148 out of 151 people found the following review helpful:

One good performance does not make it a good film

A Customer from Liverpool, 22nd October, 2008

An unconvincing melodrama made tolerable only by Judi Dench's performance.

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54 out of 55 people found the following review helpful:

Dench is superb

Hoss from , 1st February, 2007

Is there no end to Judi Dench's ability, once again she triumphs playing the character of Barbara, a lonely frustrated spinster who's whole life is centered on keeping a diary and her job as a schoolteacher. Into her life steps art teacher Sheba (Blanchett) who befriends poor Barbara. However, when Barbara catches Sheba in a compromising situation with a pupil, Barbara's friendship turns to animosity, blackmail and spite. Dench is supreme as Barbara and confirms her as one of the best actresses around. Blanchett also give an excellent performance as Sheba. With solid performances from the rest of the cast, this is a film worthy of attention and despite some improable scenes and unlikely scenarios still merits attention to see an actress like Dench at the top of her game.

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27 out of 29 people found the following review helpful:

Notes on a Scandal

SAI81 from from Tonbridge, 18th March, 2007

When Sheba Hart (Blanchett) joins the staff of St Georges School she finds herself out of her depth, unable to control her pupils. When Barbara Covett (Dench) comes to Sheba's aid it is the founding of a tentative friendship. However Babrbara soon discovers that Sheba has a secret, she's been sleeping with a 15-year-old pupil (Simpson). She decides not to tell anyone what Sheba has done but to turn the situation to her advantage, to become closer to Sheba. Say the name Richard Eyre to even a movie buff and you're likely to be met with a blank expression. Unfair, because in the last six years the TV and theatre director has moved convincingly into cinema with Iris, the underrated Stage Beauty and now this adaptation of Zoe Heller's second novel. Eyre has a great sense for casting and here he's attracted a stellar cast. Dench is an actress I've only previously really enjoyed in Eyre's Iris and here he draws another complex performance from her. Barbara is an impressively layered character, seeming at first just to be needy but becoming more unhinged as the film goes on. Dench plays it all with a quiet menace that builds skillfully into one of the most interesting screen 'villains' of recent times. Cate Blanchett may be the best actress of her generation and if she's not yet number one then the likes of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Laura Linney and Jodie Foster certainly have some serious competition. She's masterful as Sheba. She does some terrible things and you judge her for them, but you are still able to engage with Sheba, even to like her. Blanchett also manages to make her character naive without making her stupid. Particularly nice are the moments where she tries to converse with her 15 year old lover at his level ('You've done my brain in'). Quality runs right through the cast from Nighy's older Husband right down to a brief part for Anne-Marie Duff in the final scene. It's perhaps a touch theatrical and Phillip Glass' score, while beautiful, is often overbearing. These are minor issues though; they barely detract from what is a high quality, beautifully acted and tightly directed, film.

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23 out of 26 people found the following review helpful:

Tweedy teachers twisted tale...

PaulaWestwood from , 2nd February, 2007

There is everything in this film to make it a superb gripping drama, not least of all the performances which are excellent. Bill Nighy isn't seen as much as the main characters in this, But as the husband he is fantasic, (is it me or is Bill Nighy not used anywhere near as much as his talent deserves ?). The various twists and turns and foibles of Miss Covett brilliantly portrayed by Judi Dench give it a true to life feel that builds the tension all the way through. You are carried along with it , knowing something has to give but what will it be ?. To say any more might spoil it for you, but, so long as you are ok with an interesting well done film, rather than a mass brawl shoot em up, then this is a film that is definately worth a watch.

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Notes on a Scandal

A Customer from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, 20th March, 2010

I thought the acting in this film was superb, but sadly the film was not quite as good as I was expecting. I am glad I saw it, and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't want to see it again.

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Absolutely brilliant

A Customer from Bournemouth, 17th March, 2010

I loved it! What an exciting plot and excellent performance. Loved Dame Judi Denche's character Barbara Covett. What a twisted personality..... Definitely worth a watch!

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Superb

A Customer from Brighton, 6th March, 2010

Marvellous. Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett absolutely did not disappoint, with some truly classy character-building and depiction, against a thoroughly gripping storyline.

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Great performances...

A Customer from Scotland, 27th February, 2010

Cate Blanchette's performance was outstanding, as was Judy Dench's. Tom Georgeson and Michael Maloney were also well cast and beautifully played. The screenplay was cleverly written, but it lost some of the dramatic intensity of the book, offering a focus that worked, but which swayed too far from the novel to be entirely satisfactory. I enjoyed it though.

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