Review: TAMARA DREWE

Gemma Aterton was a standout as Strawberry Fields in the last 007 film, QUANTUM OF SOLACE and now delivers a breakthrough lead performance in the new British comedy TAMARA DREWE. Director Stephen Frears’ adaption of Posey Simmonds’ graphic novel (which is in turn was based on Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd) about a beauty who returns to her sleepy hometown to disrupts everyone’s life, presents a bucolic England of leaf-covered roads, rolling fields and thatched houses but TAMARA DREWE has an edgy side and a dramatic climax that takes it in a dark and unexpected direction. Hugely enjoyable and not quite like anything else I’ve seen, this is certainly one of the best British films of the year.

TAMARA DREWE takes place in the village of Ewedown, which has become a writers colony, a place for authors to relax, work and critique each other’s product. Former ugly duckling Tamara Drewe (Aterton) had fled Ewedown to London where she got a newspaper column and a nose job, but has now returned to sell her parent’s house and interview a rock star. Soon enough, three local men fall for the suddenly desirable Tamara: the married romance novelist Nicholas (Roger Allam), the pouty eyeliner-wearing pop star Ben (Dominic Cooper) and her former flame Andy (Luke Evans). While her house is being fixed up by Andy, Tamara writes her own novel, marries Ben, and seduces Nicholas. Little does she know that two mischief-making teenage schoolgirls, Jody and Casey, are scheming to come closer to the rock star and their hijinks will set in motion a chain of events that leads to tragedy.

The script of TAMARA DREWE by Moira Buffini is mostly sharp with some suitable observations about life in an English countryside which is not always as idyllic as it looks (In fact, there are a couple of moments of relatively shocking violence in the film). Frears keeps the action fast-paced with some real surprises and he’s so effective in evoking the village’s snooty atmosphere at the start that our amusement at the way Tamara can effortlessly change things is enhanced. Most of the characters in TAMARA DREWE are trying to find themselves in some way. The writers at the colony on the surface admire those who have been published but are mostly seething with jealous rage. Nicholas is the most successful, so he has the longest way to fall after he makes a fool of himself falling for Tamara. The ensemble cast does a great job and there’s all the biting wit and sparkling dialogue you’d expect from a story where much of the action takes place at a writers’ retreat. All of the supporting performances are noteworthy but Tamsin Greig as Nicholas’ long-suffering wife is a real standout. TAMARA DREWE is a real showcase for the stunning Aterton, who plays Tamara, a woman used to being groped and adored, with the right measure of sexiness and steely efficiency. But the scene stealers of the piece are Jessica Barden and Charlotte Christie, as the pair of hormonal teen girls whose idea of excitement is gossip magazines, egging cars and breaking into homes. At first their antics are played for laughs, but they soon start to negatively impact the dynamics of the relationships so all the viewer can do is enjoy the foolishness that is unfolding and the story that is heading towards catastrophe.

4 of 5 Stars