Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench is pure evil in this scandalously clad story about an adulterous teacher and an obsessed spinster (Dench is the latter, of course). It’s devilishly entertaining as Cate Blanchett’s free-spirited art teacher has an affair with one of her students while Dench comforts her, but not without hiding a few secrets of her own. The always impressive Bill Nighy is Blanchett’s husband in what seems like a perfect, loving relationship. This might be the biggest flaw of the film; the unconvincing motives behind Blanchett’s actions. However, the performances by the two leading ladies never feel forced and they are both so blunt, and even catty at times, that the film’s got a lot of edge. And that dame is truly scary – gold stars and all.

Directed by Richard Eyre