An All-Child Cast Tells the Story of Bernadette... and Actually Does a Good Job?
595272
I generally consider it unwise to do a movie with a cast of -only- children.  Occasionally, there's a child actor who knows what they're doing, but most of the time, people just don't have any faith in all-child casts, and so, a film like this one would wind up with very poor sets or costume-design, or with several lousy shots, which could have been done over, to make them look better, and while I will admit that many of the children in this movie are clearly reading from cue-cards, I was surprised by just how many of the key players in the piece were convincing.

Bernadette, to start with, and the skeptic, the priest, and although he played a somewhat cliche part, I though the police commissioner did a fine job acting it out.  Some actors were truly bad, and others just average, but there were just enough good ones, and in the right places, that the movie is enjoyable nonetheless.

As for the rest, I was genuinely shocked by how good the costumes and sets were.  For the most part, they actually looked convincing, which is hard to do when you're dressing kids up as military guards or saracens.  I was particularly impressed with the scene, near the very beginning, of dozens of kids, all dressed up as saracen invaders and Charlemagne's troops, charging each other from either side of a field, and battling it out as best they could.  Clearly, some significant manpower, and expense for costuming was needed to put just that one scene together, and it wasn't lost on me.

There is a narrator, but only briefly at the beginning and end of the film, so I didn't mind him so much.  What surprised me, though, was that while there is humor in the movie from time to time, it doesn't generally play up the humor of having an all-child cast, preferring to play the story almost completely straight, regardless, and here's the weird part; it actually does a pretty good job of that.

The sight of kids in nun outfits, or wearing soldier's uniforms did throw me off just a bit, but not as much as I might have expected it to.  I'd like to give it a slightly-less-than-perfect grade, but to be honest, it's amazing they were able to do so much with the cast they had.  I was very impressed, overall.
2735079
Shot on super 16mm film. Beautifully directed, acted, and edited. The pacing is excellent throughout. Yet for all that it shows the restraint of mastery. It tells its story with one beautifully composed shot after another, using the simplest cinematic techniques and executing them brilliantly. The story is touching and is told with a great deal of both humor and sensitivity, and it's acted by some of the best in the business. But the kids still steal the show. In this film a wonderful story is paired with great storytelling, and the result is powerful and haunting.
3997881
Anne Hathaway is delightful as the 15 year old Mia who discovers she is a princess. Her comic timing is excellent and she gives a freshness to a role that could otherwise have been very trying. The rest of the cast is very good, also, particularly the driver, Hector Elizondo and Mia's best friend, played by Heather Matarazzo. There are some fresh and funny lines and Hathaway's delivery in particular is superb.
However, even a fabulous cast can't overcome a boring, predictable plot. How many ugly duckling stories set in high school have there been? Are high school kids really that cruel, mean and vindictive all the time? And should we keep giving teenagers the idea that this kind of behavior is normal and acceptable? I was probably the least popular person in my high school, but no one was ever as mean to me as kids in the movies are to outcasts.
That aside, the time watching the movie was entertaining/pleasant enough for me. However my 8 year old, barbie-obsessed daughter, who is not hard to please, didn't like it. I recommend this for the middle-school/early high school set and that's about it.
4600068
Are Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson ever bad in any role they take on?  I don't think so.  If Tom Hanks isn't Walt Disney, he certainly captures the feel of Disney.  And although I know nothing about PL Travers, Emma's "Mrs. Travers" as she insists that she be addressed, is a woman who is at once annoying,  sad, pathetic and yet redeemable with a little Disney, and pixie dust thrown in to work their magic. It's a very interesting story that I am sure most viewers, whether they ever saw  Disney's Mary Poppins or not, are not familiar with.  The film is really two stories in one.  Disney and his crew are trying to get Travers' permission and cooperation to make the movie, and the other tells the story of  Travers' childhood, that helps us understand why she is so possessive of her beloved character.  By the way, keep and eye on that wonderful scene stealer, Paul Giamatti.  He is terrific, as is Colin Ferrell, in an unusual role for him.
376178
ahhhhhhhh, c`est beau ca ..... oui oui, this surprised me very much indeed.

What a truely beautiful and entertaining small French film.
Both in a serious, honest manner AND with a light hand this film deals with the issue of mutism, which really is anything but easy to render filmwise.
How it is done, stirs nothing but my admiration. Why?:

1. It is largely refusing to use clichs and shows the family in their everyday life quite wonderfully real and three-dimensional.
2. there is no danger of any corny Kitsch-Alert.
3. musical entertainment - both pure score and the songs performed - is really well done and not intrusive. Instead, you simply have to acknowledge the musical class of typical French chansons by Sardou and Co..
4. Finally, my personal highlight:
Insanely-authentic and sensitively the young actress/"singer" Louane Emera plays her role as a teen with so much heart and even more responsibility:
As she passes through all the nuances of her difficult role of self-obliged responsibility as a "licensed famliy-translation-service" in part-time via sign language on to her scenes about first love/adolescence/small rebellions and finally to her vocal passion, is simply superb!
Yes, I am truely more than impressed by her wonderful "Paula". It is difficult for me to imagine a better actress for her role. Very very huge compliment to Mademoiselle Emera !!! In her fabulously unexcited manner of acting she reminds me of a young Scarlett Johannsson, who often also features her characters with great understatement and exudes more radiance and depth than "louder" actresses who do overact.

There might be some aspects to criticize. For instance the extreme acting of mother Karin Viard might appear exaggerated and way overacted. But perhaps she simply plays an overly solicitous mute mother, I'm not sure. Yet these possible shortcomings are but as marginal compared with all the undeniable qualities.
One of the most obvious is, that I feel directly how much passion and commitment is delivered by everyone involved in the film on and of screen.
PLUS: There is a delicious balance between drama as well as humour in the film. Such honest films, they are unfortunately far too rare.

I will therefore gladly help to promote these Bliers. The great Amazon reviews of this film are just well-deserved!
I recommend this never ever (!!!) mawkish movie to absolutely anyone who is interested in relationships of people and their communication - hence 85% and smooth 5 stars! (I've seen it in French with subtitles.)

sant, >>>>> Le notwistre - rating - 85%
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2848318
A simple, straight-forward, true, and deeply moving story. Beautifully filmed, with honest performances.  A polished, shining gem.

The premise here, that a boy's single parent, his father, abandons him to the foster system, would have been worked to death by Hollywood with a maudlin script, over-wrought emotion, and cheap, if flashy camera work.  This film should be one for students of the art who genuinely want to honor the craft rather than exploit it.
1642733
This is a great story and all the actors are all well suited for their parts.  You feel the story and they make it believeable.  Also, if you like photography that makes it interesting too as the boy in the story uses his mother's camera and he has a real passion and talent for photography.
4535538
Much better than the most of the nonsense on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel!  The kids are not precocious in an obnoxious way, are polite and respectful to their adult mentors, and the adults (with the possible exception of Maria's mother) are not caricatures.  It's a good idea to watch this with children aged 9 and under, one of my children was freaked out by the nuns in the Gorgon story.  Appreciate the underlying themes of keeping an open mind, the importance of a broad education, and cultivating strong research and problem-solving skills.

I enjoy the stories too.  We watch an episode as a weekly treat for finishing homework promptly and good school conduct.
3830846
Kerri Russell is great! The story line is fun and there is nothing for parents to be concerned about in this film. I enjoyed it immensely, my girls (ages 14 and 16) said "It's ok" which is the equivalent of an Oscar! Good story, good acting, family-friendly. Recommended.
1702160
Sometimes a really good story comes along that is made into a movie by whatever means those things come about.  This one is one of those.  It is history, it is factual, it is well presented, and it is well acted by all.  I really enjoyed it.  I hope our young people can watch it and see that it represnets a time period they did not witness but only heard about.  Its only nomination for an Oscar was for its music.  What a shame, I would put it in the category "Best Picture".  Sometimes I do not understand Hollywood and the image it seems to want to portay.
4819422
Loved the documentary without the feel of watching a documentary. I have enjoyed following Bernadette for the last two years and finally took a night to watch the film. My diagnosis has been suggested but not confirmed by genetic testing. I look forward to seeing more an I know angels are guiding all of us. Bernadette is here for a very special purpose.
3299616
it is also fun - and inspiring.  JK Rowling is an amazing woman, with an amazing career and a fantastic heart and this story is done with more taste and class than a lot of other biopics I've seen.  It's kid-friendly and paints a very positive and uplifting picture of her life.

I'm also not sure how much of this story is fact and how much is fiction, I did enjoy it.
4445153
A very nice cast; I don't know if the story would appeal to everyone, but it was well acted and believable.
4006238
It was a beautifully told story.  I highly recommend this well-acted movie.  Asa Butterfield captured all the nuances of a teenager with autism.  Bravo!
357245
The film really isn't a bad film- sure it starts off on a bad note, but it does pick up. It is true that the best part about the film is Joseph Gordon-Levitt-- even in his younger days he was still a very believable actor. At first when I heard his accent, I was thinking "Oh no...," but when he's actually on camera for his longer scenes, you suddenly forget that he's as American as anyone, and has no real accent.

Without a doubt, this is a shining moment of young Gordon-Levitt's career (for later standouts, see Forever Lulu, aka Along for the Ride, Sweet Jane, and Manic). Too bad the movie wasn't a little bit better (but it's really not bad).
659531
Wait a second! Almost everyone is missing the point. This movie presents girls, young women, as brainy, heroic, savvy, and capable -- all wrapped up in a fun, at times visionary, tale. Sure, the third act is a little dopey, but the performances are appealing; and its messages on gender are accurate and should be celebrated.
3642880
The casting was on point. Each actor gave a good performance. The story was good but it left me wanting more answers. (Trying not give spolier about the movie).