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Miss Potter (2006)
Director: Chris Noonan
Synopsis
Renee Zellweger stars in this biopic of the legendary children's author Beatrix Potter.
Movie review
From Time Out Chicago
Cuter than a baby panda turning somersaults and crazier than a shrieking bag lady, this costume drama based on the life of Edwardian kiddie-lit author Beatrix Potter offers unexpectedly serious competition to Fur in the Loopiest Quasifeminist Biopic sweepstakes.Zellweger is Beatrix, a headstrong but gushingly good-natured gal born into London’s lower upper crust. Unmarried and earmarked for elder-care duty by her parents, Beatrix aims to emancipate herself by transplanting the fluffy woodland creatures inside her head into best-selling picture books for children. (Warning: Miss Potter talks wrinkle-nosed baby talk to her drawings, which come adorably alive on the page.)
Initially nobody believes in Beatrix except her insanely chipper editor, Norman (McGregor), and his psychotically bubbly sister Millie (Watson). Beatrix and Millie concur that autonomous spinsterhood beats married subjugation, but when Norman proposes to Beatrix, Millie admits that her brave stance is just sour grapes and urges Beatrix to go for it. Alas, Beatrix’s snobbish mother (Flynn) nixes her engagement to a mere tradesman.
Dramatically null and life-threateningly twee, Potter will nonetheless thrill fetishists of crinoline, top hats, high-buttoned shoes, muttonchops, etc.
Author: Cliff Doerksen
Time Out Chicago Issue 97: Jan 4–10, 2007
Cast & crew
Director: Chris Noonan
Producer: Mike Medavoy, David Kirschner, Corey Sienega, Arnold Messer, David Thwaites
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson, Matyelok Gibbs, Lloyd Owen, Anton Lesser, David Bamber, Phyllida Law, Patricia Kerrigan, Lucy Boynton, Oliver Jenkins, Justin Mcdonald, Judith Barker, Jennifer Castle, Christopher Middleton, Lynn Farleigh, John Woodvine full cast
Genre(s): Drama
Duration: 92 mins
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