Looking forward for some more comments always enjoying in chat and your opinion please keep on writi...
Looking forward for some more comments always enjoying in chat and your opinion please keep on writing
Member since:23.12.2003
Reviews:81
Members who trust:8
How long it passed since Yorkshire lads dropped their trousers off, showing grace in the name of women? It's been a good six years since those Yorkshire lads dropped their trousers in the name of wholesome goodness in 'The Full Monty". But recently, we have "Calendar Girls", female version of that. I must say that this female version actually happened in real life. "Calendar girls" is more charming and alluring than "The Full Monty" ever was. Kind of film that you can always go for, the whole family I mean, in every moment, under any mood or age. 'The Full Monty" fellows walked a dirty streets of Sheffield to the unemployment office every day, but the women in "Calendar Girls" are comfortably enjoying a classy Tai Chi practice, on a gorgeous, green hills of Yorkshire and leisure meeting at their local WI (Women’s Institute) issuing baking cakes.
"Calendar Girls" is about the women of the Rylstone Women's Institute in North Yorkshire. This Women's Group produces a calendar each year based around scenes of the Yorkshire life. In 1999, one of the ladies husbands became ill with leukemia. Set in the picturesque village of Napely, we meet 50-something best friends Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters). They belong to the local, traditional, boring and silly Women's Institute. Their annual fund-raising event is selling a calendar with photos of food and flowers. Ill husband would say that if the ladies planted Sunflowers, he'd make sure he'd
get better. Unfortunately, he dies and in order to raise funds for Leukemia research, or at least new sofa, women of small village decide to make an alternative calendar of themselves nude, hoping to sell a few hundred copies locally and buy something nice [a sofa] for a loving husband. This calendar in fact became a worldwide sensation, out-selling Britney Spears and Cindy Crawford. The ladies went for a tour in USA with it. Each of them of course has to lead their own life, with their own family. Some husbands approve, some not. Some children enjoy in such popularity some not. A beautiful Yorkshire idyllic village full of not really perfect people in need.
"Calendar Girls" is a sweet and uplifting British comedy based on a true story. Film starts perfectly describable for the life and environments of idyllic village, with [Hellen Mirren] Chris' bursting into hysteric laughter due to boredom, on the local meeting. The scenery is gorgeous, and it will make you want to immediately visit North Yorkshire. If you are expecting to see middle aged women getting their kit out then you’ll be disappointed. Actually, one of them stays pretty devoted to her kit. But behind the camera, all nude. If, however, you are hoping for a true story that shows the determination of a group of women in raising over half a million pounds for the Leukemia Research Fund, this is a witty story line that will provoke more than emotions in you. The story is heartwarming, but avoids being too sweet. In the sensible and elegant hands of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, "Calendar Girls" walks a marvelous fine line between sappiness and discreet giggling, ends up wonderfully funny and gentle. When her best friend Annie (Walters, Billy Elliot) loses husband, Chris (Mirren, Prime Suspect, Gosford Park) cooks up a little plan to memorialize him. Of course, what sort of calendar sells? Certainly not the one with flowers or cars, how does the one with nude women. But not only younger and perfect women, but also older and un-perfect, in natural positions, with all that lovely natural un-perfection. Fat, older, not that beautiful...never mind, natural nudity itself attacks, not the perfection. Friends, all fifty and some women, will make a nude calendar to raise money for the hospital where husband died. The calendar becomes hugely popular, but the success may drive edge between friendships of 2 women. Based on an actual event, "Calendar Girls" carefully balances the stories of several women as it follows the calendar's media explosion. Director managed to capture the sense of tastefulness in the film with its calendar. Film has surprisingly moving fable of loss, determination and the ways of how the fame works. All that with very little nudity - few rare occasions where a nipple can be seen is on the screen for no longer than seconds.
I was pretty surprised at the wit through a film that also moved me so much. I think that this is er fabulous film that has different dimensions and different levels of approach. But most of all, it points out the psychology of a basic sexuality and attraction. We all know that attractive woman doesn't have to be perfect or young. Sexually attractive woman can be perfectly ordinary or even uglish. Especially if the shots are taken by professional photographer. Helen Mirren here is one of the wittiest and sexiest women among the crew, with or without her clothes on. Mirren and Walters both provide excellent, believable, touching performances. The scenes where the women are seen posing for the calendar are excellent. These extraordinary women are overcoming their natural shyness before getting help from the camera man to create the perfect photo, keeping their modesty behind certain items, such as sticky buns, watering cans, flowers and other things you'd or wouldn't expect to see on a WI calendar.
Most of the movie is beautifully photographed in rural idyllic England, a sharp contrast to the business and plastic scenes filmed in Hollywood, after they've become celebrities. The nude scenes are tasteful, done for a laugh, as one would expect, perfect solution. It made me smile widely! The real calendar, by the way, has so far raised $1.6M for a new cancer hospital wing. This fresh and wonderful comedy is fully recommended. It's a film for entire family and it is reachable via Internet, for £13.99. I'm keeping this film for my all time fav. film collection you know!
Right! Film is a successful indie formula! We need more movies that're celebrating wisdom and friendship. Who's going to be next stripping down for cash? Me? Well...er...maybe? ---
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Production Year: 2000 - Comedy - Director: David Raynr - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Shane West, Marla Sokoloff, James Franco, Colin Hanks, Christine Lakin, Aaron Paul
I watched this film the other night and thought it was excellent...good review..lynsey xx
star333 30.12.2004 17:29
Can't wait till i see this film x
TheChocolateLady 19.11.2004 06:17
Sorry for the lower rating but there was a bit too much of the story here, and more importantly, you've put this in the DVD section and didn't mention anything about the DVD.
In the sensible yet elegant hands of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters,Calendar ... more
Girlswalks a fine line between sappiness and snickering and ends up both wonderfully funny and gently touching. When her best friend Annie (Walters) loses her husban...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In the sensible yet elegant hands of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters,Calendar ... more
Girlswalks a fine line between sappiness and snickering and ends up both wonderfully funny and gently touching. When her best friend Annie (Walters) loses her husban...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
CALENDAR GIRLS is the hilariously quirky comedy starring Golden Globe winners Helen Mirren ... more
and Julie Walters and directed by Nigel Cole. When twelve extraordinary members of the Women's Institute, a proper local charity, decide they need to find a new ...
![Calendar Girls [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78498835.jpg "Calendar Girls [DVD] [2003]")
Nov 14th, 2004
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