Iris
"One Of The Best Films Of The Year!"- Desson Howe, The Washington Post
Here's the powerful true story based on John Bayley's novels that earned Jim Broadbent an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actor and Academy Award® Nominations for Best Actress Judi Dench and Best Supporting Actress Kate Winslet!
Judi Dench (Shakespeare In Love) and Kate Winslet (Titanic) bring to the screen one of the most extraordinary women of the 20th century, celebrated English author Iris Murdoch. As told by her unlikely soulmate, husband John Bayley, Iris first became known as a brilliant young scholar at Oxford whose boundless spirit dazzled those around her. Then, during a remarkable career as a novelist and philosopher, she continued to prove herself a woman ahead of her time. Even in later life, as age and illness robbed Iris of her remarkable gifts, nothing could diminish her immense influence or weaken the bond with her devoted husband.
Member Reviews
Her greatest talent was for life - movie_goer
Iris is a Heartwrenching True story, quiet and intriguing biopic. The emotional element of this film is perfect.
The film was based from the novel by widowed John Bayley who tells the story of love, struggles and the late dark years of Iris Murdochs losing battle to Alzheimer's Disease.
Murdoch single handedly inspired a generation including Nicholas Sparks to write The Notebook in Honor.A VERY Bittersweet Love Story - revsdd
Iris Murdoch - author and educator and, ultimately, Alzheimer's victim. This is her story, well put together and well told and interesting (if somewhat depressing) all the way through.
The movie pulls no punches about Alzheimer's and the horrible affects it has on both patients and caregivers. Judi Dench plays the afflicted Iris, gradually losing her ability to write, to think, to take care of herself, to recognize those around her. A good performance, but even better was Jim Broadbent's as Iris' husband John, also elderly and struggling as her caregiver, offering a realistic look at the struggle involved. He loves Iris, wants to take care of her, but also has to deal with the frustration he feels at her growing limitations, which every now and then explode into anger. He's also haunted by her complicated past. Iris had many lovers (including possibly some female, which is hinted at but never confirmed), while he's known only her, and his jealousy comes out on occasion. For example, as she's lying in bed, in her own Alzheimer's induced world, he screams at her, "Who are you with now!"
To give some historical context to the relationship the story is divided between the elderly John and Iris, and flashbacks of their younger versions (played by Hugh Bonneville and Kate Winslett.) All four actors playing these roles did a fine job.
Be prepared as you watch this. This could be a very unpleasant movie. It's not happy or uplifting especially, and Iris is at best an anti-hero, whose sense of education apparently doesn't include much thought of commitment and fidelity in relationships. But it's a good movie, and your attention will never wander once you start watching it.A good movie - Maged
This is one of the few movies that I watched without trying to fast forward. Good acting makes you live the story and feel attachted to the characters of the yet a good true story.
Also this is one of the the few movies that makes me wonder and think after I watched the movie.!!
What will happen to me if I face the same destiney as the main character or what would I do if my spouse faced the same thing.?!!
Member Reviews
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Her greatest talent was for life - movie_goer
Iris is a Heartwrenching True story, quiet and intriguing biopic. The emotional element of this film is perfect.
The film was based from the novel by widowed John Bayley who tells the story of love, struggles and the late dark years of Iris Murdochs ...A VERY Bittersweet Love Story - revsdd
Iris Murdoch - author and educator and, ultimately, Alzheimer's victim. This is her story, well put together and well told and interesting (if somewhat depressing) all the way through.
The movie pulls no punches about Alzheimer's and the horrible affects ...A good movie - Maged
This is one of the few movies that I watched without trying to fast forward. Good acting makes you live the story and feel attachted to the characters of the yet a good true story.
Also this is one of the the few movies that makes me wonder and think ...