Miss Potter (B or 3/4 stars)
London, 1902: 30-something & single, Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) still lives with her social-climbing parents (mom is particularly snooty), who are beside themselves that she refuses so many lucrative suitors. Because her best friends are animals, she draws them and creates intuitive stories around them. Initially turned away by 'Warne' publishings, they decide to toss her to their yet-to-be successful younger brother, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) to edit her bunny stories. This is Chris Noonan's delicate, scenic story of 'Miss Potter', the author of best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness, & meaningful notoriety, during a time and place where men dominated all things.
Norman is smitten with Beatrix, and would love to make her book(s) be a 1st-time success for both him & her. She is smitten by his charm, his interest in her books, and his desire to help her out. He's getting older and thinks he's found his soul mate. She genuinely likes him and wants to escape the suffocating London lifestyle. The fall in love (much to her mother's disapproval, as he's only a tradesman ... how shameful), and hope to live the rest of their days in fruitful bliss. Beatrix is also able to escape her sheltered life by becoming fast friends with Norman's sister, Millie (Emily Watson); a woman of a similar headstrong, feminist attitude.
You'd think her parents would be happy that she'd no longer be an Old Maid. Although they're unhappy with her decision, they still offer a compromise to Beatrix that she spend the summer with them at the Lake District, see if her love with Norman can stand the test of time, and have an Autumn wedding. Can they stand the test of time? How will Beatrix bounce back from nature's unlikely course & continue to make a difference in the world?
Perhaps some will say 'Miss Potter' lacks energy. Some say her life wasn't eventful enough to warrant a biopic. But everything is simple & enchanting; that's its strength as a film. The entire 90 minutes is a pleasant experience. It gently entertains & warms the heart. With all the action-packed, barbaric, murderous, profane, highly-stylized movies that come out nowadays, sometimes it's nice to just sit back & realize that there ARE movies like this that are still made & appreciated (granted ... most who love this will be kids, happy parents, & the educated elderly). The animation (occurring only in Beatrix's head) is whimsical. The acting is mannered (maybe a little too much so) & well done. And the use of warm lighting & gorgeous Lake District landscapes adds to the stellar cinematography.
'Miss Potter' also does well by showing young people, particularly women, that it's alright to stand-up for what you believe in (Beatrix is one of the first females to endorse land conservation, subsequently preventing big business from buying nature's beauty for business profit). Writer of charming stories, fanciful illustrator, and rebel against the conventions of the time, she's a strong-willed hero. While I feel that the ending loses a bit of narrative steam, I wouldn't pass this movie up. If you like British films & green meadows, then pour a cup of tea, watch this film and you'll probably find yourself scrunching your face in certain delight.
Norman is smitten with Beatrix, and would love to make her book(s) be a 1st-time success for both him & her. She is smitten by his charm, his interest in her books, and his desire to help her out. He's getting older and thinks he's found his soul mate. She genuinely likes him and wants to escape the suffocating London lifestyle. The fall in love (much to her mother's disapproval, as he's only a tradesman ... how shameful), and hope to live the rest of their days in fruitful bliss. Beatrix is also able to escape her sheltered life by becoming fast friends with Norman's sister, Millie (Emily Watson); a woman of a similar headstrong, feminist attitude.
You'd think her parents would be happy that she'd no longer be an Old Maid. Although they're unhappy with her decision, they still offer a compromise to Beatrix that she spend the summer with them at the Lake District, see if her love with Norman can stand the test of time, and have an Autumn wedding. Can they stand the test of time? How will Beatrix bounce back from nature's unlikely course & continue to make a difference in the world?
Perhaps some will say 'Miss Potter' lacks energy. Some say her life wasn't eventful enough to warrant a biopic. But everything is simple & enchanting; that's its strength as a film. The entire 90 minutes is a pleasant experience. It gently entertains & warms the heart. With all the action-packed, barbaric, murderous, profane, highly-stylized movies that come out nowadays, sometimes it's nice to just sit back & realize that there ARE movies like this that are still made & appreciated (granted ... most who love this will be kids, happy parents, & the educated elderly). The animation (occurring only in Beatrix's head) is whimsical. The acting is mannered (maybe a little too much so) & well done. And the use of warm lighting & gorgeous Lake District landscapes adds to the stellar cinematography.
'Miss Potter' also does well by showing young people, particularly women, that it's alright to stand-up for what you believe in (Beatrix is one of the first females to endorse land conservation, subsequently preventing big business from buying nature's beauty for business profit). Writer of charming stories, fanciful illustrator, and rebel against the conventions of the time, she's a strong-willed hero. While I feel that the ending loses a bit of narrative steam, I wouldn't pass this movie up. If you like British films & green meadows, then pour a cup of tea, watch this film and you'll probably find yourself scrunching your face in certain delight.