Movie #813 "Philomena" was a terrific film that we saw at the Chicago International Film Festival last weekend. It wasn't a surprise, though, because our beloved Judi Dench played the title role, but what was a surprise is the expert acting on Steve Coogan's part. I have to admit, the only thing I really know about Mr. Coogan is that his head blew apart in "Tropic Thunder" and he played the drama director of "Hamlet 2" so I thought he was an actor who could just act silly --- this is a tour de force for him and he is very good and holds his own with Dame Judy. You want to look for this film when it is released because I'm not sure the subject matter will lend itself to wide release. Anyway, it is a true story about a woman who had to give her child up for adoption in Dublin because she had the baby out of wedlock --- her family banished her to the convent, and this particular convent sold children to people in the US to make money, and they separate her from her son. Coogan's journalist is anti religious and sarcastic and that cuts through any maudlin scenes that might occur because of the subject matter. And, of course, Judy Dench is so authentic and so sharp-tongued when needed that her quick comebacks keep the film moving along, as well. We loved it and highly recommend it. Hope you get a chance to see it and enjoy it as much as we did. We had Kate Palm Summers (a young alum) with us and she enjoyed it as much as we did, so this film won't just appeal to one demographic group. (not for the kiddies, though)
Philomena2013NR I gave this movie 5 stars out of 5.
Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.
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