Notes on a Scandal

If you are watching one film in the next few weeks, watch “Notes on a Scandal” with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett in the main roles.

Judi Dench is just brilliant. There is no other word for it. She is such a good actress that no other actress comes even close to her. I hope she’ll win the Oscar for it (she is nominated for it).

But also photographically this is a very fascinating movie: the characters are interestingly lit most of the time, a bit reminiscent of Bill Henson, the Australian photographer, and Gregory Crewdson (I am thinking especially of a scene when Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett sit outside a pub in the night and talk). And then there is the scene when Judi Dench sits smoking in the bathtub. Every frame of this scene is worthy of a portrait.

By the way, the music has been composed by Philip Glass, another favourite of mine.