This is the type of crowd-pleasing film that Saving Mr. Banks should have been. It's true, the film is Hollywoodized to an extent, but it's so carefully written and so meticulously structured that it doesn't matter. It makes a tremendous impact. Judi Dench is simply one of the best working right now, and the best of her generation at the moment (she continues to deliver natural performances while Meryl Streep continues to ham up everything she's in). Dench is simply brilliant here, and if it were not for Cate Blanchett she should be winning that Oscar. The film also has a heavy dose of comedy, and all of it works. This is a brilliant film, and so glad it's been recognized as much as it has.
Review of Philomena
