Actors: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
Director: Stephen Fears
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Who doesn’t love Judi Dench? The woman is a legend. She continues to show just how amazing she is through her films. She is able to be sly and cool playing M in new James Bond series and then she is able to play very sharp and touching characters like Philomena Lee. The film is based on the 2009 investigative book by Martin Sixsmith “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee”. In terms of acting, WoW! Both Dench and Steve Coogan really give wonderful performances. I really enjoyed the that the film was able to blend nicely the comedy with the drama. It is probably a film I will never watch again but definitely work checking out if you enjoy watching the actors at their best.
Official Premise: Judi Dench stars in the story of Philomena Lee, mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock and given up for adoption. Nearly 50 years later, Philomena meets Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a former BBC reporter looking for his next big story. Together, they embark on a journey to locate her long lost son. As the pieces of the puzzle come together, the unlikely travel companions form a comic and heartwarming friendship.
“Philomena” gets delivered to us as a Blu-ray combo pack along with an Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track work well for the simple film that this is. There is nothing really wrong but at the same time nothing really special either. The Blu-ray comes with some decent special features. There is “A Conversation with Judi Dench”, which talks about the character which she takes on in the film. “The Real Philomena Lee” is a nice biography of the featured lady. There is a Q&A with Steve Coogan, who is always brilliant. Lastly there is a audio commentary with Steve Coogan and Screenwriter Jeff Pope, definitely worth a listen.