brilliantly entertaining

Rating: 9/10 (2 March 2013)

If you have any knowledge of the theatre and especially classical English theatre--you will find this movie immensely entertaining on many levels--but it's brilliance is in the construction of the movie and its humor which allows both the knowledgeable and those unacquainted with this period of English drama to enjoy it (almost) equally. Extremely witty screenplay and portrayals of well known figures of the period. Though Gwyneth Paltrow won an Oscar and is certainly good in the film--it's not as if you couldn't imagine someone else being quite good in the role - -although I must say most of the names bandied about wouldn't have been better. The other players execute precise and hilarious characterizations. It is a film you can watch more than once and still enjoy quite a lot, which always seems the mark of a truly well made film.