NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Director: Richard Eyre
Stars: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Andrew Simpson
Year: 2006
Rating: R

Even with the A-list talents of Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy along for the ride, this is still Judi Dench's show. She and Blanchett were both nominated for Oscars (deservedly so) for starring in this intense chess game of a film.

Dench plays Barbara Covett (and brother, does the name fit), a high school teacher who's got some extremely strong opinions on everything from the world to her work to her peers to life in general. She's kept a journal for many, MANY years about her life, and lately there hasn't seemed to be much to write in ... until a new, younger, and beautiful new art teacher, Sheba Hart (Blanchett) joins the staff. Right away, Barbara finds herself intrigued by the teacher - who seems ill-equipped to handle her rough and rowdy charges - and, indeed, helps her out in everything from discipline to advice. Sheba's grateful, and she and Barbara become friends - Sheba finally inviting Barbara to her home for lunch. Here, Barbara meets Sheba's much-older husband Richard (Bill Nighy), and learns that Sheba has two children - a teenaged daughter with an attitude problem, as well as an autistic son. Barbara's unspoken (and rather unpleasant) opinions about Sheba's family (heard in voice-over, as if she'd writing in her journal), combined with her surprise at finding that Sheba's family isn't as perfect as she's made Sheba to be in her mind, give the first solid indication that all is not right with Barbara's mind. Indeed, the friendship between these two women becomes an obsession on Barbara's end - and when Barbara learns of an affair that Sheba's entered into with a fifteen-year-old student (Andrew Simpson), Barbara sees this as her opportunity. Instead of going to the headmaster about the illegal affair, she insteads sets into motion a plan to use the information to further bind Sheba to her ... possibly forever.

What an amazing film. The screenplay, by Patrick Marber based on Zoe Heller's novel, crackles - not a single word is wasted, and each one is pure gold when uttered by the amazing Judi Dench, who turns in one hell of an Oscar-worthy performance. Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy are brilliant, as well (Nighy probably would have been nominated, had his role been bigger) - but it's Judi Dench you can't take your eyes off in this film; whose dialogue you dare not miss when she speaks. Even Barbara's last name - Covett - is nothing less than the ideal word to fit her, experly chosen. Basically, this is the story of Barbara, the manipulator of the world around her, and those who get caught up in her path. She's a fascinating, fractured woman (who, even with all she pulls in this film, still garners your sympathy because she is such a lost soul) - and this film is a true gem, as well as an exercise in flawless acting. I loved it. **** - Reel Awesome