Bridget Jones's Diary: Bridget
Jones is a lass in her early thirties. Slightly
plump and clumsy, she smokes and drinks too
much and is perpetually single, unable to hold
down a relationship due to her habit of getting
attached to either pervs or guys who are afraid
of commitment. This film joins Bridget (an incredible
Renee Zellweger) as her mother attempts to match
her with a lawyer (an excellently condescending
Colin Firth) but Bridget herself has an unhealthy
crush on her slimy boss (an excellently filthy
Hugh Grant). On the surface Bridget Jones's
Diary is a gentle romantic comedy. But don't
be put off, it is sublime!
Why is it so good? One reason is Zellweger.
More on her soon. Another reason is that it
is a scream. The novel by Helen Fielding that
the film is based on is also very funny, I hear,
though I haven't read it. Much of the humour
is English flavoured social observation, but
I'm sure our American friends will love this.
Yet another reason this movie works so well
is the astonishing support acting, which is
linked to what I loved most about "Bridget
Jones's Diary", the tragedy simmering away
just below the surface.
I'm in my early thirties and that age is not
so easy. One starts to lose one's youthful looks
and energy. Middle age lurks just around the
corner waiting to mug you. The loss of one's
youth is painful, and in our thirties this grief
is novel, unexpected and mortifying. (As it
happens, I am the same age as Bridget in this
movie, 32).
It is not a horror of the realisation of one's
mortality, though that is pretty bad. Rather
it is the horror of not being able to hang out
with the young anymore, the student lifestyle
is gone forever. That youthful energy we once
took for granted is beginning to ebb. Our faces
are no longer fresh. Our eyes are no longer
so blindingly bright. In a movie world obsessed
with (ironically) boring youthful cool, here
is a movie that is about what happens just after
youth. And it is scary and infinitely more intriguing.
Bridget Jones's diary also dwells on the tragedy
of Bridget's parents, played, as with all the
actors in this move, to perfection. Bridget's
own tragic life is made all the more poignant
by glimpsing how her parents lives are yet worse
still. As Wilde said, there is tragedy in ageing,
but comedy also. This movie uses the latter
to communicate the former.
There also a nice relationship dilemma thrown
up here too, chiefly of the time-honoured sensible
vs chaotic variety.
Most of all, this movie is so good natured in
its brilliance. Which brings me to the lead
actress. This movie was made by the same guys
(Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis) who made
Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Notting Hill
(the latter is reviewed
here.)
All three films feature Hugh Grant and an American
leading lady. Where as the first two films were
badly let down by the wooden awkwardness of
those ladies, in this film Zellweger is it's
chief strength. I cannot tell you enough how
good she is as Bridget. Stardom is no substitute
for talent. And glamour is no substitute for
humanity.
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spoilers corner
Spoilers!!!!
Warning: this box contains a movie post-mortem analysis that freely gives away important plot twists and details. If you have not yet seen this movie and intend seeing it, avoid this spoilers box until afterwards. Bookmark the page, see the movie, see if you agree with my review then write an arsy comment saying I am talking total b*ll*cks :-)
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The mother's fling with that yellow faced
dude was an incredible piece of acting.
Watching them fall apart on the shopping
channel whilst Bridget and her Father
watched in mortification was one of the
funniest creepy moments I have ever seen
on film.
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There are no more spoilers below this
point, except maybe in any user talkback
comments.
End of spoilers corner
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Huge knickers are in!!!
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| From: |
Alex | Subject: | 2004-11-29 20:11:02 |
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| From: |
Alex | Subject: | 2004-11-29 20:12:38 |
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