tamaradrewe

Poor Tamara Drewe. She once had a nose so big, people made fun of her. She fled to London, got it fixed and secured a well paid newspaper job. A few years later, wearing short shorts and deadly sex appeal, Tamara returns to her country village to sell the family home. It's next to a writers retreat where Beth makes delicious pastries and heart-throb Andy does odd jobs. He and Tamara have history. So does Beth's husband Nicholas, a successful author and tom-catting womaniser. Other writers would like to create some history of their own, notably American Glen who has an eye for Beth. Then there's jilted Ben, an egotistical rock drummer who wins Tamara's loins to the frustration of many, but mostly two highly charged teenagers who are hopelessly in love with the pop-idol. They set about destroying the relationship and unleash chaos on the entire village. Hers is a complicated life, that Tamara Drewe.

Here is something of a departure for Fears who is much better known for gritty explorations of the social politic than English garden comedy. Groundbreakers like My Beautiful Laundrette, Prick Up Your Ears and more recently The Queen tackled thorny issues with a unique energy and insight. Tamara Drewe is much lighter fare indeed, based as it is on a graphic novel invoking the works of Thomas Hardy by way of Saturday night BBC. Which is not to say its without value. The story is a charged affair that leads with frequent wit down the hedgerows of Dorset to a satisfying conclusion. Frears ensures everyone has a good time as Hurricane Tamara flattens everyone in her path. There's even death by dairy cow, so it's not an entirely rosy affair. It's just not a particularly fresh one either.

Nonetheless he does make the most of the offering. Tamara's sexual confidence is given a compelling work over in reflection of subservient Beth and deceptive Nicholas. The rudderless teenage girls adoration and sexualisation of Ben is provocative, as is the sudden tragedy. Warning: be careful what you wish for. Throughout Frears never forgets the needs of a well-catered to audience (focus-group finale notwithstanding), and while I may not want to marry her, it was a pleasure to meet Tamara Drewe.

// COLIN FRASER
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STUFF

CAST
Gemma Arterton
Tasmin Greig
Roger Allam
Dominic Cooper

DIRECTOR
Stephen Frears

SCREENWRITER
Moira Buffini

COUNTRY
UK

RATING / RUNTIME
M / 109 minutes

AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
February 3, 2011
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Stacks Image 185
moviereview colin fraser film movie australia review critic flicks