Philomena

This movie lives up to its billing. It is simple, moving with outstanding acting. This is basically a two man play (ah, woman and man). Julie Dench and Steve Coogen are the protagonists. Dench is a Dame, after this performance she should be a Gran Dame.

Her performance is nothing short of a master class in acting. She can come off as an old ditty delighted in reading tear jerker pulp novels and next she is a strong willed mother researching for her son after fifty years. Even her wrinkles give a great performance. As with great acting it is the small nuances that leave their mark. Her held back tear is a door to her grieving heart. This soft old woman is made of iron.  We all think we would suffer the tribulations she endures for her child; keep that though.

One can argue Steve Googan is her straight man, but he is more than that. He is the Oxford educated journalist to her retired simple nurse. There are endless jokes to be made and there are tender and funny moments between them. Along their journey they form a bond of respect and affection.

This is a true story and if you leave the theater without shedding a tear either you were asleep or dead. I do not have much to say about excellence, it speaks for itself. See the movie.

Spoiler alert- The bad guys wear black and white and walk like penguins.