| �I did knock.� Knocking is an understatement. Emma Thompson�s brilliantly crafted Nanny McPhee is going to break down the door. The movie, which opens everywhere on January 27, does boast a little bit of something for everyone. Whether it be comedy, romance, adventure or drama that you�re looking for, the place to find it is Nanny McPhee. Thompson�s screenplay is based on The Collected Tales of Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand, a book popular in England in the 1960s. The stories tell of Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their herd of very, very, very naughty children. Ms. Thompson�s adaptation portrays Mr. Brown as a widowed mortician, and she has cut down the number of children to a more manageable seven. Also different from the novel is that the movie children are given a reason to be naughty. As well as expressing their grief over the loss of their mother in the only way they know how, the children are seeking the attention of their father who, after his wife�s death, has detached himself from them. One character who stayed true to her literary counterpart is Great-Aunt Adelaide, played by Angela Lansbury, complete with a gray bee-hive wig, and an obscenely large nose. One of the many conflicts found in the movie is between Adelaide and Mr. Brown, as she will no longer support him financially if he is not married by the end of the month. Aunt Adelaide could technically be called the villain though she hardly seems it, given Ms. Lansbury�s humorously cartoon-like portrayal. Other subplots intricately woven together to form the overall story include the scullery maid Evangeline�s unexpressed love for Mr. Brown, and her struggle to make herself a better person through education. Emma Thompson�s character, Nanny McPhee, is the bit of calm at the center of the storm. Though she is the most serene character in the movie, Ms. Thompson�s presence dominates every scene she is in, an achievement not attainable for every actress. Ms. Thompson has proven herself once again as excellent a thespian as she is a writer. Standing behind her were the perfectly cast supporting players, including Colin Firth, absolutely believable in the role of the harried Mr. Brown. The young actors cast as the children are as adorable and charming as they are naughty, making the perfect heroes of the story for any viewer. Of course, there is Ms. Lansbury who brings her unique talent back to the big screen at last. One would think it would be difficult to act with bright green frosting smeared on your face, as Ms. Lansbury must do in the food fight scene, but the veteran actress makes it look like, well, a piece of cake. It is not only the actors and the story that make this movie award-worthy: the sets are positively stunning, with vibrant, bold colors and just a hint of fairy tale-like qualities that make the magic seem entirely plausible. The musical score too, fits perfectly with the movie, foreshadowing what is to come, and carrying the viewer with it to whatever emotion the rest of the characters are feeling at that time. Overall, Nanny McPhee is a crowning achievement, and with a grand effort from everyone involved, it is sure to become an instant classic to be adored by viewers of all ages for many years to come. |
| Review by Lizz Browne |