Kate Winslet's Wicked Performance in The Dressmaker Is Everything We Love About Her

Go see this movie when it hits theaters.  I screened this at TIFF last week, and walked into the screening for Kate Winslet and dresses, but walked out with so much more.  It was a far more wickedly, riveting story.  It starts off with a bang (a literal percussion), and ends with an even bigger bang.  The ending I must admit, is rather cruel, yet invigoratingly fiery.  For a major studio film, there was a touch of indie flare to the ending that really took this film to another level of awesome.

The beginning introduces you to the dramatic and darker edges of the film, but the rural Australian backdrop lends itself to adding comedic dreariness throughout the story. It was like watching a kaleidoscope of movie magic.

Kate Winslet displays all her best qualities in this one dramatic, quirky, charming, inspiring, movie.  She’s everything sexy, beautiful, smart, funny, vulnerable, and spunky.  Something that stood out to me and made this leading lady even more gumptious is that I think this is the first time I’ve seen an older woman have a romantic relationship with a younger man without her being portrayed as a cougar.  In fact, in this film she and Liam Hemsworth were portrayed as the same age.  I loved that.

Moreover, I love a film that doesn’t bang you over the head with a good message, and rather sews itself naturally into the story like needle work.  Outcast at the age of ten, she returns to face the demons imposed upon her and finds the truth.  It’s rather warming actually, though the end is riddled with tragedy.  Ultimately, Kate’s character comes out on top.

One of my favourite lines is when Molly (Judy Davis), Kate’s mother in the film, says to her “You’re able to create and transform people, that’s powerful.”  What a great and true statement.  To create and to inspire beauty in the world is an incredible gift. Even more incredible is to have the ability to make others feel beautiful.

It also doesn’t hurt that Liam Hemsworth was oozing with yumminess.  Of course they had to do a shirtless scene with him—how could they not?  Yes, he’s beautiful, but there’s something really charming and real about his performances. The characters he tends to play are rather simple, but there’s a certain honesty about them. I’ve really tried hard not to like him, because I’m only now starting to come around to forgiving him for his Miley Cyrus days.  Still, I can’t help but like the man.  You want to invest in this stand up, romantic figure, and feel the warmth of his cuddle…don’t tell my fiancé I said that.  

Warning:  There is one bit towards the end that will leave you with your jaw dropped, asking why and how for about 5 to 10 minutes until you must finally accept that this was no joke. I don’t want to give away what happens, but I could not believe they actually let that happen in the movie. While it through me for a loop, and I still don’t know if I like that plot twist or not, I think it’s part of what gave this film an extra edge.  I love this film so much, because it was so unexpected. 

Not to mention, Kate Winslet in this film, and probably Kate Winslet in real life, is every bit of woman I hope to be.  She is the definition of fabulous.

BIG LOVE & HUGS

Love,

Justine
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