Happy Friday!
What will you be watching today, folks? Are you going to the cinema to see the latest of the Disney animated feature Wreck-It Ralph (check out my pal Terrence’s review), the Kung-fu movie The Man with the Iron Fists or Denzel Washington’s Flight? Well, if you decide to rent something, here are a couple you might want to check out if you haven’t already:
A Separation (2011)
– Review by Cecilia R.
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Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
As I’ve alluded to in my review of Quartet, I LOVE films about older people’s adventure. Perhaps because I grew up with my grandmother for years, I’m not sure. Now the main draw for me to see this British dramedy is the stellar cast! It also marks Judi Dench’s third collaboration with director John Madden — the first two earned her an Oscar nomination and win for Mrs. Brown and Shakespeare In Love, respectively.
The title refers to a hotel in Jaipur, India which is advertised as a newly-restored “for the elderly and beautiful.” Well, after a lengthy and exhausting journey, all seven of the British retirees want to do is relax in their luxurious lodging, only to find the place to be well, less sumptuous than what they had in mind. The hotel turns out to be a run-down place run by a young man who dreams of restoring his family business to its pristine condition.
Each of the characters deal with this unpleasant surprise in multiple different ways, just as each of them have their own reasons to come to the country in the first place. Some of the multiple storylines work better than others. I don’t know if I’d call the direction uneven but certainly there are parts of the movie I just don’t care for.
For me, my favorite parts involve the two Dames, Judi Dench (Evelyn) and Maggie Smith (Muriel), and also Tom Wilkinson’s character who attempts to fulfill his lifelong wish to reunite with someone from his past he cares deeply about. I think Muriel has the biggest personal growth of them all, as she overcomes her own prejudice out of her encounter with a hotel’s employee who can’t even speak English. Evelyn who’s a widow not only become accustomed with the culture, she also finds a job and perhaps a second chance at love. The elderly Brits’ stories are inter-weaved with the hotel manager Sunny (Slumdog Millionaire‘s Dev Patel) whose buoyant spirit lives up to his name. He deeply clashes with his mother’s career aspiration for him, as well as the cultural expectation of arranged marriage as he’s in love with a girl who works at Evelyn’s call center.
There’s plenty of humor for sure, but the story also has some poignant moments that are pretty affecting. There are themes of cultural taboo and also outright racism that make you wince at times, but overall the spirit of the film is pretty light and colorful, just like the vibrant India setting. It’s not a flawless movie however, the pace at the beginning could be much improved, and the relationship between Dench and Bill Nighy just wasn’t handled as well as I expected. There are also some cringe-worthy moments of Ronald Pickup’s character that I don’t find it particularly amusing. But despite all that, this is quite a lovely movie and I’m definitely not disappointed by my favorite cast here, especially Dame Judi. I always enjoy watching her act and she looks particularly radiant here.
‘Everything will be alright in the end’ that’s the motto Sunny tells his guests when they’re disappointed. It’s an uplifting motto we could all take to heart.
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| 3.5 out of 5 reels |
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Have you seen either one of these films? Well, what did you think?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Saw Marigold Hotel and would have given it at leat 4 stars. Great cast, great setting, meaningful characters making hard choices, very universal.
Hi there Bill! Glad you enjoyed this film. I love it, the cast did not disappoint. I like your succinct ‘review’ about meaningful characters making hard choices, we need more character-driven dramas like this one in Hollywood!
I’ve been meaning to check out A Separation for a while now but haven’t got round to it. Definitely need to get myself into gear, it sounds fantastic. Great reviews Ruth.
I haven’t seen it either Terry, it’s my friend Cecilia’s review. I do want to see it soon!
And indeed I would have known that if i’d read the byline 🙂 Well, good review Cecilia!
Thank you Terry! So tell me if you like it or not when you two have seen the movie
I watched “A Seperation” in the theater right after it won its Oscar. I was blown away. I remember leaving the theater conflicted, not about the strength of the film, but by the complex characters and some of their actions. Gripping film through and through.
I have heard only good things about it. Glad to see that it won an Oscar, sounds like it deserved it. I think I’ve only seen one Iranian film but not with Iranian actors, it’s called ‘Not Without My Daughter.’ I’ll be sure to give A Separation a watch, Keith.
I’ve been wanting to watch A Separation for a while. marigold Hotel wasn’t really on my radar, but i suppose i will give it a chance
I hope you do Julian, curious to hear what you think. What have you been watching lately? A lot of horror stuff in October? 🙂
Yea, although a lot of them weren’t as good as i hoped they would be 😦
I thought A Seraration was really well done. A very universal story. It reminded me of a Harold Pinter play of which several have been made into excellent movies. Ruth you would have seen him as an actor in Mansfield Park.
Hi Dave, which one is the actor in Mansfield Park??
Harold Pinter the playwright who acted a little on the side. He played Sir Thomas Bertram in Mansfield Park.
Ah right, I think you told me this before. I think he’s a pretty talented actor too, though I’ve only seen just that one film.
Have no interest in seeing any of the new films opening this weekend, The Man with the Iron Fists just looks atrocious and Flight just doesn’t look interesting to me.
I’ve always wanted to see A Separation but it’s those kind of films you need to be in the mood for to really enjoy it.
Oh man, even though I like Russell, when I saw the trailer for ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’ I was like, what the heck was that??! I doubt I’ll ever see that one!
you know I lurv MARIGOLD HOTEL 🙂
They’ve just announced the work on the sequel since the film earned more than 130 million around the world 🙂 I was about to publish the news tomorrow but will post HOBBIT CHARACTERS spotlight instead 🙂
Oh I wouldn’t mind seeing the sequel to Marigold Hotel, hopefully they just focus more on Dame Judi’s character.
shame on me! I have A Separation but haven’t seen it yet despite all great reviews I have read. I should watch it before 2012 ends.
Great review Cecilia 🙂
Have you seen A separation, Ruth?
No I haven’t yet but because of all these rave reviews, I better do that soon!
Thank you Nov! So have you watched it now? Anyway, i guess we’ll meet up this december with Ruth too right?
No…still haven’t watched yet 😉
Yup…we will 🙂
I will hopefully be seeing Flight, The Man with the Iron Fists, and Wreck-It Ralph in the next few days. Also, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is on its way from Netflix, so I’ll get to that soon too. 🙂
That’s amazing you can see three new movies in one weekend Josh! I envy you.
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Got a free redbox code today so I might get the Marigold hotel one. Although I still have to watch Take Care…
Hey June! If you’re a fan of Dame Judi, ‘Marigold Hotel’ is a must see!! Btw, I’ve just sent a bunch of interview questions to the Take Care director. I’ll post ’em when he send the answers back to me 😀
Ok, cool. I look forward to seeing it. And yeah def let me know when you post that.
Will do! He was the one offering to do that via Twitter, I also have questions for the two female leads as he said they often hang out together 🙂
Great review, Ruth! I have been looking forward to A Separation for a long time, though I know it will be painful to watch. Like you, I enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but felt it was just a 3.5/5 movie. I found parts of it a bit trite and predictable. And yes, they could’ve dome so much more with the relationship between Judi Dench’s and Bill Nighy’s characters!
Steph
Yeah I think I’d like ‘Marigold Hotel’ a whole lot more if they developed Judi and Bill’s character more. I heard rumors of a sequel?? Perhaps then they’ll explore those two characters more. Thanks for stopping by!
A Separation is a surprisingly interesting film. Kind of a slice of life movie set in a society that is mostly unknown to us, westerners. One thing that surprised me the most is how similar the average Iranian day-to-day life is to ours. I really thought it would be more austere given their reclusive geopolitical status. At any rate, Ruth you should see this flick!
Will do, Castor! The every day life of a different culture is what fascinates me about it, and yeah it’s a society I’m not familiar with at all.
Nice reviews. I LOVED A Separation. It’s one of my favorite films from 2011. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was good but not great. The cast elevated it. Bill Nighy was amazing.
You’re right Fernando, the cast certainly elevated it. I like seeing Nighy in an understated performance, but to me the star is Dame Judi.
I loved her as well. She’s always excellent. She certainly shone in Skyfall with a bigger role. I was just wowed by Nighy in Marigold. I’d always thought he was good but I’m now a big fan of the man.
Oooh she has a bigger role in Skyfall! Oh man, now I’m even MORE excited for it, if that’s even possible!
You should 🙂 She’s basically only secondary to Bond himself.
I love A Separation, wouldn’t say no for a re-watch. As for Best Exotic Marigold hotel, I’ve been choosing other movies instead of watching it. Certainly looks okay.
I am very intrigued by A Separation, need to get to that soon. Well I think the cast is what drew me most to Marigold Hotel, I LOVE the Brits!
I loved A Separation, I’m glad you liked it. I really want to see Marigold hotel, and I will, soon enough
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