Afternoon:
8°c
Derek Malcolm's rating
On the road to nowhere
By
Derek Malcolm
7 Sep 2006
Was there ever a more mishandled British film? This woeful effort stars Rupert Grint, from the Harry Potter films, as Ben.
He is a shy, tousle-haired teenager who lives with his overbearing mother (Laura Linney) and terminally sombre, evangelical vicar father (Nicholas Farrell) in a state of understandable depression. The parish magazine is called Hello Jesus and sounds as if it's written by a drunken angel.
Even reading the Bible everyday doesn't seem to help, but then he meets up with eccentric old theatrical dame Evie, once a formidable actress, who says "f***" a lot and performs Shakespeare in her garden. She secretly needs a boost of confidence as much as he does and they both feed off each other.
Evie is played by Julie Walters, who is always capable of lightening up our darkness, but here, surrounded by dross, can only occasionally manage it. She does, however, lighten up Ben, who goes to bed with a publicist at the Edinburgh Festival and finally decides to break out of the miserable family circle. Thank you for having me, he says in the morning. Dame Julie would surely have told him to "F*** off !"
Driving Lessons is directed and written by Jeremy Brock and you can't quite believe that he wrote Mrs Brown; TV's Midsomer Murders looks smarter than this, and is certainly more convincingly scripted.
I feel for Walters, who does her best, and certainly for Laura Linney, one of America's best actresses (You Can Count on Me; Kinsey). But there is nothing they can do with a story that makes less and less sense as it plods on.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (5)
I think this is the most realistic take of a young man raised in a very tight, religious family. Rupert Grint's acting is superb! He has created an entirely different character in Ben Marshall - something ultimately different from Ronald Weasley, his more famous alter-ego. Julie Walters will always be a favorite of mine and in this film she just made me remember why I love her so much. Brilliant! Laura Linney is also awesome in this film - she sounds authentically British! I love it. I also love the way Jeremy subdued some parts of the film - a film doesn't have to be loud, chaotic, melancholic, or even a tear-jerker to be categorized as drama. Sometimes, it is better to have less. More doesn't mean better - it's just more. Many american films of the same category go over the top and end up like a sloppy Big-Mac with all the grease slipping at the sides. This one is just right.
- Seraphim, London, UK, 25/09/2006 05:02
Report abuse
I loved the movie when I saw it at Tribeca. It was funny but it also had a lot of depth to it and it was beautiful to watch. Most reviewers seemed to really love the movie especially Julie Walters performance and the relationship between Rupert and Julie's character. Personally, I give it a 9/10. It's one of the better movies I've seen for a while.
- Lisa, New Jersey, 09/09/2006 18:13
Report abuse
Just a fan, in Tribecca the film didn't receive any award, at Cannes no one really care about this movie, even at Edinburgh International Film Festival in England, Driving Lessons didn't get the audience award, the place where this movie won something was at the Moscow Film Festival, which this movie along with 3 other were in English, the other movies were in different languages, I guess it had a pretty good chance win.
- Sonia, New York, USA, 07/09/2006 22:25
Report abuse
I think this movie lack of sparks, there is so much made up in this story, Julie was great but sometimes over the top, and Laure was good too, but Rupert lacked of emotions and her overdone none expression was way to drastic, I think this movie has some funny moments but I won't call it drama.
- Carmen, Los Angeles, CA, 07/09/2006 22:08
Report abuse
In New York we've had the experience of critics who have made their personal careers by attacking material generally liked, and even loved by audiences. The writers' vitriol being the reason their columns are/were read, much like the millions who tune in to watch people eat bugs. They don't like it, but the shock value holds their attention.
Driving Lessons was never intended to be Hamlet. It's just a film that entertains, shows us brief snippets of life, and allows us to reminisce about our own innocence and the odd characters whose paths we, ourselves, may have crossed. If you sit in an audience to watch the film you will hear laughter at regular, frequent intervals as well as hearing sympathy for the characters as you leave the theater.
The performances are colorful and real and it accounts to a refreshing evening at the movies. Many, many people have found it sweet and funny and worth seeing.
If you own personal sensibility is assaulted by the film you are certainly entitled to express that. However, as an arbiter, you should feel responsible to tell your readers that although you don't like the film, it has won audience awards in film festivals all over the world. That way, they can make up their own minds.
Sign me - Just a fan
- Regina, New York, New York USA, 07/09/2006 19:17
Report abuse
