Miss Potter -- 2006

Miss Potter

(2006)

Rated PG brief mild language

My Rating: 5 Stars

Renee Zellweger

Ewan McGregor

Bill Paterson

Emily Watson

The other evening, the teenagers were at youth, the younger set were tucked in bed and we had company to occupy my dad, so Mom and I settled on the couch and watched “Miss Potter”. I had watched it a couple times but Mom hadn't seen it before and it was a pleasure to share one of my favorite films with her. It was an even greater pleasure to have her to myself for a entire hour and a half. I am the oldest of 11 children, the youngest being a year old. If you can imagine our household, you'll know what a rare thing this opportunity was. :-)

On my mental list of movies, Miss Potter ranks right up with Fiddler on the Roof (which is #1 :-)). I love the detail. I love the story. I love the scenery. I love Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. I love how clean this film is. I love how I can recommend it to anyone. Okay. I admit it. I love everything about this film!

Summary:

Sheltered artist Beatrix Potter is single (:gasp:), in her early thirties (:gasp:) and hasn't any desire to marry at all. (:faints:) In fact, all she wants to do is publish her illustrated story, Peter Rabbit. Beatrix's father enjoys her art (he wanted to be an artist when he was younger) and compliments her on it, but does nothing to help her along to her goal. Her mother, on the other hand, thinks that anything Beatrix does, besides getting married, is foolishness.

So when Beatrix gets her book published, in spite of all obstacles, and begins spending more and more time at her publisher's office, said mother is less than pleased. And when Beatrix invites her publisher, Mr. Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) and his sister Miss Millie Warne (Emily Watson), to the Potter's annual Christmas party, her mother was horrified. But she would have been even more horrified had she known about the romance budding between her daughter and her publisher.

But the rose is slowly unfurling her petals and the beauty of womanhood is upon Miss Potter. Romance has a way of making life never be the same again.

What I Liked:

1: Renee Zellweger.

2: The painting... picking brushes, mixing colors, selecting paper, experimenting with colors...

3: Mr. Potter's wisdom in letting Beatrix mature (at last) and go.

4: The romance. I love how Beatrix and Norman fall in love.

5: Millie Warne. I love her. She is so endearing and sweet. “Hogwash!” ;-)

6: The veritable black crows... Fruing (David Bamber) and Harold Warne (Anton Lesser).

7: Norman Warne. I'd marry a guy like that character.

8: How rich this movie is on all counts. It delights the senses.

9: Miss Wiggin (Matyelok Gibbs). She is so prim and proper... the type of old maid society was turning out. She was actually the most most comedic part of the film. Well done.

10: The score is lovely. Probably the most beautiful I've ever heard. I love the reoccurring theme, “Teach Me How to Dance”.

This film is more of a girl's film because of the romance and 'gentle' quality to it, but I highly recommend for anyone. I wish there were many other films with this quality.