Florence Foster Jenkins (Photo – youtube.com).
Our Rating: [usr 3.5]
Based on the true story of a New York heiress whose passion for music was only surpassed by her inability to sing a note, Florence Foster Jenkins is a refreshing comedy of refined taste.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Directed by Stephen Frears – 2016
Reviewed by Sadia Khalid
Jenkins (Meryl Streep) navigates her way into the musical world with her husband (Hugh Grant) supporting her in every which way. But when she decides to fill Carnegie Hall with a thousand soldiers to inspire them with her “music,” all hell breaks loose.
Meryl Streep delivered yet another great performance as the title character in this crowd-pleaser period piece of 1940s. Simon Helberg of Big Bang Theory played her pianist, whose reactions to her horrid singing was even more rewarding performance to watch.
The decor of her house, much like her overly ornamented outfits, was an extension to her personality; e.g. the chairs that are “not for practical use.” Her relationship with her husband was sweet and unusual. It was a delight to see Hugh Grant take a leave from his long streak of romcoms.
However entertaining the performances may be, the movie was a one joke comedy. The story had a broad scope, but for some reason, the writer chose to refrain from delving into any complexity. The movie could very well champion those whose aspirations in arts exceed their talents but the money component in this equation had too big a role to be inspirational to more than a numbered few.
It was more about Jenkins’ stubbornness than her love for music. Her inability to assess what’s going on around her was overwhelming. She never noticed that her audiences laugh at her singing, her husband sleeps with someone else and the rave reviews in the papers were bought. It seems highly unlikely a fully-functional person could miss all that altogether.
She was clearly an elitist and perhaps a narcissist; an exhibitionist with a lust for fame even. But the movie rejects all those delicious aspects of her character and depicts her patronage of the musical arts as guided by her passion alone.
However entertaining
the performances
may be,
the movie was
a one joke comedy
We had every reason to fall in love with her. She was an underdog with a terminal disease who lost her only talent to syphilis. But the character didn’t feel genuine. We never get to know how she manages to be so oblivious to reality or why her husband never says anything about her bad singing. Is it because he loves her so much or because he’s a washed up actor longing to revive his career with her fortune somewhere along the way?
The movie shows how delusional artists can become when they surround themselves by yes men. It also tells the story of how a talentless person can become a celebrity with the virtue of their press relations. The pianist represent the segment of artists who chose fortune over fame or artistic fulfilment.
In a time when The Martian wins Best Comedy at the Golden Globes, we need more movies like Florence Foster Jenkins to remind Hollywood – not all comedies need to be cheesy.
> Playing at Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, ArcLight Pasadena, and Edwards Alhambra Renaissance Stadium 14 & IMAX.
Sadia Khalid is an entertainment journalist and an aspiring screenwriter. She is a member of the Bangladeshi chapter of the International Federation of Film Critics, FIPRESCI, and currently resides in Los Angeles.
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