Blithe Spirit (2020) (2020)

January 27, 2024 1:56 PM

A spiritualist medium holds a seance for a writer suffering from writers block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years.

This is the most recent (as of this writing) screen adaptation of the Noël Coward stage play, produced in 2020. Starring Judy Dench (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), directed by Edward Hall (a director of little account).

Seems that in the afterlife, one has access to an endlessly varied and glamorous wardrobe.

posted by adamrice (3 comments total)

This isn’t a good remake. The original 1945 film is much, much better.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:36 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

I really, really wanted to like this film, because I love Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Judy Dench. Alas, it was largely flat and unfunny. There is one plot bit with Judy Dench that I found touching. But the pacing felt entirely off, and it felt like a much-longer movie than it was (and not in a good way). Great costumes and set dressing, though!
posted by rednikki at 11:23 AM on January 29

Saw the stage revival in...2014? With Angela Lansbury as Madam Arcati. This cast sounds promising, but it's got a pretty high bar to clear, and it doesn't sound like it does.
posted by Naberius at 5:57 PM on January 29