Notes on a Scandal (7 out of 10)

Notes on a Scandal stars Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, and Bill Nighy in a movie about a young teacher that becomes involved with a student and is basically blackmailed by an older teacher who finds out about it.

NoaS starts off and ends incredibly paced. For the beginning and end, the score, acting, and Judi Dench's narration all add together to create an intensely told story. Understandably, the movie slows down in the middle to allow the dread and suspense to mount as Dench finds out about Blanchett's affair and thus, manipulates her as a result.

The acting is superb by the three leads, but the boy involved in the affair is not realistically portrayed, and acts like more like a 35 year old than a 15 year old. The headmaster of the school also overacts greatly in his few scenes.

However, for as intense of a thriller as this is, as well done as it is for the most part, it ends so anti-climactically and poorly, it's something of a shock. I was so surprised when the film ended, all the buildup and what happens is so "meh". I also felt more could have been done to show Dench's manipulative behavior. We're given a lot of evidence she's somewhat crazy and obsessive, but no sooner does she learn of the affair, than the event which leads her to let the affair be known to the rest of the world occurs.

Also, Bill Nighy, who plays Cate Blanchett's husband, apparently doesn't like Judi Dench's character, but again, there is no background into this, and rather he goes from enjoying her company to calling her a witch in no time.

NoaS works as a superb thriller, but is also something of an incomplete movie. There should have been more to it I think, but the acting and pacing until the end make for a pretty fun time.