Peter Ward-Brown

I really wanted to like this film. I think Kate Winslet is a good actor, Saoirse Ronan potentially a great actor & Fiona Shaw is one of those top-drawer supporting actors who never puts in less than a masterful performance. Critics’ reviews were great & since I grew up in Lyme I had a vested interest in the location - what could go possibly go wrong? Well, take away all the atmospheric background shots (with scenery like this, beauty is fish in a barrel anyway) and you’re left with an entirely made up, soft-core lesbian romp which takes as it’s main character a strong, intelligent woman who was both exploited & under-valued during her lifetime & exploits her memory after her death! I cannot understand the fawning revues & I think all involved should donate their fat paychecks to charity. This is so bad it will probably win an Oscar....