4 reviews

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Andrea Hopkins February 28, 2008

Are these people mad? This movie is not charming, sweet and funny. It is a five-kleenex weepie. The most brilliant and tremendously moving part of Renee Zellweger's performance is the section after Norman's untimely death, when she just doesn't know what to do with herself and her grief and anger (if her parents hadn't forced her to agree to a temporary separation she could have spent those precious few months with him, been with him when he died, whereas she arrived just too late to see him alive, and hasn't the consolation of being an acknowledged widow, since their engagement was a secret from everyone but the sister). The whole point of the movie is that nowadays, a chap might well reach for their sawn-off and entertainingly dismember the unkind parents who gave them such unfortunate advice, but in late Victorian times a lady's grief turned inwards and began to destroy her - until rescued and saved from autolysis by the excellent Emily Watson as the sister. This is what makes the movie memorable and worth-while, not the bunnies or the pout. But don't see it unless you are prepared to be made very, very sad.

I second the comments made by reviewers Kevin and Pamplemouse. Bravo. :)

Cynical Victorianists will be frustrated with the lack of historicity of this film, while more gently-minded viewers will appreciate the wholesome and optimistic fantasy about the quirky children's author. Think "Shakespeare in Love" meets "Finding Neverland" and "Harvey."

Zellweger pouts and scampers playfully across the screen, rather like one of her perky watercolored creatures (who come alive through whimsical animations). McGregor's adoration is likewise sweet and stumbling. Their love is chaste and unfulfillable, but without the Jane Austian undercurrents and tensions we'd might expect (as seen in "Sense and Sensibility"). I also want Emily Watson's sisterly spinster to have more to do besides spout contradictory rhetoric. (But perhaps I want Beatrix and Millie to fulfill their Sapphic potential?)

Primarily, the film strives to be cute and light-hearted, so it is not surprising that the drama is weak, even when tragedy strikes. We don't have a strong sense of Potter's proto-feminist achievements, as her rebellions are also made precious by a lack of true struggle.

However, I enjoyed it very much despite these flaws. :) It's funny and tender and pulls on the heart-strings. The message of independence, the stunning scenery of the Lake District, and the pro-conservation messages are all warm and fuzzy. If you are in the mood for sweetness and mirth, with a touch of sorrow, go and see it. Bring the older kids. :)

Lisa 17 Jan 2007

English children’s fiction has a reputation for dark edges – sinister characters, disturbing surrealism, and unhealthy subtexts. Beatrix Potter’s books, on the other hand, are more straightforward – simple, charming, and gentle. The film Miss Potter has a similarly sunny disposition, with little inclination to dwell on any of the darker aspects of the author’s life or character.

The film begins almost exactly 100 years ago, when Beatrix Potter took her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, to the publishers. Her publishers, the Warne brothers, were unsure of the book’s potential, so they assigned the job to their younger brother, Norman. Norman and Beatrix were both in their thirties, both unmarried, and became friends, and finally, fiancés. But Beatrix Potter’s parents disapproved of the match, as they saw Norman Warne as a ‘tradesman’.

Beatrix Potter is played by Rene Zelwegger, who, as we know from Bridget Jones, does a good English accent. In Miss Potter, she keeps doing this weird pout, like she’s about to blow a raspberry. This is part of a performance which is intended to be endearing, but which I imagine most people will find very irritating.

She often refers to the animal characters she draws and writes about as her ‘friends’, and her sketchy conception of the line between reality and fantasy is illustrated by occasional animations of her drawings, slipped cleverly into the live action film. For a moment, I thought the film was going to be an interesting exploration of the relationship between creativity and mental illness, but instead her apparent insanity is portrayed as an eccentricity that no-one finds concerning, and that Norman Warne, for some reason, finds charming.

The film is about English repression and conformity, with Beatrix’s parents representing stuffy Victorian values. But Beatrix’s rebellion from this conformity (by not marrying early, following an unusual profession) is all very mild. The film doesn’t even have the courage of its weedy convictions. When Beatrix announces her engagement to Norman’s sister, who is also unmarried, she is told that the only thing that matters is love, and how rubbish it is being single.

Norman’s sister is played by Emily Watson. I wondered if the film would have been more interesting if Watson, who is good at showing the scary side of lovable eccentricity, played the title role instead of Renee Zelwegger. Though I doubt she would have been able to prevent Miss Potter from being drippy and annoying.

Kevin 8 Jan 2007

Gentle and rather sweet, "Miss Potter" is ably played by the excellent Rene Zelwegger (convincing Victorian clipped tones included) with an equally wonderful cast including Ewan MCGregor and Emily Watson.

This is not a movie for the die-hard fans of action-packed movies but its slow and gentle pace was a refreshing change.
The well loved children's author is portrayed as a young lady with a strong sense of independence and humour though this is a slightly sanitised version of her life and could have included more of earlier struggles as a naturalist draughtsman. (She was rejected as a student to the Royal Botanical Gardens because of her sex, despite her more than obvious artistic talents and her keen and knowledgeable interest in Botany) It could also perhaps have done more in elaborating on the subject of the Lands trust movement (a crucial social movement of the 19th century).

Nonetheless I found myself drawn (no pun intended :)) into the story and the very restrained use of her famous characters coming to life on the page added just the right touch of whimsy without being too cloying. All in all a charming and enchanting movie.

Pamplemousse 7 Jan 2007