|
Miss Pettigrew Lives
For A Day
Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Starring: Amy Adams
Genre:
Comedy/Romance
Run Time: 92
min.
Release Date:
March 2008
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Amy Adams (ENCHANTED)
is becoming a powerhouse actress. From her earliest work in DROP DEAD
GORGEOUS to JUNEBUG and now here in
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY, Ms.
Adams’ excellent character pieces leap off the screen. This is pretty
ironic for Miss Pettigrew, as Ms. Adams is not the title character, yet
shines brighter than any other actor or actress in the film.
Amy Adams plays Delysia Lafosse, a wannabe stage and screen star living
in pre-WWII London. But this isn’t where our story starts. It starts
with Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDorman,
AEON FLUX) who loses
her job as a nanny and comes calling on Delysia (Adams) even though Miss
Pettigrew’s agency never sent her. In fact, Miss Pettigrew is a bit
desperate for a job and thieves a note from her boss’ desk that allows
her access to Delysia. And as soon as Delysia and Miss Pettigrew meet,
the comical clashes and subterfuges begin.
Delysia is a bit loose with her sexuality and this becomes Miss
Pettigrew’s first “job” as her new “social secretary.” Deflecting
boyfriends, lovers, producers, and the owner of the flat where Delysia
now lives occurs in rapid-fire succession.
Delysia’s entire motivation behind her sexual exploits, however, are
aimed at procuring her lead spot in a new play being put on by the son
of a successful playwright named Phil Goodman (Tom Payne V). But in her
way is love, true love, with a man of very little means named Michael
Pardue (Lee Pace, THE GOOD SHEPHERD). The battle between business
success and personal fulfillment cause the greatest uproar. And Miss Pettigrew is in the middle of all of it. But not just for Delysia. Miss
Pettigrew has a love of her own that surprises her with the name of Joe
Blumfield (Ciaran Hinds, MUNICH), an important clothes designer in
England who tires of the deceptive lives surrounding him and yearns for
something real.
Although Frances McDormand plays the title character, it is Amy Adams
who pulls this story along, and makes you laugh, cry, and generally
involved. Her upbeat and giddy performance makes the entire film
watchable. The other actors and actress are ‘okay’ but never come up to
her level.
The other bonus for the film is that the period is well represented. The
costumes, cars, buildings and sets easily harken one back to the 1930s.
The undercurrent of the impending war is also felt quite nicely as
London prepares its air-raid sirens and launches waves of airplanes for
training.
(back to top) |
Image from Miss Pettigrew
Lives For A Day
DVD cost: $19.89
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Director Bharat Nalluri
most recently directed the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath,
which was honored with Golden Globe Award nominations for actors Toni
Collette, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Sophie Okonedo; and with three Emmy
Award nominations, including one for Mr. Nalluri's direction.
Movie Quote: "Miss
Pettigrew is my new social secretary."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day
   |
