Hilary and Jackie
Every now and then, a film comes along that you cannot pick any
fault with.
Hilary
and Jackie is one of those films. This is a superbly crafted, beautifully
shot film with outstanding performances. After seeing Hilary and
Jackie, my belief that the Oscars are a farce, has been reaffirmed.
Emily Watson as Jacqueline Du Pré makes Gwyneth look like she got
her training in porn films. Paltrow can only dream of becoming an
actor of Watson’s calibre. I am also sorry to say (even though I
think she is a great actress) Judi Dench should not have won for
Best Supporting Actress. 8 minutes just doesn’t cut it when compared
with Rachel’s performance.
In case you don’t already know, the film is about the life of the brilliant Cellist Jacqueline Du Pré, her relationship with her older sister Hilary (Rachel), a flautist, and her death from multiple sclerosis. It is a very emotional film, so take some tissues but unlike Hollywood films you don’t feel manipulated, it is genuine emotion. The music in the film also heightens the emotion. It includes Elgar’s Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in E minor which is one of the pieces that Jacqueline Du Pré is best known for. I strongly recommend people go and see this film and remember, just because it is a story about two women, IT IS NOT A CHICK-FLICK.
Chris B
