Miss Potter

Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) was a literary phenomenon of the early 20th Century.

At a time when most young women of her class aimed only to make a good marriage, Beatrix became an iconic figure, swimming quietly, but with great fortitude against the tide.

She created a series of books and characters that are as beloved today as they were a hundred years ago; since their publication they have never been out of print. She was also a distinguished painter and--had she been a man--her botanical drawings would have been snapped up by the Royal Horticultural Society at Kew Gardens.

In addition, by the time she died in 1943, Beatrix Potter had purchased vast swathes of the Lake District that she left to the then fledgling British Conservation Trust. That so much of this glorious countryside that inspired her, remains as it was in Beatrix Potter's day for others to enjoy, is her bequest to the nation.

This is her story.... Miss Potter 7/10

Every time I see a book or a character of Beatrix Potter, it brings a nostalgic feeling that takes me back to when I was 7-10 years old, the time when I discovered her books and fell in love with them. I still love all the characters. Her paintings always amuse me with the delicacy, detail and creativity behind it and the books remain a favourite children's book to me.

Noonan does a a meritorious job of his presentation of Miss Potter. Though it's not exactly an accurate portrayal, the storytelling is commendable. He already has shown what an excellent storyteller he is in 'Babe' and 'Miss Potter' is an equally story that isn't overly saccharine-filled. He has a talent of showing spirited characters and relationships. The animation is used wonderfully giving us a glimpse of Beatrix's fantasy world. I also liked how her works were effectively introduced (without looking like a booksale promotion). Furthermore, it is gratifying that he shows Beatrix's contribution to conservation. He beautifully captures the dazzling English countryside, particularly the Lake District. So spectacular is Lake District that I immediately wanted to be there.

I could not picture anyone else other than Renee Zellweger who could have fitted the title role so well. Her touching portrayal of a extraordinary woman ahead of her time who manages to stay strong and dignified through her ups and downs is admirable to say the least. She's already mastered the British accent as has been evident in 'Bridget Jones's Diary' but here she also manages to adjust her English accordingly with the time period, sounding very natural.

Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson shine in their roles. McGregor as the slightly naive publisher, who believes in Potter and eventually falls in love, is a fine match for Zellweger's Potter while Emily Watson, who hardly ever disappoints, is outstanding. The rest of the cast that include Bill Paterson, Barbara Flynn, Matyelok Gibbs and Lloyd Owens are great.

A very minor quibble is that some important aspects of Beatrix's life were left out of the film, such as, the ignorance by the of her work by the officials (due to her gender) in the field of botany. Yet, even though it's not an accurate depiction, like Marc Forster's magical 'Finding Neverland' it remains charming, lovely and entertaining. It works as a slice of life and a character study.

If like me you are an old curmudgeon, who often makes Scrooge seem like Mother Theresa, then I strongly suggest you go watch this beautiful enchanting film on the life of Beatrix Potter.

It is extremely rare in these days of overblown special effects and "Written by Number Scripts" to come across a film that has intelligence, innocence, excellent acting, and beautiful music and cinematography.

I have seen other reviews that said Renee Zellwegger was wrong for the role of Potter, but I felt she had clearly understood the nature of the world in which Potter lived and the inner nature of a woman who had enormous talent, yet was determined to fight against the confinement's and mores of Victorian Society. There really was not one performance by any of the actors in the film that was out of place.

In these days when we educate our children with cynical reality shows, in which instant and short lived fame is more important that working hard to achieve your dreams, "Miss Potter" took me back to my childhood of innocence and imagination where simple but beautiful stories created so much warmth and good feeling.

This is a film for all age's, and all people. Absolutely beautiful from start to finish

I watched this movie sort of by accident. Of course I was very familiar with Beatrix Potter the writer and painter and had read many of her stories to my children in their childhood years.

I spent some time working on a project in Barrow-in-Furness and the company put me up in the quaintly named Drunken Duck Hotel in the Lake District. I had a couple of weekends to look around the district and the hotel people suggested that I have a look at Hilltop Farm, at Near Sawrey. Her farm is captivating. But while her writing etc is one thing she was a passionate environmentalist and lover of the countryside, and a great philanthropist.

I bought the DVD there and watched it in the hotel. It is beautifully crafted and Renee Zellweger does indeed do a very good job. She was an immensely talented and modern woman for her time and I think this comes through in the movie. She was far more than Peter Rabbit.

I have to say, I chuckled over Ewan McGregors casting. While he does a good job as Miss Potter's ill-fated fiancée, I can't but think it was a nod to 'Mr McGregor'.

If you are ever in the Lake District, I would recommend the Drunken Duck and Hill Top Farm, and the nearby Hardknott Pass Rd which leads to the Roman fort.

"Miss Potter," based on the life of Beatrix Potter, the best selling author of children's books of all time, is an enchanting film.

Directed by Chris Noonan ("Babe") and written by Richard Maltby, Jr., whose theatrical background is no doubt the reason the 94-minute film has such a jaunty pace, "Miss Potter" is not a standard biopic in that it has the ability to appeal to pretty much everyone, with the exception of the very young, which I'll get to in a moment.

Opening images of a pair of hands carefully choosing the pencils and brushes that are the tools of the writer/illustrator's craft, paired with a voice-over that tells us that "there is something delicious about writing the first words of a story," reveal Potter's passion for her craft. Her affection for what she calls her "friends" -- the bunnies, frogs and ducks who are the subjects of her tales -- is equally strong. So strong, in fact, that we wonder, as do the two gentlemen who agree to produce her work, if Miss Potter (Rene Zellweger) isn't just a little daft.

This notion is quickly laid to rest, however, when we see the author, escorted by fledgling publisher Norman Warne (a sedately sweet Ewan McGregor), confidently direct the printing of her works, an endeavor not generally expected of single women in 1902 London, and not deemed acceptable by its society.

Among those who find this effort distasteful are Potter's parents (Barbara Flynn and Bill Patterson), a pair of "social climbers" who seek to marry their only daughter to a man of means. That she refuses these overtures is the crux of their often contentious relationship.

In lieu of marriage, Potter immerses herself in her work. As her success blossoms, so does her relationship with her champion, Mr. Warne, who introduces the author to his sister, Millie (Emily Watson), another spinster. The two women develop a palpable bond, based primarily on their like-minded philosophies about life.

Precisely how Potter developed her ideology is never told, but flashbacks to her childhood reveal an independent girl (charmingly played by newcomer Lucy Boynton) with natural storytelling abilities and a love for drawing the small animals she encounters while summering in England's bucolic Lake Country with her family. It is from these experiences that Potter fashioned her famous "Tales of..." series.

In an effort to bring Potter's experiences with the books to life on the screen, Noonan incorporates a series of technically adept animation sequences. These are completely effective in delivering the sweetness of Potter's tales, and they will appeal to even the youngest viewers. But the film offers too few of them to be satisfying. As a result they become a tease, a sort of trailer to get us to buy the books. While there are many reasons to buy and read Potter's books, using a film to get us to do so feels like too much manipulation.

In all other ways this is sound and pleasurable film-making. Performances are what one would expect from so seasoned a cast, with Zellweger bringing her natural cherubic quality to the role of the author. Production design (by Martin Childs), which incorporates a color palette that matches Potter's work, and cinematography by Andrew Dunn ("History Boys," "Mrs. Henderson") are elegant but not ostentatious, and are reminiscent of the look of "Finding Neverland," another film set in turn-of-the-century England.

In the hundred or so years since Beatrix Potter created her venerated children's series, a lot has changed in the world. One thing that hasn't, however, is that we still love a good story, particularly one that warms our hearts and makes us feel good about the world. "Miss Potter" does precisely that.