User reviews

25 November 2014 Fiona's Second Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - My Old Lady. I thought this was going to be a comedy, but in reality the best mildly funny scenes were all included in the trailer. Having said that, this was a very touching film about relationships and dysfunctional families and a very strange set of French Laws. In a nutshell, Mathias Gold, played by Kevin Kline, inherits an apartment in France from his late father. Spending his last dime to travel to Paris he discovers to his dismay that the apartment comes with a tenant Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith) who is allowed to stay there until her death, and to compound things he has to pay rent to her. Determined to find a way to sell the apartment and make some money Mathias tries everything he can to achieve his goal. As the story progresses we meet Chloe who is Mathilde's daughter and has issues of her own. Although slow in places this charming film winds it's way through the streets of Paris much as the seine flows past Notre Dame and once again having watched a film set in France I find myself wanting to go and visit once again.

I thought this was going to be a gentle comedy. Instead it turned out to be a tale of sadness and redemption. I enjoyed that more.

I used to be a "Parisian" well really only by birth; but I carry a lot of love about France and Paris. I also have a lot of feelings for Maggy Smith that has been rather omnipresent recently in cinemas. As for Kevin kline I always kept a vivid and enjoyable memory from "A fish call wanda". So I was rather comfortable in giving a go to "My old Lady" although I did not particularly like the tittle. I was not disappointed even if I felt a little boredom in the first half. And if one likes film for entertainment, in my view these should entertain as it entertained me. I did not feel like analysing the whole work too much as this is not why I watch films. For me it's important to leave the cinema with a rewarding feeling, whether I find the film intelligent, funny, or well paced as long it brings me something I feel worthwhile I'm happy. So I got a free trip back to Paris, laughters, and also something to think about! Four of us on the occasion had a good time!

Israel Horowitz wrote the play, adapted the play for the screen an directed this little drama MY OLD LADY. It works on some levels: after a rather disconcertingly angry beginning it settles into a somewhat sanguine love story. The project is salvages by the contributions of the three lead actors without whose talent this piece may have become a bore.

An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident. That is barebones for the story. A more extended synopsis: 'When Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) arrives at the sumptuous Parisian apartment he inherited from his distant but wealthy and recently deceased father, he's surprised that the property comes with two stubborn live-in tenants who are not required to leave according to an ancient French real estate law – explained amply as the case of the viager. Unable to sell the place, Mathias moves in with the feisty 92 year old Englishwoman, Mathilde Gerard (Dame Maggie Smith), and her middle aged daughter, Chloé (Kristin Scott Thomas). But as Mathias and Chloé draw increasingly closer, Mathilde unveils a complex labyrinth of secrets that unites the trio in unexpected ways. The story draws on the old 'kept mistress' theme – Mathias' married father and Mathilda were lovers while Mathilde was married and the passage of ownership of the apartment is at times as confusing as the paternity of both Mathias and Chloé.

The three main actors manage to pull this off and are aided by some fine cameos by Dominique Pinon and Noémie Lvovsky. Sophie Touitou plays the casual opera singer along the Seine (is this her voice or a voice over?) singing Mozart and dueting with Kline in 'La ci darem la mano' from 'Don Giovanni.' This adds a bit of class to the film.

Once the film decides it is not a n angry comedy but a quasi-serious love story the film becomes far more interesting. Not a great film, but it is always a pleasure seeing Smith, Kline and Thomas in action. Grady Harp, February 15

I didn't like it much. If they had told me that it's a theatrical piece then I would have been prepared, but thinking that it's a movie... no, definitely it's not the movie I like.

I'm wondering why as the acting is very good and this movie is almost flawless, but... too simple? The Kevin Kline's character, is it not likeable? Too short? Too long? Too much complaining and whining? I don't know, it's hard to say, but in the end I was thinking... which movie I just watched? A comedy, a drama, a "dramedy" perhaps?

Not even in this case I can say something... I just watched a movie that didn't satisfy me, that's it.

Went to see this today based on the trailer, from which I thought it was a comedy. It is funny, but also serious and engaging. Liked it much more than I thought I would and would definitely recommend it. At the end I realized that I would want to watch it again to see the themes of relationship as I then understood them with hindsight. The three principal actors are all excellent in their roles and in their relationships with each other. It felt honest and not pretentious or 'preachy', but definitely deep and engaging.

No one ends up the hero in this film, but that is often how real life often turns out.

You can tell when films are adapted from plays because generally the writing is top-notch, the ideas are dense, and the pacing and plot will be unconventional.

They can also fall flat on their face. That doesn't happen here for two reasons. One is that Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott-Thomas bring their A-game, even when delivering a boring caricature of alcoholism. Maggie Smith, who mainly annoys me, actually does a great job playing a sympathetic old lady, not some shrill old aristocratic boot.

The oddity would be a spoiler so I won't, but let me just say that this becomes a bit more complicated than happy/unhappy families in an unexpected way, where you can find yourself suddenly thinking 'wait - what?'. The fact that things so serious are dealt with so flippantly (as Wilde suggested, take the serious things lightly and the light things seriously) so goes against the grain that it's no bad thing when something like this makes it to the screen, so we should be grateful for that.

The premise is brilliantly knotty, the unknotting is a bit meh, the twists and turns are a bit eyebrow-raising, Paris looks stunning, there's a brilliantly eccentric opera scene that bookends the film, and the casting really is spot on. Not a complete waste of time, not at all.

Were it not for the fact that I had already read reviews, I would have been shocked by this movie, because it was not, in fact, a comedy. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is neither light nor heavy, but rather the perfect balance.

It addressed the fact that there is no 'following your heart' or doing whatever feels right to you, without affecting other people. Mostly, there will be negative consequences/effects, but when you and the people around you open yourselves to truth, no matter how difficult, healing comes and eventually, a positive effect. I highly recommend this movie.

'My Old Lady' is a film blessed with talents & hence its A Brilliantly Acted Film! And even as a film, its sweet, with some towering moments.

'My Old Lady' Synopsis: An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident.

'My Old Lady' triumphs in the acting department. Kevin Kline is unbelievable. Seriously, how can an actor be so consistent & fresh as Kline? The Thespian delivers a milestone of a performance, full of melancholy & yet bringing a humorous touch to his part. Maggie Smith is first-rate, enacting her part with great ease. Kristin Scott Thomas is in tremendous form. Its such a pleasure to watch this rather underrated actress cast in a role, that justifies her talent.

Israel Horovitz's Screenplay focuses on relationship & its nicely done. There are some intense turns in the second-hour, which also, work. Horovitz's Direction is competently done, as well.

On the whole, 'My Old Lady' is exemplary performance-wise. Just for the actors alone, give this one a shot!

I wasn't expecting much from this film but I was pleasantly surprised. 'My Old Lady' is a well-written, steady drama with a very simple storyline, but that's all that is needed.

The relationship between the characters is what the film is all about and Maggie Smith and Kevin Kline were two perfect choices for the main characters. The humour is subtle but there's no doubt that this is a comedy-drama film and Maggie Smith is particularly funny.

Sometimes less is more and 'My Old Lady' is certainly a testament to that. A very simple, slow film but just as effective as the more complicated, fast-paced dramas out there.

Conmovedara film is a very dense, at no time has any point of comedy, Kline can produce some of this but it is very subtle, phenomenal Scott Thomas, an actress who makes you take the character and be there, well, the best of the top three, The film the medium is a little slow but as you can marvel at the beautiful scenery of Paris that is worth. In short a movie that is cute to see, with a trio of actors in very good standard and a script that perhaps lacked a little more strength to Englebert in history. I recommend to people more than 40 years, I think they will enjoy it as much better, does not mean not enjoy and that I have 32, but more for them.

I have to admit, I was confused at first. Not because this is more a drama than a comedy (Kevin Kline in the cast does not immediately mean it's a comedy). No I'm talking about someone buying a house, but actually not having bought it until ... something happens. And having to pay rent for that house that you kind of bought ... it sounds strange and it was a strange concept to wrap my head around.

Not sure if this is only possible in France (or even if it is possible there, have to search the web for this now). The acting is phenomenal, but you'd expect that. You could say, that the story lets you down a little, especially the way it turns out ... which is something you can see coming and some things should not have been in there (like the scene during the credits - we knew this was going to happen, unnecessary to show it, even if it's played with gusto by Kevin Kline). There's also an "outtake" after the credits end. Overall a more than decent drama with a very slow pace

The whole film is shot in Paris and many of the scenes are simply drippingly gorgeous. It is a very charming movie, with some heavy undertones and one I will watch again. There's a good message in it. Loved Dominique Pinon as the real estate agent. Kristin Scott Thomas is so good, mixing up mean and nasty with tenderness and self-awareness. Maggie is a stitch and just superb! Kevin excellently portrays a man who is down and out, carrying around emotional baggage. Stéphane Freiss always seems to play a neurotic Frenchman, but he does frenzied well. Many times I laughed out loud in this movie! I've studied French my whole life, but learned a new word in this movie: viager. I am surprised critics have come down so hard on it. But, I am almost as old as Kevin Kline, I adore Paris, I love movies where you can laugh and still be brought to tears and ones that have a good message.

I was expecting more of a comedy from the trailer and the listed genre, but this film deals with a very serious issue and deals with it well with a good cast and acting. Typical with many BBC films though is the slow pace which tends to drag the film along.

I watched this film on a whim when nothing else in the available selection piqued my interest and I was pleasantly surprised! The film starts out a little slow but over time we learn more about the characters, their past and how they all ended up coming together in the present moment. During that time there were several surprises and curve balls thrown which rattles the characters but ultimately there is a good resolution.

This movie is one of those mildly funny feel-good movies that you'd tune into if you just want to sit back and relax casually. I must say that I was surprised to have enjoyed this movie so much since I'm usually an action and thriller movie type of person but I ended up liking this one so much that I bought the DVD! I hope that more people will open their minds to this movie and fully enjoy what it has to offer.

It's not often that I'm this scathing on a movie, but this is everything that's wrong with independent cinema at the moment. I watched this with a friend over the weekend and it was truly the most boring movie I've ever seen. So full of itself and utterly pointless. It's all false intellectualism and trumped up melodrama. The acting was excellent, it's just a pity they had to deliver such cliché and ridiculous dialogue. I don't know who the writer or director is, but hopefully they think twice before committing tripe like this to film again. Avoid at all costs. It's not even worth watching for free. Don't waste your time.