Notes on a Scandal Review

Bottom-Line: Probably one of the best films you haven't seen in quite some time.

Despite our tendency toward the wholesale slaughter of our fellows from time-to-time, we humans are social creatures.  Even I, an admitted introvert, at times suffered from bouts of loneliness in which I thought I'd lose my mind for the want of another's humans touch, the sound of a live human beings' voice, the intimacy of the quiet close whisper; preferably of the opposite sex mind you.  So it is that I indentified-perhaps too closely-with Dame Judy Dench's character Barbara in 2006's Notes on a Scandal. 

Directed by Richard Eyre (Stage Beauty) Notes on a Scandal opens with Barbara, portrayed by the aforementioned Dench (Mrs. Brown, Golden Eye, Pride & Prejudice) writing in her diary in eloquent English prose that is sharp of tongue and entirely entertaining.  Her thoughts as she transcribes them into her diary are read aloud by Barbara.  On this occasion she is ruminating about the young new art teacher Sheba portrayed by Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, Pushing Tin, Babel) who has come to teach at the quintessential English school where Barbara has taught for quite a spell.  At first Barbara watch and admires Sheba from afar, but then an incident occurs that allows the two woman to meet, and a budding friendship develops. 

My Viewpoint

Notes on a Scandal undeniably belonged to Judy Dench.  Her regal bearing and indomitable presence were not to be denied.  Ms. Dench played Barbara with a complexity seldom seen in American cinema.  Despite her outward controlled veneer inside Barbara was very human and longed for the companionship that was oft denied her.  Her loneliness became more than a physical ache begging for a quick fix, it became a part of her personality, albeit one she kept neatly hidden from view most of the time.   Dench does a marvelous job of portraying the spinster seeking the love and companionship of youth through guile and (very) self-serving deception.

To be sure Notes on a Scandal was somewhat predictable but the two principle characters stick it so well that I didn't really care that I knew what was to come next, the movie was just that delicious.  Dench's tightly scripted narration is was made the movie come together; without her very English recitations Notes on a Scandal would not have been nearly as engaging, nor as entertaining and fulfilling.