Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p30

05/08/2014 04:36 par tellurikwaves

Le réalisateur Stephen Frears

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Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p29

05/08/2014 04:23 par tellurikwaves

The Pitch: Close To The Maddening Crowd.
8/10
Author: movie evangelist from England
30 January 2011

Comic book adaptations are two-a-penny these days, but comic strip adaptations are a harder nut to crack. Tamara Drewe was a launch strip for the resized Guardian newspaper in 2005 and ran for over 100 episodes, but it took its inspiration from a Thomas Hardy novel dating back all the way to the 1870s. At the centre of both stories are infidelities and strong women, although it's the modern trappings applied to The Guardian's version that seem to have appealed more to those adapting this tale.

Early on, though, this has the feel of a fairly traditional British adaptation, more in the mould of a Richard Curtis movie, with the many writers attending a country retreat all reading aloud from their varied stories, but the movie quickly takes on a different, but still British tone, with characters' lives quickly intertwining and stylised flashbacks setting up the existing relationships. From there, the initial tone is something of a romp, with lots of good-hearted, gentle comedy mixed with the typical trials and tribulations of modern relation ships and flirtings.

Gemma Arterton may be the title character, but she's not the lead – in keeping with the source material, the story is told from shifting perspectives and we see a number of different, interweaving subplots, although Tamara's fingerprints are over most of them. Arterton herself is again on more interesting ground than most of the blockbusters she's appeared in recently, but is just as game as she was in this year's earlier "The Disappearance of Alice Creed", in more ways than one. The rest of the cast are also generally on good form, especially Tamsin Greig as the hard-working farm owner and Roger Allam as her philandering novelist husband. Sadly, Tamara's younger suitors, Dominic Cooper and Luke Evans leave slightly less of an impression.

Director Stephen Frears has been making interesting cinematic choices for over twenty years and is well versed in comedy, so is well at home setting the tone, flitting between frothy and bawdy, but there was more to the source material than that and thankfully Frears isn't afraid to explore some of these darker areas as well, bringing a more genuine sense of emotion in the process. While not quite as dark as the originals, there's enough here to give serious balance, and the result is a rather rewarding concoction that might leave you smiling or pondering, but should certainly leave you satisfied.

Why see it at the cinema: Not a popular choice, judging by the sparse crowd I saw this with on the opening Saturday evening, possibly put off by this very misleading and quite horrible trailer. Give it a chance and there's plenty to enjoy here, not least the cinematic expanses of the lush English countryside. The Score: 8/10

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE p28

05/08/2014 04:18 par tellurikwaves

That's good movie making!
8/10
Author: JohnRayPeterson from Montreal, Canada
5 February 2011

If you read the IMDb full storyline, you might think twice about it and consider watching something else; in that case, you'd miss out on a good movie. I have yet to see a Stephen Frears directed movie that I have not thoroughly enjoyed regardless of the subject. Not one of the dozen I've seen or the fifty two he's directed are repeated subject; he's got fresh new subject matter each time and his grasp of the material as well as his approach to delivering it to us is so smooth you can't imagine any other version of what you've seen could be quite up to snuff.

He just gets it right each and every time. In an interview of Frears, he candidly admitted he is very lucky with the casts he's had the pleasure to work with and also lucky to get good scripts, he even claims he often has little to do with the end product of such or such a scene I disagree; I believe it's because he is professional enough to recognize good work and confident enough not to let ego mess it up, that the end result is what it is.

He enjoys a good working relation with actors so in this movie, the right blend of good actors and witty script pays off. You'll like all the characters portrayals because none are over done; all fit perfectly, contributing to the movies natural feel. My only disappointment was that it was over so quickly, or so it seemed.

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p27

05/08/2014 04:04 par tellurikwaves

A Modern Day Ugly Duckling Tale
8/10
Author: Intern2014 from United States
22 December 2011

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The movie,Tamara Drewe was adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Posy Simmonds, which was in turn inspired by Thomas Hardy's novel Far From the Madding Crowd.It stars Gemma Arterton on the title role as Tamara Drewe, together with Roger Allam,Bill Camp,Dominic Cooper,Luke Evans,Tamsin Greig and Jessica Barden.Stephen Frears directed this comedy drama about an ugly duckling who's followed by a handful of suitors after maturing into a sexy swan.

Tamara Drewe was born and raised in Ewedown, a quiet community on the outskirts of London dominated by a writer's colony run by Nicholas Hardiment, a best-selling novelist who specializes in crime fiction, and his wife Beth. When Tamara left Ewedown, she was a plain and awkward teenager, but when she returns home for the first time in years, the locals are surprised to discover that time (and a nose job) have turned her into an attractive and alluring woman, and she's gained a share of money and fame thanks to a successful newspaper column.

Tamara has returned to Ewedown after the death of her mother in order to refurbish the family home and put it on the market. Before long, Tamara finds herself pursued by three men from her past -- Andy Cobb, her former boyfriend who has been hired to help fix up the house; Ben Sergeant ), the swaggering drummer with a local indie rock band flirting with larger success; and Nicholas, who is chronically unfaithful to his wife and sees an opportunity with the neighborhood girl who was infatuated with him in her teens.

This modern day ugly duckling tale wasn't absorbing nor compelling.The narrative adopts an increasingly episodic feel that one's interest begins to wane as the film progresses.It only serves as a reliable dispenser of visual and erotic pleasures.Also,Gemma Arterton wasn't interesting enough in her portrayal that the viewer would not care about Tamara Drewe at all.

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p26

05/08/2014 03:48 par tellurikwaves

Not so far from the madding crowd.
8/10
Author: miss_lady_ice-853-608700 from United Kingdom
12 May 2012

The current IMDb rating is harsh, and inaccurate. Whilst the film might be messy in structure or focus, it always remains entertaining and even emotional.The graphic novel that this film is adapted from is a modernisation/ comic variation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel, Far From The Madding Crowd, and for fans of the novel, it's particularly entertaining to see how they took elements of the novel and transposed them to the modern day. In this film, the beautiful cosmetically-enhanced Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) returns to her home town, where she was the ugly duckling. She becomes torn between farmer Andy (Luke Evans), whom she had a fling with in her teens, and rock star Ben (Dominic Cooper).

Andy is of course the equivalent of sturdy farmer Gabriel Oak and Ben is the equivalent of dashing Seargeant Troy. The updating works quite well,particularly in the case of Ben. Both Andy and Ben are believable caricatures- remember, this is a comic version of FFTMC. Wessex becomes a small rural town called Ewedown,where nothing happens and the kids are bored out of their mind.Readers of the novel will wonder where William Boldwood, the spare part in what is really a love triangle, is. This is where the film departs from the novel so those of you who haven't read the novel can breathe a sigh of relief and those who have read it can tentatively read on.

The spare part in this film's love triangle is Nicholas Hardiment (Roger Allam), a paunchy middle-aged crime novelist and serial cheat. He and his wife Beth (Tamsin Grieg) run a writer's retreat, which provides a good chance for satirical comedy, though it seems to belong in another film. Hardiment is based more on Thomas Hardy than William Boldwood, and so we get many allusions to Hardy, particularly from American academic Greg (Bill Camp), who pines for Hardiment's wife. Thought that that's a lot of characters? Well, you get even more: two interfering schoolgirls who meddle in Tamara's love life.

The pivotal Valentine in the novel is now an email sent to Andy, Ben and Hardiment. Taken all that in? Here's my opinion then. Despite the apparent clutter, this is actually a lightly funny film, and in some parts very moving. People have criticised Gemma Arterton for being too 2D but I think she convincingly portrays a vain beauty who enjoys her power over men. Tamara is an object, rather than a subject. The most interesting characters are Hardiment (played to slimy perfection by Roger Allam), Beth (a sympathetic portrayal by Tamsin Grieg) and Greg (a tragicomic performance from Bill Camp).

The trailer leads you to think that the film is all about the young people, whereas much of the enjoyment lies in the Hardiments' disintegrating marriage. The schoolgirls provide humour but they're not entirely necessary. All in all, this is a fine film, of particular interest to Hardy fans. It's a much better modernisation than Trishna, that's for sure.

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE p25

05/08/2014 03:43 par tellurikwaves

 A fine and thoughtful English comedy
9/10
Author: Ankheri from France
31 July 2010

London columnist Tamara Drewe (Gemma Aterton) reappears in a small and isolated village in the English countryside. She wants to sell her parents' house and interview a rock star. Soon enough, three males fall for the young and very attractive woman : romance novelist and cheating husband Nicholas Hardiment (Roger Allam), rock star Ben Sargeant (Dominic Cooper) and past boyfriend Andy Cobb (Luke Evans). While her house is being renovated by Andy, Tamara writes her own novel and enjoys Ben's company. Little does she know that teenager Jody Long (Jessica Barden) is scheming to come closer to the rock star.

In the course of a year, each character will find out that "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". Don't expect an in-depth / social demonstration on city dwellers vs. villagers. This is a brilliant and funny comedy where each character's selfish motives and agenda are gradually exposed. "Writers are just thieves and liars" quotes Nicholas blissfully, more careful to please his paying guests than to pay attention to his devoted wife Beth (Tamsin Greig).

The actors are doing a fine job and there is a good chemistry between them. There are no dull moments since there are three main story lines : Tamara and Ben, her neighbors Nicholas and Beth, the mischievous teenagers. These two girls however tend to steal the show as they are so gross, unashamed and reckless !

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p24

04/08/2014 17:14 par tellurikwaves

British small-town life goes digital
8/10
Author: rroberto18 from United States
1 October 2010

"Tamara Drewe" could be this year's "Sideways" sleeper with a British accent and wider demographic appeal. Key to the story arc is a pair of digitally-savvy teens with a crush on an oddly-charismatic indie band drummer. His eye is on a "suddenly attractive" blogger-journalist, wooed as well by a hunk-of-all-trades and a serially-unfaithful middle-aged novelist whose forgiving wife quietly orchestrates his success. The action is set on the couple's small organic animal farm which doubles as a writer's retreat for true characters at a loss to create any on a page.

The plot easily accommodates a love pentangle, social networking, domestic strife, celebrity culture and teen rebellion while staying true to its droll heart. Far from Hollywood's romantic/bromantic comedies, the humor here comes from dry wit and subtle class friction, instead of gross punch lines and pratfalls. What bathroom humor there is here actually requires a water-closet. The relatively unknown, multi-generational and perfect-pitch cast creates an unlikely ensemble without a hint of over-acting or scene-stealing.

If the film strove for significance or belly laughs, it would widely miss the mark on both scores. Beautifully shot, invisibly directed and edited, the only thing lacking might be a snappier title for non-British audiences. But true to its source material -- the Posy Simmonds-penned, Guardian-run comic strip turned graphic novel of the same name

-- "Tamara Drewe' totally fills the big screen without trying to be anything but its quirky self.

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p23

04/08/2014 17:07 par tellurikwaves

Dominic Cooper : Ben Sergeant

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A fun updating of a classic tale
8/10
Author: Tweekums from United Kingdom
31 December 2011

*** This review  contain spoilers ***

I wasn't sure what to expect when I sat down to watch this; I'd read that it was a comic updating of Thomas Hardy's 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and was curious to see how it would be done… even though my knowledge of the original is limited to a television adaptation. In a Dorset village things are about to change; Tamara Drewe is coming home and this once ugly duckling has had a nose job and become a beautiful swan who quickly catches the eyes of local men. These include former boyfriend Andy and married author Nicholas Hardiment, although the man to catch her is visiting rock star Ben Sergeant.

The couple are soon engaged to be married but things go wrong when Jody, a jealous school, girl breaks into Tamara's house and sends out an email from Tamara's account inviting Ben, Andy and Nicolas to come round to her house and have sex! As her engagement collapses she falls into the arms of the older man Nicolas; this relationship doesn't last long though as Jody's friend Casey snaps the two of them together and sends it to his wife. As the end approaches the key question is; who will Tamara end up with? She isn't the only person who will get a new man though.

I enjoyed this far more than I expected; at first I thought the set up looked like an episode of 'Midsomer Murders' without the murder… but perhaps that isn't a bad thing! Gemma Arteron was a delight as Tamara; I can understand why the men of the village fell for her; especially after seeing her in hot-pants! Other notable performances came from Roger Allam who played Nicolas Hardiment, Tamsin Greig who played his wife Beth and Jessica Barden who played school girl Jody.

The story was fun with quite a few laughs and a good set of characters. Some might complain that it is more televisual rather than cinematic but I didn't see that as a problem; I thought the look gave it a pleasantly familiar feel. The story contains nothing too offensive although some may be offended by the swearing and the small amount of fairly innocent nudity.

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010) p22

04/08/2014 17:00 par tellurikwaves

terrific British dark comedy
8/10
Author: disdressed12 from Canada
30 April 2011

once again,the British have made a great little independent film.i suppose you could classify it as a dark comedy.it's peopled with motley crew of characters,and brimming with over with deceit duplicity,betrayal,pain and irony.Gemma Arterton portrays the title character,who is at the center of the story.having just seen her in The Disappearance of Alice Creed,(which i also recommend)a totally different kind of film,it's obvious she has talent.the supporting cast is great as well.

Stephen Frears(The Queen)directed the film.the film is rated R due to some language and sensuality,but i would have rated it 14A,but parents should use their discretion nonethe- less.anyway,for me,'Tamara Drewe' is an 8/10

Š-DR- TAMARA DREWE de Stephen Frears (2010)p21

04/08/2014 16:55 par tellurikwaves

Love and Scorn in the English Countryside
8/10
Author: gradyharp from United States
31 December 2011

TAMARA DREWE already had a following from her appearance in the best selling graphic novel by the same name by Posy Simmonds, an so it was probably not too difficult for the talented Stephen Frears to direct a pitch perfect cast to bring the delightful story to the screen. Filled to the brim with excellent actors this strange little story has many levels of meaning, but the main story is very well served.Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) was historically a face to forget in the town of Ewedon, but she leaves for the city and plastic surgery and returns with a new nose and facelift that makes her as attractive as any lass in the town.

She plays on the talents of married highly successful crime novelist Nicholas (Roger Allam) to polish her writing skills - the cost is an affair that leaves Nicholas ready to divorce his perfect wife (Tamsin Grieg). She also attracts the interest of her childhood solid friend Andy (Luke Evans) and the rather superficial and silly rock star Ben (Dominic Cooper) and eventually, with the running of interference by two loathsome little girls (Charlotte Christie and Jessica Barden), and it all turns out with many surprises!

It is a dissection of relationships à la Thomas Hardy and Frears know how to make it all work very well. It is always a pleasure to be in the company of fine British actors in a lovely English countryside setting and this is no exception. Everyone in the cast is excellent - and it continues to be a pleasure to watch the very talented Dominic Cooper(hum..sauf pour moi) grow in the challenging roles he assumes.There are many reasons to enjoy this film, and among them is the sheercraftsmanship of the British cinema.