Florence Jenkins is the founder of the Verdi club in New York with an undying passion for music despite being a poor vocalist. Her husband believes that music has miraculously helped her survive decades of terminal illness and has managed to keep her away from critics all these years! With the world war rampant in 1944, she decides that her music can heal the war torn souls and makes decisions that could send her world crashing down!
Language:
English
Running Time:
110 min
Rating:
PG-13 (MPAA)
Release date:
22 September 2016
Directed by:
Stephen Frears
Produced by:
Michael Kuhn
Tracey Seaward
Written by:
Nicholas Martin
Starring:
Meryl Streep
Hugh Grant
Simon Helberg
Rebecca Ferguson
Nina Arianda
Stanley Townsend
Music by:
Alexandre Desplat
Shot by:
Danny Cohen
Editing by:
Valerio Bonelli
Distributed by:
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Paramount Pictures
Shaw Organisation

What’s Hot

  • Meryl Streep shows the quality of a true legend in the challenging role of an ageing stage performer. Apart from feeding an innocent image Florence Jenkins, the subtle retorts in the wake of adversity are quite enjoyable and the stage performances are quite memorable. Hugh Grant is at his charming best as the husband who stands by her come what may.
  • The costumes donned by Meryl Streep and her fellow cast members looked fabulous to say the least. The Hair and Make-up was another standout aspect in shaping the looks Florence Jenkins and others, which looked more than convincing to impart that vintage feel needed for a decades old period setting.
  • Simon Helberg makes a noteworthy performance as the pianist accompanying the adventures of Florence on stage! His initial exchanges with Hugh Grant where he tries real hard to contain his amusement at Florence’s poor skills are quite hilarious and the gradual transformation to support Florence is well enacted.
  • The screenplay has done wonders to a seemingly innocuous biography. Though it starts off on a comic note, the writing from Nicholas Martin takes control once the emotional drama kicks in. The mood of the audience swings per the will of the writing which engages many other human emotions apart from humor.

What’s Not

  • The way some of the extreme reactions from the crowd hearing the poor singing from Florence is portrayed, seems a bit harsh and insensitive. Something where the director could have used some discretion.
  • Too much of screen time seems to be devoted for Meryl Streep alone, which reduces the supporting cast to a trifle and as a result their parts seem undercooked when those important moments arrive for them.

Badges

Acting
Screenplay
Costume Design

Verdict

Verdict Stamp

Florence Foster Jenkins might look underwhelming at the surface, but it’s nothing short of an enjoyable dramedy. With an expressive lead cast, the intelligent writing adds more substance to the story that keeps engaging the viewers till the end!