Tamara Drewe (film)
Tamara Drewe | |
---|---|
Directed by | Stephen Frears |
Screenplay by | Moira Buffini |
Based on | Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmonds |
Produced by | Alison Owen Tracey Seaward Paul Trijbits |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Ben Davis |
Edited by | Mick Audsley |
Music by | Alexandre Desplat |
Production companies | Ruby Films BBC Films WestEnd Films |
Distributed by | Momentum Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £6–8 million[1] |
Box office | US$12 million[2] |
Tamara Drewe is a 2010 British romantic comedy film directed by Stephen Frears. The screenplay was written by Moira Buffini, based on the newspaper comic strip of the same name (which was then re-published as a graphic novel) written by Posy Simmonds. The comic strip which serves as source material was a modern reworking of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd.
The film premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in May and was released nationwide in France on 14 July 2010.[3][4] Momentum Pictures released the film in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2010.[5]
Plot[]
In the fictitious Dorset village of Ewedown, Tamara Drewe, a young and attractive journalist, returns home after living in London, with the intention of selling her deceased mother's house, in which she grew up. Locals are amazed at the improvement in her appearance after she had rhinoplasty while away. Andy had been interested in her when she was a girl, and when he sees her now it is clear he is attracted to her.
Across the valley is a neighbour's home where authors retreat to work on their stories. The owner, Nicholas, is a prolific crime novelist and a serial philanderer, while his wife Beth provides food, lodging, and encouragement for her patrons. At one point Nicholas embarks on an affair with Tamara, after she finishes with rock-band drummer Ben. Andy has been asked by Tamara to work on the house so she can sell it, and he becomes aware of the affair, as do two local teenage schoolgirls (Jody and Casey) who cause some havoc due to their childish jealousy of Tamara.
Jody is infatuated with Ben and that distraught she won't see him again, because he left Ewedown after he and Tamara split up, so she manipulates him into returning. Eventually her deceit is discovered and she receives a hard dose of reality. In a strange turn of events, Nicholas is accidentally killed by stampeding cows. Beth's friend Glen, a Thomas Hardy scholar who had become infatuated with her over the months he spent there, reveals his love for her despite feeling guilty about Nicholas's demise, and she easily persuades him to remain at the retreat with her. By this time the true love of Andy and Tamara brings them together, and Tamara decides to stay in Ewedown after all.
Cast[]
- Gemma Arterton as Tamara Drewe
- Roger Allam as Nicholas Hardiment
- Bill Camp as Glen McCreavy
- Dominic Cooper as Ben Sergeant
- Luke Evans as Andy Cobb
- Tamsin Greig as Beth Hardiment
- Jessica Barden as Jody Long
- Charlotte Christie as Casey Shaw
- John Bett as Diggory
- Josie Taylor as Zoe
- Bronagh Gallagher as Eustacia
- Pippa Haywood as Tess
- Susan Wooldridge as Penny Upminster
- Alex Kelly as Jody's mother
- Lola Frears as Poppy Hardiment
- Joel Fry as Steve Culley
- Cheryl Campbell as Lucetta
Premiere[]
The premiere was held on 6 September 2010 at the Odeon Leicester Square. Most of the cast and crew were in attendance as well as Jack Gregson, Lily Allen and Stephen Fry. The public premiere was also held on 6 September 2010 at the National Film Theatre. Most of the cast were in attendance as well as director Stephen Frears, screenwriter Moira Buffini, and book author Posy Simmonds. The film's showing received long applause and was followed by questions to the stars from the audience.
Reception[]
Box office[]
The film grossed $11,910,695.[2]
Critical response[]
As of June 2021, the film holds a 65% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 127 reviews with an average rating of 6.30/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "A robust comedic cast and Stephen Frears' gift for satire elevate Tamara Drewe's slight scenario into a tart treat."[6] Metacritic gave it a score of 64 out of 100 based on reviews from 28 critics, indicating 'generally favourable reviews'.[7]
Empire gave four stars out of five stating the film was "Very intelligently funny, with stellar performances."[8] Lisa Mullen wrote in Sight & Sound in September 2010:[citation needed]
Turning graphic novels into films can be a tricky business...an impressively limpid, compressed and visually textured piece... here the romantic themes—concerning sensible spouse choice... are undercut by a bawdy appreciation of chaos, mischief and mayhem... Beth Hardiment played with great subtlety and a kind of concentrated stillness by Tamsin Greig...
Accolades[]
Year | Award/Festival | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 63rd Cannes Film Festival | Palm Dog Award | Won | |
7th Seville European Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | ||
13th British Independent Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
2011 | 38th Evening Standard British Film Awards | Peter Sellers Award for Comedy | Won | |
31st London Film Critics Circle Awards | Young British Performer of the Year | Nominated | ||
8th Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Costume Design | Nominated |
References[]
- ^ Miller, Rob (27 September 2011). "Tamara Drewe Case Study (2010)". Edusites Media Studies Teaching & Learning Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Tamara Drewe (2010)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ Higgins, Charlotte (17 May 2010). "Tamara Drewe comic strip charms Cannes in film form". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.
- ^ Tamara Drewe. premiere.fr. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^ "Tamara Drewe (2010)".
- ^ "Tamara Drewe (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Tamara Drewe Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Empire's Tamara Drewe Movie Review". Empireonline.com. Retrieved 20 April 2011.[dead link]
External links[]
- Official website (US)
- Tamara Drewe at IMDb
- Tamara Drewe interviews, BBC Film Network
- Screenplay at BBC writersroom
- 2010 films
- English-language films
- Adultery in films
- BBC Film films
- British films
- British romantic comedy films
- Films based on British comics
- Films based on comic strips
- Live-action films based on comics
- Films about writers
- Films directed by Stephen Frears
- Films set in Dorset
- Sony Pictures Classics films
- Films based on adaptations
- Films scored by Alexandre Desplat
- Films produced by Alison Owen