MISS POTTER

"Jemima, stop that silliness"

For years Beatrix Potter (Zellweger) has been telling stories and drawing her favourite animals. It was her dream to become a published author but now that she has passed the age of thirty years old, her mother (Flynn) thought she should be more interested in finding a husband. Undeterred, she finds a publishing house willing to produce her first book 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' but the man tasked with bringing the book to the self is youngest of the Warne brothers, Norman (McGregor) who has no experience at all.

When it comes to defining what the British film industry does extremely well your answer would be costume dramas and 'Miss Potter' is another fine example.

Beatrix Potter is one of Britain's most celebrated children's authors in literary history. With classics like 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit', 'The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck', 'The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle' and many more, fans have got to know the writer through her books but the story of her life is just as fascinating.

In the 1900s, women had little or no independence or social expectations in the world, so when Beatrix Potter, a woman in her early 30s started approaching publishing houses to bring her tale of Peter Rabbit to the masses she was turned down by every place in London. That was until she visited the Warne Publishers, who thought they could make a small profit and she would be a good first client for their youngest brother Norman. What they didn't realise was that Beatrix's artistic skill and gift for storytelling would enchant the world.

As well as discovering about how Beatrix became a published writer, we learn about the kind of woman she was, her family life and her loves and losses. Coming from an upper class family, it was expected that Beatrix would marry within her station and her mother, Helen had paraded many a suitor but Beatrix was waiting for love. This came in the shape of her inexperienced publisher Norman Warne but he was just a lowly worker and not the same class as the Potter family. So of course he didn't meet her parent's approval. Her struggle against her disapproving parents and the limitations put of women in the 1900s provides for a classic tale of social graces, pomp and circumstance.

Instead of hiring a British actress to play the beloved children's writer, director Chris Noonan and his creative team turned to the American woman who can do the best English accent, Renée Zellweger. After charming us as Bridget Jones, she tackles the accent again as Beatrix Potter. There is a certain charismatic charm about Zellweger in whatever she plays but as the famed author she provides a performance that is instantly endearing. She is ably supported by Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne, with another fine performance from the excellent Scottish actor. Emily Watson is excellent as his spinster sister Millie Warne. Barbara Flynn is suitably pompous as Beatrix's mother Helen Potter. Bill Paterson is also good as her father Rupert.

'Miss Potter' is another fine example of the British costume drama. This is a genre of filmmaking that the British film industry does extremely well and this is another fine example. The film does have a very limited target audience, catering only for watchers who enjoy this kind of film, but those viewers with reveal in it. Charming, beautifully played and full of all of the pomp and circumstance needed to tell a tale of such an accomplished author.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the movie is presented well.

BONUS FEATURES

The Making of Miss Potter (33.58 mins)
Director Chris Noonan, costume designer Anthony Powell, production designer Martin Childs and stars Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Bill Paterson, Matyelok Gibbs and Barbara Flynn come together to talk about bringing the life of Beatrix Potter to the silver screen. The group reveal how they got involved and how the script and story came about from Beatrix's own journals and the books she most famously wrote. They also talk about the look and feel of the movie and what it was like recreating that time were women were not supposed to be as strong willed as Beatrix.

Katie Melua - When you taught me how to dance: Music Video (3.21 mins)
Watch the video with scenes from the movie intercut into Katie Melua's performance.

Trailers
Previews of 'Arthur and the Invisibles', 'Bobby' and 'The Painted Vail'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment of 'Miss Potter' is very after but the featurette gives the chance for the cast and crew to talk passionately about the movie and Beatrix herself. The lack of a commentary track is disappointing however but fans of the movie will enjoy the featurette.

DVD

Pride and Prejudice

---

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

2007