle Sheba (Cate Blanchett) finds out what exactly Barbara Covett (Dame Judi) is (was) up to and what her real motive(s) have been under the guise of friendship--a desire for love and/or lust.

"Notes on a Scandal" is one of the best films that I've seen primarily because of the tremendous performances of Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett--my god, they are good.

If you want proof that great acting does still exist, get this film.
2762566
The DVD is wonderful! Meryl definitely gave a worty oscar winning performance in this movie.  She is defintely a national treasure in Hollywood.
3755988
Australia's coolest blonde for Hollywood Cate Blanchett should have won the Best Actress of 1998 Academy Awards over Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, no matter that she already won in the Golden Globe. Her pale white beauty with the ruthless stare is incomparably real for the role Queen Elizabeth I. Her acting and perfect English accent and speeches strove to be among the A-lists i.e. Meryl Streep etc.
From the beginning when Elizabeth is wrongly accused to be sentenced, the times during her political standing against all rivalries and their hidden agendas, to the end she rises to her feet as the ultimate Virgin Queen, Blanchett is fully in control of her powerful acting and plays her parts stately. And when it comes to her affair with Sir Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), Blanchett's soft feminine side shines through radiantly.
This DVD will always remain one of my favourite period films for a very long time.