Camilla

I just started watching this movie, and so far, so good! we'll see if it hold my attention.. I think I've gotta see Jess in her last film though. a true icon! She had an appeal that we don't see often in films these days. Bridgette Fonda seems to be comfortable, yet so young in this role. I think that may be what is causing discomfort in some as wee watch. She seemed so young in comparison to "Single White Female"..Perhaps that's why she wasn't able to sell the role to everyone. A little too cutesy perhaps .. I agree, though..It's fun to watch a movie that you have no clue about! I have never heard of this movie, but, it's a good middle of the night flick! A little slow-moving perhaps, but, I think I can deal.. Hey!! A great weekend flick! A date flick? Definitely..

This is one of those movies that should work and almost does. The cast is good, it's generally the sort of thing I should really like, but it all just feels a little too artificial. Yes, movies like this are inherently artificial, but sometimes the writer and director's sincerity makes it feel real. Here, you can see all the seams showing in the fabric; the movie has the contrived sense of a film with a very specific series of talking points it wants to present. There are occasional moments of insight and sparks of imagination, but for the most part there is a real been there done that quality to the whole thing. A decent enough movie, but nothing special.

A little slow moving perhaps (even though it's a small film) but for me 'Camilla' was worth the watch for Jessica Tandy who delivers a beautiful final performance. Deepa Mehta's execution is quite alright though perhaps she would have benefited more with more finance. She does use a lot of detailed references, for instance a painting of artist Frida Kahlo at Frida's apartment (hinting on the association between both women). I liked how Tandy's character was introduced and how Fonda's Freda is both intrigued and amused by this enigmatic but lovely older lady and eventually they head on a journey searching for the same thing, that thing which everyone searches. The scenes between Fonda and Tandy are both fun and moving to watch. Fonda holds her own. The score is gentle and of course Brahm's piece is almost always a good listen. Overall, for me it was a good enough watch for a quiet tired evening.

This was Jessica Tandy's last movie, and even as an 80-something was lovely and sexy enough to do a nude skinny-dipping scene in the Atlantic off Georgia. Her foil was played by Bridget Fonda, and the main of the story is the two of them taking off to go back to Toronto to hear a Brahms violin concerto while Tandy's son and Fonda's husband are out of town on business. A highlight was a scene near the end when Camilla met up with her old boyfriend, played by her real husband, Hume Cronyn, and there is something very special seeing two actors who have been married for over 50 years do a romantic scene.

Critic Ebert has a fairly accurate review, but I believe is overly harsh in his analysis of it being too contrived. The film was meant to be funny, with Camilla making up these grand stories and her flustered son trying to find out where she had run off to. All she wanted was to get back to her old Russian boyfriend. I would recommned this film to anyone who likes a "character" film. It felt more like they were allowing us, the audience, to enter in and become a part of their lives.

A gem of a movie! Jessica Tandy's Last screen credit, is yet another winning performance. Sweet and pleasant movie, never awarded the attention it deserved, however somehow to the average viewer it is not that memorable.

Dealing with just a so-so story-line that is very soft and mellow. It won't be hard to like this movie, if you can acually find it at the video store. Tandy and Fonda work well together, but watch this one for Tandy's sake, she is a film legend, and deserves this one on us!