Starring:- Judi Dench and Steve Coogan
Director:- Stephen Frears
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Philomena is the must see film of 2013/14. This fast-paced masterpiece races across America and Ireland leaving you aching with laughter whilst fighting back the tears. The impeccably written story is guaranteed to keep you entralled, but cleverly doesn't skim over the vital details, embellishing where needs be.
A disgraced and depressed former BBC journalist turned New Labour spin doctor, Martin Sixsmith (Coogan), picks up the story of Philomena Lee (Dench), a working class nurse from Ireland, who is searching for her lost son. In her youth Philomena had fallen pregnant out of wedlock and been forced to live in a nunnery. Her son was then cruelly wrenched from his mother and given up for adoption as a punishment for her 'heinous' crime.
For the first time on the big screen, Coogan really steps up to the plate
Judi Dench needs no introduction, and is as immense as ever. For the first time on the big screen, Steve Coogan really steps up to the plate. Although I am self confessed Alan Partridge fan, whenever I see Steve Coogan in a film, I dread seeing the Norfolk nitwit sneak into his acting. However, pleasingly, certainly in this film he manages to keep Alan at bay and gives his best film performance to date. He is still funny, but in an understated fashion, leaving the audience to laugh at the nature of Sixsmith, whom he plays with aplomb, evocative of any seasoned performer. The interplay shown by Coogan and Dench is priceless. Although both characters are born into Catholicism, on the one hand Sixsmith rapidly grew weary of the faith, making an abrupt about turn by becoming an atheist. Philomena however, stuck steadfast with the religion despite the terrible things it inflicted upon her. The exchanges on this issue are a microcosm of the contrast in the two main characters. However, it is a happy contrast. The two are poles apart, and both know it, yet work within those parameters and achieve a believable and heart-warming relationship, like two completely different jigsaw pieces fitting snugly together. Here lies the fabulous chemistry that Dench and Coogan manage to show off. This is obviously all in day's work for a seasoned performer like Dench, whose character still manages to put down the Oxford educated Sixsmith, whether she means to or not. Pleasingly for Steve Coogan, with the role of Sixsmith, he has finally nailed a plausible, serious acting role, whilst happily still being funny, but in an understated way that leaves the viewer applauding.
Philomena suffered a lifetime of pain, and for what?
The stand alone feature of Philomena is how it begs the questions on religion that constantly need to be asked. We see Philomena suffering the ultimate tragedy for a parent- the loss of a child. For what? As her punishment for committing a sinful crime. The sinful crime? Being a young girl who simply had sex; but not only had sex, but God forbid enjoyed it. Philomena was made to suffer a lifetime of guilt and intolerable pain, for what? So the nuns and the community wouldn't be embarrassed. It begs the question regarding the definition of sin. What is sin? Is sex a sin? Is mothering a child out of wedlock a sin? And if they are sins, they who decided that they were sins? The 'rules' were created by not just Catholicism, although they are highlighted throughout the film, but all religions who seek to control. Through Philomena we see the genuine effects of this imposing religion on an everyday person who dared to 'step out of line'.
I would put my neck on the line and say that Philomena is the stand alone film I have seen in 2014. The chemistry between Coogan and Dench was second to none, as if they had worked together for years. I can see Philomena being Coogan's springboard to many more serious, hard-hitting roles.
IMDB.com Rating:- 7.7 out of ten from 33,158 votes
Supermegahybrid Film Rating:- 4.5 stars
