By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Nigel Cole
Starring: Helen Mirren | John Alderton | Julie Walters | Linda Bassett
Country: united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2003
Running time: 108
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337909/combined
Bruce says: “When I first saw THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE, & HER LOVER I was totally mesmerized by Helen Mirren. Her work in the ‘Prime Suspect’ series reinforced my high opinion of her. I should have known better than to rent CALENDAR GIRLS but Helen Mirren lured me into it.
“The premise of CALENDAR GIRLS, that middle aged members of a small village woman’s group could raise money for charitable causes by posing nude for a calendar, isn’t so bad. Rater cute, actually. The story involves lots of traditional themes, ones particularly suited for village gossip: debilitating illness, death, friendship, marriage, parent-child relationships, coming of age, sexual freedom and charitable giving.
“Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters) are best friends who giggle and roll their eyes over most of the lecture programs at the local women’s club. New ways to use broccoli is the subject which regales them most. When Annie’s husband John (John Alderton) is diagnosed with cancer, he writes a speech for the women’s club which is a tribute to womanhood. He compares womankind to a flower, in the sense that both reach full bloom late in life. ‘The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire. Every stage of their growth has its own beauty, but the last phase is always the most glorious. Then very quickly they all go to seed.’ Chris reads the speech to the group after John’s death. Meanwhile Chris finds a girlie magazine under her son’s mattress. She also finds a girlie calendar at the local printer’s shop. Merging thoughts together, Chris decides that what John would want is for the women’s group to do is celebrate their womanhood with a nude calendar illustrating women in bloom. Many obstacles stand in her way but Chris knocks them aside one by one.
“To the film’s credit, many moments which could have turned saccharine are handled with restraint. However, what could have been a delightful ‘feel good’ movie ends up a somewhat downcast, depressing view of human nature. That is not to say there are not high points or some joyous moments; there are. The film should have built its momentum by letting the more somber moments gently impede the exuberance so that the peak moments are not reached too soon. The telling of the story is jumbled in a way that results in the climax coming too far before the film’s end, producing an effect comparable to watching the cleaning crew picking up after the party is over. The story has many subplots. One important subplot, the relationship between Chris and her son, has been carefully set up during the course of the film but is left dangling. The blame for these shortcomings should be shared by both the writing and the editing.
“Many think that films like CALENDAR GIRLS are great feminist statements. I think not. Posing nude for a calendar then capitalizing on the publicity does nothing to further women’s causes. Instead of celebrating the vagaries of middle aged women, the film condescends in ways that are exploitative. It appears that without the nudity these women were incapable of confronting their various personal problems. It pokes fun at the nudity while skimming the core issues involved in aging, motherhood and marriage. There is nothing wrong with a good laugh. When the laugh leaves everyone looking foolish, without a chance to redeem themselves, it becomes clear that the focus is off. .CALENDAR GIRLS isn’t a horrible film; it just isn’t good enough. As for Helen Mirren, she does the best she can with a confusing role. 2 cats”