scottish-movie-freak
12-02-2002, 04:37 PM
This movie was just released over here in sunny Britain (and I know it's been out in the cinema's for quite a while in USA) and I just wanted your opinions on it:
I thought this movie was an absolute delight! The plot was basically a re-hash of Gosford Park (only with all female suspects) but it turned out to be so much more!
The movie is set during the 50s in a secluded area of France. Catherine, daughter of the victim Marcel, runs down the stairs to tell her family that that their beloved father/husband/relative/employer has been stabbed, lying in his bed. All the ladies of the title are shocked but one of them is keeping a paticularly large secret. Everyone has their own motive for killing the man but only one went through with the actual deed, WHO WAS IT?
-Was it his domineering wife Gaby (Catherine Deneuve)?
-His daughters Catherine (who also found him, played by Ludivine Sagnier) or the eldest Suzon (Virginie Ledoyen)?
-His mysterious sister (Fanny Ardant) who conveniently arrived the night before he died?
-Maybe it is his spinster sister-in-law Augustine (Isabelle Huppert) or her mother Mamy (Danielle Darrieux)?
-His loyal housekeeper Mme Chanel (Firmine Richard)?
-Or perhaps it is the insolent new maid Louise (Emmanuelle Beart) who may be having an affair with the victim (before his death, obviously ;)) ?
The performances by the titular 8 women are astounding! Deneuve and Huppert are in their element here, hamming it up (but in a good way) to maximum effect. The youngest of the ladies (Sagnier and Leyoden) are terrific also, keeping up well with their elder actresses. Beart makes the most of her part, even if the character is badly written and Ardant, Darrieux and Richard are fantastic, dependable as always.
The trailer for this looked promising but didn't exactly show or tell you anything about the cast randomly bursting into song every now and again. The songs (especially the first, sung by Sagnier) are annoyingly catchy, even if they dont blend in well with the rest of the proceedings but they lighten up the mood.
Overall, I would give this movie an impressive 9/10 or a grade A or A-. I urge you to check it out, be it at the cinema or on dvd or video.
I thought this movie was an absolute delight! The plot was basically a re-hash of Gosford Park (only with all female suspects) but it turned out to be so much more!
The movie is set during the 50s in a secluded area of France. Catherine, daughter of the victim Marcel, runs down the stairs to tell her family that that their beloved father/husband/relative/employer has been stabbed, lying in his bed. All the ladies of the title are shocked but one of them is keeping a paticularly large secret. Everyone has their own motive for killing the man but only one went through with the actual deed, WHO WAS IT?
-Was it his domineering wife Gaby (Catherine Deneuve)?
-His daughters Catherine (who also found him, played by Ludivine Sagnier) or the eldest Suzon (Virginie Ledoyen)?
-His mysterious sister (Fanny Ardant) who conveniently arrived the night before he died?
-Maybe it is his spinster sister-in-law Augustine (Isabelle Huppert) or her mother Mamy (Danielle Darrieux)?
-His loyal housekeeper Mme Chanel (Firmine Richard)?
-Or perhaps it is the insolent new maid Louise (Emmanuelle Beart) who may be having an affair with the victim (before his death, obviously ;)) ?
The performances by the titular 8 women are astounding! Deneuve and Huppert are in their element here, hamming it up (but in a good way) to maximum effect. The youngest of the ladies (Sagnier and Leyoden) are terrific also, keeping up well with their elder actresses. Beart makes the most of her part, even if the character is badly written and Ardant, Darrieux and Richard are fantastic, dependable as always.
The trailer for this looked promising but didn't exactly show or tell you anything about the cast randomly bursting into song every now and again. The songs (especially the first, sung by Sagnier) are annoyingly catchy, even if they dont blend in well with the rest of the proceedings but they lighten up the mood.
Overall, I would give this movie an impressive 9/10 or a grade A or A-. I urge you to check it out, be it at the cinema or on dvd or video.