There’s something uniquely fascinating about an actor playing a version of himself. In 2010’s The Trip, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon do just that, and the effect is both hilarious and oddly touching. Though it’s hard to say how much of themselves they put into their characters, there’s certainly enough that the final product feels intensely…
Critic irked by ‘Philomena’
It always makes me sad when older actors must play roles that require them to simply be old. Unfortunately for Judi Dench, Philomena casts her in just such a role. While not a bad film, it is an underwhelming bore that reduces real people to mere caricatures. Directed by Stephen Frears, the movie tells the true…
Critic irked by writing in ‘Philomena’
There’s something rather depressing about Judi Dench playing the role of “Precocious Old Lady.” Unfortunately, in Philomena, she is forced to do just that. Based on a true story, it’s a sweet little film, but it doesn’t give any of its actors much to do. Dench stars as “Philomena Lee,” who conceived a child out…
