Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a movie all 3 of us saw fairly recently--so here are our different perspectives....

(Shannon) I had really high expectations of this movie--so as usual, when I have too high expectations, the movie did not quite measure up. Overall I would rate Miss Pettigrew a 6.

3 reasons it wasn't a 3:
  • The actors were all pretty much amazing. Job very well done--very interesting to watch!!
  • The costuming and period-ness of the movie was so great!
  • Amy Adams

3 reasons it wasn't a 10:

  • I don't really have a desire to see it again
  • I didn't attach to it at all emotionally
  • It was good, but that's about it.

(Hillary) hmmmm it appears I liked this movie so much more than Shannon. This is the best new movie I have seen in 2008. The storyline is fresh and the writing has the perfect balance of corny humor and genuine emotion. I love Amy Adams, she reprises her roll as Giselle in Enchanted in many ways but it's perfect for DeLyssia Lafosse! Just her character's name cracks me up. The leading men were adorable and loveable, and the sets were fabulously 1930's. Francis McDormand was amazing; normally her rolls don't excite me because she plays harsh characters but here she is warm and sad.

Miss Pettigrew has a sweet surface story but it moved me with a reminder of the plight of unmarried and destitute women prior to the women's movement. DeLyssia LaFosse had no choice, if she wanted to progress in her career, she was forced to use her sexuality. Miss Pettigrew didn't have that option so she became homeless. As much as I dislike Gloria Steinem, and I believe the women's movement had some negative effects on families and society, I can't deny the gratitude I feel for her and the choices her efforts have given modern women.

Miss Pettigrew gives us a typical fairy tale ending, but it was handled in a believable way and it was quite satisfying.

1 comment:

Vanessa said...

Like I said on Hillary's blog, I liked it, but I agree with Shannon to an extent, I may not rent it when it comes out. Amy Adams was great!