The FiFi Report 036

Evelyn with Pierce Brosnan and directed Bruce Beresford.
The Los Angeles times said, “Despite a story predictable enough to make The Sound of Music play like a nail-biting thriller, its heart is so much in the right place it is difficult to get really peeved at it.” Hello? The Sound of Music WAS a nail-biting thriller! Don’t you remember all those horrid Nazis? (Why did they climb every mountain? Not to sing another song that’s for sure. ) In fact The Sound of Music is a great movie and Evelyn is merely good, worth seeing if you don’t get put off by too much schmaltz. Set in the forties it is based on the true story of a landmark court case in Ireland of a man who wanted to take his kids back from the state and fought the courts and church after his wife runs off and leaves them. Sad bit here. The problem with this movie, in fact, is not the sugary moments (not that fattening) it’s Pierce Brosman who produced it and who plays the father. He is just so unconvincing as a poor, ill educated, single, unemployed boozer. And far too debonair with a wardrobe that does nothing to help: he turns up his collar, throws on jaunty scarves, wears snazzy tweeds and trying to look disheveled by not shaving (mmm doesn’t work hasn’t he seen George Clooney?).This movie would have been great with Colin Farrell or any cheeky monkey larrikin (George Clooney). The guy who steals the show is Alan Bates who is fantastic as a Barrister. And what a pity the little daughter Evelyn was not played by those fantastic sisters from ‘In America’. (They probably were). But this movie will be a great girlie video night with a teary deary ending. Just don’t expect Billy Elliot, it’s only Evelyn (bless).Then watch The Sound of Music. And really sob.