"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them&qu...
"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them" Felicia (Priscilla Queen of the Desert)
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There’s shy and there’s mute. I’d say that L.V is in-between the two. She rarely speaks, but she can. She’s just quiet, hence the nickname Little Voice from her Mother.
Jane Horrocks played the part of the quiet, shy girl who just loves to sing. Jane Horrocks performed all of the songs herself, and the likeness between her and Bassey, Monroe and Garland is uncanny.
The cast of Little Voice is pretty extraordinary. Four of the actors have been nominated for an Oscar, and two have won one. Not only that, but the other are well known in British Films, anyway.
Little Voice is an easy film to watch that will have you upset one minute, and pulling out the tap shoes the next!
LV lives with her mother Mari. Mari is as common as muck, and possibly the worst Mother anyone could have. She’s out on the town all night, forever swearing at LV and teasing her.
LV never speaks to her unless she has to. She just stays upstairs listening to the hundreds and hundreds of records she has, and playing them full blast – to Mari’s annoyance!
When Billy, who works for the phone company, comes to fix one of the phones, he immediately falls in love with LV,
but LV, and Billy, are both too shy to do anything about it.
LV got her records from her Father. He ran a shop selling music. He died, and Mari and LV were left alone, the only thing they had were the records, which now had become LV’s pride and joy.
Meanwhile, Mari is dating the agent of the stars – Ray Say! One night, when Mari introduces LV to him, she storms off upstairs to play her music. After playing her music full blast, the electric goes out.
LV knows all the songs by heart, so to listen to something, she sings herself. So good, Ray hears her, and is overwhelmed. She’s uncannily like Judy Garland. Ray is absolutely impressed, and he wants to make LV a star. But, will the shy little girl want to become a star?
**Performances**
With such a great cast, my expectations for the film were high, and it was good they were, because the acting was fantastic, and better than I thought! It was funny, touching and moving, and the actors created all this.
I would Brenda Blethyn and Jane Horrocks are the best. They are playing completely different roles to what they usually do. Horrocks is usually the loud colourful woman, but in this she has to be quite. And usually Brenda Blethyn is reserved in her films, whereas here she has to be as common as muck.
Brenda Blethyn makes the film funny, and with her one-liners the film is made into a comedy. She doesn’t only say funny things, but her body language is funny as well, and she’s forever being the one that’s “badly done to.”
Jane Horrocks creates the timid look wonderfully; she does it in a subtle way that is believable, yet she doesn’t over-do it. She shows her talent with her singing, and you literally smile when she is, because it’s so joyful and entertaining.
Ewan McGregor is also shy in the film, and he plays the timid part well as well. He’s used to being the handsome one, but he’s made to look a bit boring and ugly in this film.
Caine is as perfect as ever, and he’s entertaining as the very funny Ray Say. He doesn’t get funny lines, or does he do funny things, but the funny thing is just he – Caine. As always he’s entertaining and believable, and brilliant to watch.
Caine has a big part in the movie, and he plays every scene fantastically. Even though Brenda Blethyn and Jane Horrocks are the real stars of the film, Caine is at his best as usual!
Jim Broadbent isn’t in the film for very long, he’s in it for ten minutes at the most, and his time in it isn’t that memorable. He isn’t that funny at all, and he’s not his usual entertaining self.
He plays club owner Mr Boo, and even though Broadbent tried, he couldn’t succeed at being good, as his script was awful, and he didn’t have time to progress his character.
So, the brilliant cast didn’t really let me down, and were really entertaining. The casting was done marvellously.
**My Opinion**
We don’t get to learn a lot about LV’s earlier life. I’m presuming that she started not talking when her Father died, but the film doesn’t confirm any of that, which I would have liked to have been done.
That’s the first disadvantage, and although the film is good, and light hearted, it’s not one you’ll love and never ever forget, it’s one that’s entertaining for the time you’re watching it, then you forget about it.
What I liked about Little Voice was the music element of it. I wasn’t around in the 50/60’s (obviously!) but I still enjoy the music that is played throughout the film, and that’s why I think someone from that generation would enjoy that aspect of the film.
I don’t think Little Voice really has a target audience, because there’s a lot of swearing in it, and references to stuff elderly people wouldn’t understand; yet the music seems to have been aimed at elderly people, or that generation.
Another good thing about Little Voice was the innocence of LV, and how she felt for her Father. It was lovely to see that someone really missed someone when they left them, and the story was rather touching, and very sad at times.
I liked the ending, and I can’t really see how else it could’ve been done properly, but I was a bit disappointed, and not entirely satisfied. I felt it a bit of an abrupt ending, and not very thorough. I felt the film deserved more.
But, what added to the brilliance of Little Voice were the singing, the dancing, and the acting. I would’ve given Little Voice 2 stars for the actual film, but because the acting was so brilliant I’m adding another one.
**Little Voice on DVD and VHS**
Little Voice premiered on terrestrial TV last New Year (2003), so I expect it will be showing again soon. But, if you want to buy it on video, you can buy it from Amazon on both VHS and DVD.
The DVD costing£17,09 and the Video costing £13,49, which is rather expensive, so I advise you wait until it comes on the television.
**Final Thoughts**
Little Voice is a good film, and you probably will enjoy it, but don’t expect anything more than and hour and a half of a sweet story. It will move you, and it will be enjoyed, I expect, but don’t expect it to be fantastic, and something you’ll think about afterwards. It’s worth seeing for the acting.
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Gillian Armstrong - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Liked this film, watched it for the second time last night (it was on the box)... agree with you on the bit bout LV's past, they could've done more on this
pleaseratemyreview 12.12.2003 23:19
I enjoyed this film, nice and quaint with a great cast. ¬¬¬JiM¬¬¬
Fruity_Tart 31.08.2003 23:04
I love this film. You're right, it would be nice to see LV as a girl growing up for a bit of background. Chris x
Michael Caine was robbed of an Oscar. He gives his finest performance in a decade as ... more
big-talking small-time agent Ray Say, a paunchy, pale life-of-the-party hiding his desperation under gold chains and cool bravura. When he hears the almost magical voi...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Michael Caine was robbed of an Oscar. He gives his finest performance in a decade as ... more
big-talking small-time agent Ray Say, a paunchy, pale life-of-the-party hiding his desperation under gold chains and cool bravura. When he hears the almost magical voi...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
World-class stars Michael Caine ('Hannah And Her Sisters'), Brenda Blethyn ('Secrets and ... more
Lies') and Ewan Mc Gregor ('Star Wars: Episode 1', 'Trainspotting') deliver acclaimed performances in an inspirational story about a painfully shy young woman, 'Li...
World-class stars Michael Caine Brenda Blethyn and Ewan McGregor deliver acclaimed ... more
performances in an inspirational story about a painfully shy young woman 'Little Voice' (Jane Horrocks). A hopeless introvert who can only manage to express herself by...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: A FILM NOT TO BE MISSED! Disadvantages: I cant think of any.
Morning_Becomes_Electra 13.10.2007 (14.10.2007)
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Review of Little Voice (DVD)
![Little Voice [DVD] [1999]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78540383.jpg "Little Voice [DVD] [1999]")
Aug 6th, 2003
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