Review: Florence Foster Jenkins

On yet another Meryl Streep Oscar nomination this year, a puzzling thought immediately crossed my mind. I wonder is Meryl Streep just being nominated on her reputation at this stage or was this nomination merited? On the basis of Stephen Frears Florence Foster Jenkins, Streep is more than worthy of her academy award nomination as she proves once more that she just is that good!
This highly enterainting period piece tells the tale of the attempts of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy New York heiress (played by Streep) to become an opera singer despite her terrible singing voice. Hugh Grant, Rebecca Ferguson and Simon Helberg make up the supporting cast in this comedy drama period film that sees mocern day Liverpool double as 1940's New York as we follow the quite entertaining yet poignant true tale of this benefactor of the arts as she quite hilariously puts her money where her mouth is and subjects the public to what is a truly appalling singing voice!
Streep is simply enchanting as the millionaire heiress and owns the screen for every second she is on it, giving charm, grace and wit to a fantastic performance that will fit in consistently with all the others in a glittering career.
A special mention too has to go to Hugh Grant ,who was nominated for a Golden Globe (yet criminally overlooked for an Oscar nod) for his role as Jenkins husband, St Clair Bayfield. Grant abandons the usual clumsy English gentleman routine to play a character of more substance and carries it out to great affect.
The costumes and cinematography also contribute to what is a stereotypical crowd pleasing tale that is elevated to a higher plain due to the amazing performances of its cast and it's rather stranger than fiction premise.Highly Recommended.
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