Once Upon a Twilight!: The Dressmaker movie

The Dressmaker
Director: Jocelyn Moorehouse
Writers: Rosalie Ham, P.J. Hogan, Jocelyn Moorehouse
Starring: Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving
MPAA Rating: Rated R for brief language and a scene of violence
Official Socials: Website | Facebook | Twitter | IMDb

Based on Rosalie Ham's best selling novel, The Dressmaker is the story of femme fatale Tilly Dunnage who returns to her small home town in the country to right the wrongs of the past. A stylish drama with comic undertones about love, revenge and haute couture.

A story of revenge and trying to right ones past.

I literally don't want to tell anyone a thing about this movie. I want them to go and experience it for themselves. So this review will be bare minimum and hopefully it'll entice you enough to go watch this movie!

I went in - as I do most movies - completely blind. I had no idea what this movie was. And what I had expected was so far from what this was. I was laughing most of the time I was watching this. When I had thought that this was going to be a serious film.

Hugo Weaving steals the show! I'm so use to him playing this mean and evil character in most of his roles, so for him to be in such a light hearted role was basically amazing. I literally couldn't wait for him to be on the screen again.

And Kate. I love Kate Winslet so much. And she did such a great job playing Tilly. You feel for her, even when you're worried about what her story might be.

I wouldn't be surprised if this film was nominated for multiple Oscars. The writing being one of them, the cinematography was great as well. The shots, and the editing, helped to grip audiences and keep them into the story of the film.

Honestly. I'm going to be telling everyone to go and see this film.

The Dressmaker

Directed by: Jocelyn Moorhouse

Written by: Rosalie Ham (Novel by), P.J. Hogan and Jocelyn Moorhouse (Screenplay by)

Produced by: Sue Maslin
Starring: Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, Judy Davis, Caroline Goodall

Official Sites: Facebook: Facebook | Twitter

A glamorous, worldly dressmaker returns to her small Australian hometown to seek the truth behind her notorious reputation. This dark and quirky comedy stars Academy Award winner Kate Winslet as Tilly Dunnage, who cares for her eccentric mother (Academy Award nominee Judy Davis), schemes with the local sergeant (Hugo Weaving) who has secrets of his own, and falls for local farmer Teddy (Liam Hemsworth). As she starts to unravel her scandalous past, she transforms the town’s women with her exquisite creations. Armed with only her sewing machine and haute couture style, Tilly shows she is a force to be reckoned with and that revenge never goes out of style.

You know you’re off to a good start when the opening line of the movie is “I’m back, you bastards”. The Dressmaker was a wonderful story that delivers the viewer through the full gamut of emotions. The cinematography was both bold and dramatic, and the isolated of setting of the small town was picture perfect. The dead but beautiful trees around town lent much to the drama of the story which had numerous comedic moments.

Kate Winslet’s character Tilly is a woman who comes home to the tiny town of Dungatar to try to remember her past, while exacting a quiet revenge on the town that exiled her. She transforms the women of the town with fashion and manipulates them in a way they are never aware of. Tilly’s development in this movie is also strongly influenced by the relationship she is rebuilding with her mentally ill mother ‘Mad Molly’ played by Judy Davis. Hugo Weaving had a fabulous role as the cross dressing cop who lends a bit of comic relief while always very endearing. There were a few haunting moments in the movie that have stayed with me, but mostly positive memorable moments, such as Liam Hemsworth (just, in general), and the creative and whimsical fashion throughout the movie. It is hard to say too much without spoilers. If you appreciate an interesting story, talented actors, and visually pleasing cinematography then chances are good that you will enjoy this movie.

Our evening was hosted by a collection of groups including Magpies & Peacocks, Houston Vintage, Southwest Alternate Media Project, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The evening started with a cocktail party and ended with meeting the reigning Miss Houston Vintage, as well as two former Miss Houston Vintages (and a swag bag!). They were all gracious hostesses, not to mention fabulously dressed!