Philomena
William Jenkins 
I did a search and could not find that this film has been discussed yet on here. It has gotten pretty much rave reviews from just about all of the critics.
Has anyone on DL seen it? Is it as good as I've read?
This weekend, help me choose: Philomena, The Dallas Buyer's Club or Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | October 29, 2019 2:17 PM |
I've seen all three. Philomena was my favorite hands down. Can't imagine Judi not getting the Oscar. Heartbreaking movie with very funny quips, and an important story to be told if you're unfamiliar with the Magdalene sister stories already.
Dallas was an ok movie with great performance by Jared. Hunger games was a fucking bore.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | November 27, 2013 4:57 PM |
Going to see Philomena tonight. Have high hopes.
Dallas Buyers Club was good, not great, but with very good performances.
Hunger Games: I saw the first and enjoyed it, but didn't like the way it just stopped instead of ending; I guess that's what happens when it's part one of four. I do plan to see the second one, as the reviews have been pretty positive.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | November 27, 2013 5:01 PM |
saw it. a great film. will def rewatch on netflix
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | November 27, 2013 5:07 PM |
Philomena is fantastic. I recommend it.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | November 27, 2013 5:34 PM |
There is a really good movie called "Magdalene Sisters" from 2002 I think. Also worth checking out on Netflix or something.
I'm glad to hear Philomena is good, because from the trailer it seemed like it would be. Trailers have burned me before by showcasing the only good material in a movie that is otherwise dreck.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | November 27, 2013 5:51 PM |
Judi hardly ever makes a bad movie, but the final product is really out of her hands. I trust her to make informed decisions about script, cast, director, budget, etc., and then hope for the best.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | November 27, 2013 6:00 PM |
Without spoiling too much, can those who've seen it tell us if it's a tearjerker? I try to be careful about crying at movies, because I'm a really, really ugly crier.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | November 27, 2013 6:18 PM |
r7, then I advise you to go alone and sit in the last row.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | November 27, 2013 6:25 PM |
Adoptee here, I need to wait to see it in private.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | November 27, 2013 6:26 PM |
We saw it last weekend and loved it.
There is enough levity in it too keep it from going full tear-jerker mode, IMO.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | November 27, 2013 6:27 PM |
Tear jerker and funny. Hard to explain.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | November 27, 2013 6:47 PM |
I just looked it up on Wikipedia -- had no idea it was based on real people and is a true story.
Yikes!
Now I want to see it.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | November 27, 2013 6:52 PM |
I made the mistake of looking up Philomena on Wikipedia and now I know where the story is going. But I'm sure I'll enjoy it and still be moved even though I know the ending.
Part of my enjoyment of other based-on-true-stories such as Argo and Captain Phillips was that although I had a vague idea there was a happy-ish ending (I knew they were based on books written by the protagonists!) I did not know the twists and turns and who would make it and who wouldn't.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | November 27, 2013 6:54 PM |
Oh hell, I just read the plot on Wikipedia and am starting to tear up at work.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | November 27, 2013 6:57 PM |
Will Judi win over Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine? Have not yet seen Philomena, but thought Blanchett was fantastic.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | November 27, 2013 7:17 PM |
The "Magdalene Sisters" (2002) movie is one of the best and most horrifying movies ever. Absolutely shattering and one of many sins the Catholic Church tried (vainly) to hide.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | November 27, 2013 7:25 PM |
Cate was amazing and may win but I thought Judi's performance was more full and moving.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | November 27, 2013 7:26 PM |
Was Steve Coogan any good? he's been trying to break into the U.S market for years, maybe this will do it. I always had a weird thing for Alan partrige.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | November 27, 2013 8:26 PM |
The trailer for this makes it look like the Marigold Hotel movie from last year?
That Marigold Hotel movie was AWFUL. And I do not mind dramas or movies about old people, so I thought that I would enjoy it. My god, it was a painful movie-watching experience.
As a result, I am suspicious of Philomena.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | November 27, 2013 8:54 PM |
I guess I'd call it bittersweet. You might cry some, but it's nothing like -- well, in my case, Bridges of Madison County, where I was wailing when it was over. That to me was a tearjerker.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | November 27, 2013 9:06 PM |
[R18] I thought Steve Coogan was wonderful.
The film to see when it's released (if it hasn't been yet) is Nebraska.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | November 27, 2013 9:07 PM |
[R15] Agreed, Judi's role had a lot more range to it.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | November 27, 2013 9:08 PM |
It's about a woman who searches for the child that was taken from her decades earlier. I don't know which hotels they stop at during their quest.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | November 27, 2013 9:09 PM |
Distant relative had a forced hysterectomy back in the 1920's because she had been considered a wild child, and placed in a girl's home. This was in Ohio.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | November 27, 2013 9:18 PM |
I love Steve coogan - hope this is his breakthrough in the US.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | November 27, 2013 9:32 PM |
Yes Coogan matched Dame Judi scene by scene.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | November 30, 2013 3:30 AM |
Book about Magdalen Laundries...
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 27 | November 30, 2013 3:44 AM |
LOVED LOVED this movie. I thought Cate had BA in the bag until tonight. Steve Coogan was amazing. Wonder why he isn't getting any award attention. Best Actor is too crowded and he is clearly the lead so they can't put in supporting? I love the scene um.....
Drop what you are doing right now and go see the movie. Back to the spoiler alert...
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he tells the mean old nun if Jesus Christ was right here he would throw you out of that wheel chair. I also love it when it is revealed the son is gay and you get a less than nothing reaction from the Dench character a sweet old lady who knows things like bi-curious and not using condoms because it loses the feeling and she says it without one ounce of judgement...
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | December 1, 2013 9:57 AM |
The commercial makes it look stupid and talky. And is that quip about "Big Momma's House" supposed to be funny? It looks like "Tuesdays with Morrie" with an old lady.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | December 1, 2013 10:04 AM |
I think it is meant to show how unpretentious the Dench character is..
I agree the trailer does the film no favors what made me want to see it was a topic here at DL...
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | December 1, 2013 10:16 AM |
I loved it and for those of you who are afraid it is too sweet and sentimental, it is not.
SPOILER
So why was the son's ex being such a bitch about things? This was never explained.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | December 2, 2013 1:24 PM |
It was a detail that was glossed over, r31, but I think it was because the nuns had told the son and ex that the mother didn't want contact. That's a pretty brutal thing to hear - that your mother doesn't even want to meet you when you're dying. But the movie didn't really explain this.
Similarly, a detail that was dead on, but only touched on, was why Mare Winningham's character didn't seem to possess the slightest interest in her mother, even though she may have still been alive. Adoptees tend to go very hot and cold about reunion, which makes sense - it takes a lot of courage and motivation to sign up for a second rejection from your mother.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | December 2, 2013 1:45 PM |
There are certain things that throw me into such a rage, it's better if I don't think about them. One is this specific evil the Catholic church committed against these girls/women. I didn't see the Magdalene Laundries for this reason, and anticipate seeing Philomena with great reservation. I won't see it until it comes out on video, in any case, but I may skip it there as well.
As an Irish American who resigned (in his mind) from Catholicism and its evils in fourth grade, I have such a hard time with this. Some people can't watch Holocaust movies, some can't stand hospital shows. Institutionalized Catholic abuse of children is the one that makes me feel like throwing up.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | December 2, 2013 1:54 PM |
I'm surprised there isn't more outrage from Catholics about the movie. It's very anti-nun although I guess with all the scandals, it's hard to support the church anymore.
It's a fine film but it made me very emotional. It's not just the adoption story, it's the whole history of how awful the church was.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | December 2, 2013 1:54 PM |
I think it's unfair that Steve Coogan does not get his name mentioned in the movie's trailer.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | December 2, 2013 1:59 PM |
Loved Magdalene Sisters, what a harrowing film... What is Philomena? Without revealing too much, R13
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | December 2, 2013 2:00 PM |
Forget that question, I read some of the posts and got enough input - to answer someone's question about how the Catholics feels about movies like Magdalene Sisters, I was raised in a Catholic (latin) country and absolutely loathe the Catholic church. And it's about time there was a movie like Magdalene Sisters.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | December 2, 2013 2:08 PM |
I completely agree with you, R37, that such movies should be made. But I neither want nor need to watch them. I'm already too familiar with the evils of Catholicism.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | December 2, 2013 2:12 PM |
The trailer is deceptive. The movie is much darker.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | December 2, 2013 2:37 PM |
r37, the conservative movie reviewer in the New York Post (I know) gave it one star due his perception that it was merely Catholic bashing.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | December 2, 2013 3:10 PM |
Fuck the NY Post, bunch of morons.
Thanks R32, that does make sense.
I have always felt bad for Mare Winingham. She is the definition of plain.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | December 4, 2013 9:05 PM |
Love how the Post manages to ignore the fact that the film is based on an actual case history, and all the "bashing" is about events that occurred (the convent DID lie to both mother and son).
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | December 4, 2013 10:29 PM |
I saw it today and I will second (or third) how effective Coogan is; but I was disappointed that the script veered into "Ooooooooooh, foul-talking old lady" territory so many times. It made Philomena seem less like a real character.
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | December 7, 2013 1:00 AM |
I love Dame Judi, she is one of my fav actresses. Steve Coogan wrote the story/script, so he has serious involvement in it. He is a great actor too. Philomena is definitely on my list!
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | December 7, 2013 1:13 AM |
R44 Steve Coogan was also one of the producers, so I assume he had a lot to do with getting the movie made as well.
SPOILER
[quote}So why was the son's ex being such a bitch about things?
Because he's married to Mariska Hargitay.
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | December 12, 2013 1:36 AM |
Stuff that I was unclear about (SPOILERS):
1. I assume the opening scenes were in England (where the two main characters met up for the first time.) So where was the Abbey? They kept saying it was in Ireland, but Philomena and her daughter drove there, while Martin flew. Maybe they took the car on a ferry? (I know there's no bridge.)
2. Was the Abbey in Ireland or Northern Ireland? And how did Philomena get from Ireland (or NI) to England?
And one quibble: On one of the websites Martin was looking that had information about Anthony/Michael, they used the word "whilst". It was clearly an American website, and that word is used almost exclusively in British English.
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | December 12, 2013 2:06 AM |
The Abbey was in the Republic of Ireland.
This is the third thing I've seen in the past year that has Mare Winningham playing a bit of a trashy frump. Under the Dome, American Horror Story, and this. At least she survived in this.
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | December 13, 2013 2:37 AM |
Leave poor Mare alone. I met her at the Tribeca Film Festival several years ago and she was very friendly, despite looking like the epitome of a mid-Western housewife.
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | December 13, 2013 4:41 AM |
I really didn't get how the Steve Coogan character located the adopted son.
It was like he just googled the son's former name (because that's all he had, and the name Anthony Lee would hardly be unique), and ....presto! There's the son.
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | December 25, 2013 2:39 AM |
I think Coogan's character knew where the son lived
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | December 25, 2013 2:46 AM |
For an overall good movie with great performances, go with Philomena. Warning, the story is sad but Dench brings a strong, quiet dignity, and some humor, to everything she touches. Dallas Buyer's Club has a good performance from McConaughey and a tremendous performance from Leto - just hand him the Supporting Oscar now, the hell with Fassbinder, but is a real downer of a film. Hunger Games is a huge blockbuster with a cliffhanger ending that leaves one saying WTF. Nobody, other than the costume and makeup people, is getting an Oscar nod out of this.
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | December 25, 2013 4:10 AM |
I tend to see any Dame Judi movie. She is among my favorite actresses. The first HG was very meh and I think JLaw is completely overrated. DBC, I may give it a try.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | December 25, 2013 4:14 AM |
How about The Hobbit sequel? has anyone seen it?
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | December 25, 2013 4:24 AM |
***SPOILER*** if you haven't seen the film:
If the nuns welcomed a gay man with AIDS into their rectory, allowed home movies with him to be shot and made a grave for him to be buried in, why wouldn't they give Philomena any info about him, 50 years after his birth?
I realize it's based on a true story so I'm not really questioning what happened. I'm questioning why the filmmakers didn't delve into the warped and complex psychology of the nuns' actions and develop that story line more.
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | December 25, 2013 1:34 PM |
does Steve Coogan cry in this? I really want to know.
| by Anonymous | reply 55 | December 25, 2013 3:41 PM |
Steve does not cry and Judi just barely sheds a tear or two.
Sad story, but it's not that much of a tearjerker as Judi is admirably not a sentimental actress and doesn't ever try and manipulate the audience.
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | December 25, 2013 4:39 PM |
Has this been posted?
Here's the real PHILOMENA telling her story in 30 minutes.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 57 | December 29, 2013 9:59 PM |
Saw it and loved it. I was born and raised a catholic but did't find it nun bashing. All these injustices from the past are not black and white situations and can't be judged through our modern eyes without a bit of context. Ireland had no separation of church and state so unwed pregnant women were treated as criminals by society as well as the church. I have three aunts who are nuns and they are all lovely dedicated and generous women. I had some nuns as teachers and those bitches can rot in hell for their evil behaviour. The majority of nuns are good and kind, but one must realize the convent is an institution and the nuns of today are forced to answer for the wrongs of the past, and they don't necessarily understand or believe everything they are being accused of. Nuns are very big on obedience and I am not even sure that the nun running the place at the time of the movie knew that the convent had burnt the documents.She is responsible to keep it running and shelter the elderly nuns that are there;some innocent, some guilty. It is interesting that the movie shows them embracing the AIDs ridden Michael. At that time that would have been major and very enlightened behaviour. I think the movie is quite balanced in this regard. The confrontation scene with the horrible wheel chair nun is not true, as she died some years before the journalist started work on the story. Understandably it was added for dramatic effect but sadly allows stanch catholics their claim that the whole thing isn't accurate and that it is nun bashing. The thing that the church has to repent and apologize for is that , the church thought its job was to punish people as part of helping them, and as a result it allowed for much abusive and evil behaviour. It also thought it had this right because it was the church. Until it acknowledges this fact, these movies and stories are going to keep being told and the criticism will continue. Interestingly Philomena doesn't leave her faith and forgives the evil frustrated nun. Voila,a positive Catholic message that is being overlooked by the defensive Catholics.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | December 30, 2013 12:42 AM |
It made me want to go burn a convent down and stab every penguin-looking dyke cunt I ever see again in the eyes.
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | December 30, 2013 2:42 AM |
Dench was very effective in this film, but her Irish accent was pretty bad. In fact there were stretches of the film where she didn't even have one.
Coogan was very good - holding his own with Dench easily.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | January 12, 2014 11:04 PM |
I have seen most of the movies nominated this year and Philomena was an unexpected favorite. Judi's performance is so moving.
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | January 19, 2014 8:26 PM |
{quote] was disappointed that the script veered into "Ooooooooooh, foul-talking old lady" territory so many times
I couldnt disagree with you more. I don't like "oooh foul-talking old lady" territory either, but that was not the case with this character at all. Incidentally, although I still want to see NEBRASKA, this is the vibe I get from those scenes I keep seeing with June Squibb.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | January 21, 2014 12:54 AM |
The poster for PHILOMENA is dreadful too. It looks like a romantic comedy between an old lady and a younger man.
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | January 21, 2014 12:55 AM |
This movie came along in my life when I was in a very tender place. I saw it twice on consecutive days.
I never thought much of Steve Coogan before this but will forever love him for bringing it to the screen.
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | October 29, 2019 2:17 PM |
