Who's In It?

Kate Winslet, Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Bonneville 

Who Made It?

Richard Eyre

In Ten Words or Less

"Painful yet powerful, a marvelous film."

What's It About?

This is based on the true story of the life of Iris Murdoch.  Iris Murdoch (Winslet/Dench) has led a full life.  She was frequently described as “the most brilliant woman in England.”  Her career as a philosopher and novelist was truly ahead of her time and emblazoned an image of the woman that Iris Murdoch was into people’s minds.  But Iris had a problem.

Iris was slowly moving through old age and a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.  She is not the woman she once was but there is one thing that is unchanged, the love for her that exists in her loving husband, John Bayley.  John cared for her when she was wild and reckless, and when she couldn’t remember where she was.  John’s love was unconditional and fights off the battles that litter the landscape that is their life.  Iris is a wonderful woman and John is a magnificent man.  This film tells their story.

Common Guy's Thoughts

I have a personal bias to disclose for this film before I proceed.  My grandmother is going through stages of Alzheimer’s and this film hit very close to home.  Some of the scenes I have seen on the screen reminded me of the care my parents gave my Grandma as things were progressing.  My grandmother was a great woman and I remember all of the Kate Winslet sides of her, my grandmother is struggling now and in that I see the Judi Dench side of her.  This film obviously affected me a great deal on that level.  That said…on to the rest of the review.

Judi Dench is incredible as the older version of Iris.  She can do very little wrong when it comes to acting, and Iris is no exception.  Dench is able to deliver a confused yet confident woman as she passes through a variety of stages in her life.  She is as interested in life as ever; it just does not always sink in with her.  Her life with Jim continues uninterrupted and they go about their daily routine, but unfortunately, that too becomes difficult for her.

Young Iris, played by Kate Winslet, exuded the confidence, borderline arrogance, sexuality, and wild side of Iris at a young age.  She was able to make you believe that Iris was in total control of her life, all the while.  She chose who to see, when to see them, and what she wanted out of life.  She was the boss of her life, and she chose to let John Bayley in. 

Bayley was played with all the loving and compassion that could be expected or not expected out of his character.  The young Bayley (Bonneville) was eager to please yet confused by his lack of involvement in Iris’ life.  The elder Bayley (Broadbent) loved his Iris for every second that he could.  Although sometimes frustrated with his wife, he tried to keep her living as normal of a life as possible.

Part of the success of Iris is the fantastic casting that is done.  The characters look like one another and pick up the mannerisms that each brings to the role.  Granted, my personal situation made this film hit home stronger than others, I still cannot forget the hour and a half that I spent with Iris, a great woman all the time.

Grade

A-

Parents Guide

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and some language.   This is not a film for children.  First they won’t at all be interested in seeing this.  There is nudity (swimming naked) and language that comes up at times.
 

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