John Madden, 2011 (8.1*)
From the director of Shakespeare in Love (1998) comes a more serious film, as a disparate
group of seven Brits go to India to live in the hotel of the title, not knowing
it's not really open yet, due to the ineptitude of undercapitalized owner Dev
Patel, who inherited it when his father died..
This is a comedy with some tender moments, and a little drama, but without sentimentality, and with Oscar winners Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and the impeccable Tom Wilkinson in the cast, who is terrific here, it has a
high degree of craftmanship..
IF anything, Dench has gotten even better with age.. I
1st saw her topless in Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in 68 and I've
been a big fan ever since (she was a babe!) - her acting is even better now, as
tv's BEHAVING BADLY added to the argument that some of her best work may even
be for the little screen.. (I think of all the living actresses, I could spend
my life with her 1st! sorry, Salma, Scarlett, and Sofia!)
As for Tom Wilkinson, I've never seen even an avg
performance from him, you very soon forget he's acting in any role he tackles -
he's superb here, steals the acting kudos.. Nighy is good again
as usual, Maggie Smith doesn't have much to do, and Dev Patel is easily the
most overrated actor in the cast, the other Indian actors are all better in
fact (he's an over-actor)
The rest of the hotel's name was "For the Elderly and
Beautiful", and the story is from the novel THESE FOOLISH THINGS by
Deborah Moggach. Like most, the literature is, no doubt, deeper and richer than
the film, which is fine, just not overpowering.