Philomena

Why is it that independent films tend to be produced with much more polish and artistic quality then that of their commercial counterparts? Go on, create your own list: independent and commercial and if you are extremely honest, the independent films will more than 'outweigh' in the quality realm. Well there is yet another quality film to add to that ever growing list of quality independent films which is in the form of "Philomena".

Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee", this story focuses on the exhaustive efforts of Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock back in the early '50s--something her Irish Catholic community didn't have the highest regard for--and was given away, by the convent she resided in, for adoption to a family in the United States. In following church protocol, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn't allow for any inquiry into the son's whereabouts. After starting a family years later in England and, for the most part, moving on with her life, Lee meets Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a BBC investigative reporter with whom she decides to discover the actual whereabouts of her long lost son.

Others to round out the cast are Sophie Kennedy Clark as Young Philomena, Mare Winningham as Mary, Barbara Jefford as Sister Hildegard, Ruth McCabe as Mother Barbara, Peter Hermann as Pete Olsson, Sean Mahon as Michael, Anna Maxwell Martin as Jane, Michelle Fairley as Sally Mitchell, Kate Fleetwood as Young Sister Hildegard, Amy McAllister as Sister Anunciata, Wunmi Mosaku as Young Nun, Cathy Belton as Sister Claire, and Charlie Murphy as Kathleen.

This was incredibly well directed with sensitivity, however with the right amount of directness by veteran Stephen Frears ("Gumshoe" '71, "Last Summer" (TV movie) '77, "Afternoon Off" (TV movie) '79, "The Last Company Car" (TV movie) '83, "My Beautiful Laundrette" '85, "Prick Ups Your Ears" '87, "Dangerous Liaisons" '88, "The Grifters" '90, "Hero" '92, "Mary Reilly" '96, "The Hi-Lo Country" '98, "High Fidelity" 2000, "Fail Safe" (TV movie) 2000, "Dirty Pretty Things" '02, "Mrs. Henderson Presents" '05, "The Queen" '06, "Skip Tracer" (TV movie) '08, "Tamara Drewe" '10, "Lay the Favorite" '12), and many others. This was well executed by writers, Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope based on Sixsmith's book. Coogan isn't known for his writing, so the question is: is this ability to write going to continue? I haven't seen some seasoned writers write this well. I smell possible Oscar buzz around this.

This film has a lot to say, and through Dench's sensitivity and Coogan's directness to find this woman's son, it is a 'road trip' you won't want to miss.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                              Rated: PG-13                         98mins.