with your children at home, not in the movie theater. Do
this because this film is all about home and your children
might relate better in the comfort of their own home. Nanny
McPhee is an excellent film with a wonderful message for
all children to recognize and understand.
In an entertainment world full of trashy and violent video
games with movies to match that dwell on murder, rape, sex,
drugs, alcohol, filthy language, broken relationships and
crummy morals, Nanny McPhee is everything good about movies
for children. You and your children can watch this film
without fear of unpleasant and unwanted garbage rooted in
sensationalism for ratings and greed.
When finished watching, you can thank the uncompromising
excellence of British actress Emma Thompson and British
director Kirk Jones for the incredible excellence of Nanny
McPhee. I watched this film and went to bed wondering if it
was as good as I thought it was. I watched it again the
next night and did not wonder again.
Thompson-who has won 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress
(Howards End in 1992) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Sense
and Sensibility in 1995), and 2 BAFTAs for Best Actress
(Howards End and Sense and Sensibility)
screenplay for Nanny McPhee. BAFTA is the equivalent of the
American Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts.
Kirk Jones (not to be confused with the American rapper and
actor Kirk Jones) is a gifted writer and director with
great work that has not been properly recognized. Combine
Emma Thompson with Kirk Jones and you have the formula for
a winning production.
In 1998 Jones wrote and directed his first feature film
"Waking Ned Devine" with a budget of $3 million that
grossed $90 million worldwide. I believe Jones should have
two Oscars and probably would if it were not for the fact
that Hollywood's voters are too busy pawing each other and
posing for pictures to correct their near-sightedness.
Until a comedy is made that is better than Waking Ned
Devine it shall remain my favorite comedy of all time.
If it sounds like I am gushing over Nanny McPhee, I am.
There are so many good lines in this script I would not
dare to recount them here. Watch the movie and enjoy the
experience of listening carefully.
Nanny McPhee the movie is named for a governess (Emma
Thompson) who uses magic to rein in the behavior of 7
out-of-control children of recently widowed Mr. Brown
(Colin Firth).
Mr. Brown must answer to his Aunt Adelaide (Angela
Lansbury) who has been financing his family's livelihood
and now commands him to marry within the month or she will
cut off his sustenance. His bratty children have a genuine
fear of losing their father should he marry the widowed
Mrs. Quickly (Celia Imrie).
The children, who collectively have driven away 17
consecutive nannies, are led by their older brother Simon
(Thomas Sangster). All 6 of the younger children-Tora
(Eliza Bennett), Lily (Jennifer Rae Daykin), Eric (Raphael
Coleman), Sebastian (Samuel Honywood), Christianna (Holly
Gibbs) and Baby Agatha (Hebe Barnes and Zinnia Barnes)-face
the same fate as Simon.
Enter Nanny McPhee with her magic and old-fashioned
discipline that makes the children aware of their behavior,
and soon the children become models of what to do and when
to do it.
Beyond the obvious endearments, what makes this film
excellent is two huge but subtle elements.
One is the guts of the writer and actress Emma Thompson who
creates a character for herself that is repugnant upon
first sight. She has two huge warts on her face and an
enormous tooth cascading down over her lower lip. Nanny
McPhee will repel you upon first look. Thompson's acting
skills allow her to be perfectly relaxed and confident
despite her appearance. Her make-up was done by designer
Peter King.
The other element is the discovery by the children that
when they learn a major lesson, one of the warts
disappears, and eventually through model behavior by the
children, Nanny McPhee becomes better and better looking.
In many such films as this-the "Sound of Music" with Julie
Andrews comes to mind-the nanny only influences the
children. In Nanny McPhee, the children also become
powerful agents for positive change, empowering them in the
process. Never underestimate the insight and brilliance of
Emma Thompson, the writer or actress.
A tip of the hat to Angela Lansbury in her role as well.
Lansbury is a living legend who never goes out of character
as Aunt Adelaide. From Broadway to Hollywood to television
and back, Angela Lansbury is a British national treasure.
Nanny McPhee is based on the "Nurse Matilda" books by
Christianna Brand. Emma Thompson said it took her 9 years
to write the screenplay; it took her 5 years to write her
Oscar-winning Sense and Sensibility.
Trust me when I say that Nanny McPhee was worth the wait
and then some. Watch Nanny McPhee and learn with your
children some important lessons in human nature.
About the Author:
Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis
and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews,
Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing.
Read my 3-part series on "Secrets Men Don't Want Women to
Know" and reviews on the Broadway musicals "Camelot",
"Chicago" and "The Phantom of the Opera". These are all
excellent films. Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagley
http://www.edbagley
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