The Scandalous Four

Well, 5,3 on imdb is about right, so do not listen to all but one (so far) giving this a 10 or 9 out of ten. Well that is purely ridiculous.

The film starts out NOT well played, NOT filmed very well, NOT stylish, NOT well instructed, and sound is like it's put on in a studio.

So how then could this be a 10/10!?

Well, the film strangely gets better half an hour in. Even production values.

But worst is the instruction in the start, which is like a partly bad comedy, but it takes on to a better path.

That is, if you can see through all this, the film is watchable and to some degree an OK film, but it's not worth more than a 6/10 in my book.

This story would have deserved so much more.

This is an embarrassing piece. The directing is poorly done, the acting is bad, the script is terrible, the dialogue is stumbling and have resemblance to a porno and the editing isn't thigh enough. Even some of the camera angles is questionable. The milieus and some of the costumes are pretty nice, even though it fail accomplish the feeling of older times.

The only reason for me not to give this the lowest rating is because something MAY be worse somewhere at some point. I just don't know how. Maybe you can feel enjoyment with this if you see it with someone with a sense of humor and have a really good laugh. It's a terrible performance in almost every sense.

This story begins at the start of a loveless marriage of convenience, placing us in the marital bed as the obvious lack of connection between the bride and groom, creates a painful awkwardness to which we become witness.

From here, the film plays with the well examined theme of repression and denial which was so prevalent in the social mores of it's chosen period, however the resolution of this keenly felt atmosphere from the early scenes allows for far more of its opposite emotions than many other films do, replacing those uncomfortable exchanges with a highly contrasted sense of release and liberation.

The characters were entirely believable and very much of their time, and although the journey each one takes is an unusual one I was entirely carried along on those journeys with each of them. I am not usually a fan of period dramas, I felt this film to have message that is entirely relevant for our times, and it in no way came across as though it was looking back nostalgically as an escapist reaction to current concerns.

The theme of the redeeming power of love may not be unusual, however the sense of this creative energy comes bursting through in the direction of this film, and illustrates without qualification quite how transformational the combination of truth and love really can be.

I highly recommend this film, it is a real testament to the value of a good story vivaciously presented. For both it's inspirational and entertainment value, I rate this movie as a 10/10.

A story of marrying for love versus marrying for money and status. Penelope can't stand the thought of marrying someone she doesn't even like. She marries jon alexander to make her father happy. But hubby doesn't seem to have much interest (any interest!) in his new wife. Although he does curl up in the field with george, the butler! And there are hints that alexander's father was the same... way. But jon seems to resent anyone who does pay attention to penelope. So they compromise, and each (appears to) have their fling. But the house maids freak out over this new setup, and almost ruin everything. Some of the performances are less than optimal. And it all seems to be shot with one lens, which is quite close range. Not so many wide shots. The first half moves quite slowly. Was one of the staff murdered because he saw something naughty going on between the husband and another staff member? That was suspicious, but not clearly spelled out. In spite of a few flaws, it's quite good! Directed by christianne van wijk. Did you notice that some of the actors are also some of the writers?

The story is great, had all the makings of a great period drama but unfortunately the production and budget are awful. I couldn't stop watching though because I really wanted to know what happened as the story could is really good.

The costumes are not bad, the houses are lovely but the editing seems sharp and does not flow as it could. It seems they saved in all the wrong places. The acting was not terrible but it was no Keira Knightley or Rosamund Pike from Pride and Prejudice.

Overall not unwatchable but won't watch it again, which is a shame as I love a good period drama and could watch them over and over again.