Tea With The Dames (2018) Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years 2016()

Tea With The Dames (2018) – Four of great ladies of the English theatre gather together to tell stories and have a bit of wine.

Directed by Roger Michell           Starring – Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins

Why I Liked It – Some wonderful actresses share some great stories.  It’s “fly on the wall” time.

My background is rooted in the theater.  It’s where I met my wife, and Kid Phlipside has spent a fair amount of time on stage as well.  So the whole family was pumped to see this movie.

And, it’s good.  But not as good as we’d hoped.  The trailer made it look like a laugh a minute, with many salacious stories either shared or at least hinted at.  What you get is a fair amount of that along with some less exciting bits.  Most American movie fans will recognize the names of Smith and Dench.  Joan Plowright was married to Laurence Olivier and had an immense career, mostly in England.  She won a Tony for her work on Broadway in 1961, then was a mainstay at the National Theater in England for years.  Eileen Atkins is a four-time Tony nominee, and a five-time Laurence Olivier award nominee (winning four times).  Her career also centered in the U.K., both on stage and television.

The “fly on the wall” moments, as four longtime friends share memories, and the occasional barbed joke makes it well worth the time.

Rating *** Worth A Look

Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years (2016)  Between 1963 and 1966, the Beatles played 250 concerts.  The film shows how those performances turned the group into the biggest musical act in the world and led their breakup.

Directed by Ron Howard               Starring John, Paul, George, and Ringo

Why I Liked It – A good story, well told.

Howard uses contemporary audio and video along with modern additions to give you the feel for what was happening to the Fab Four.  I don’t know that there is a lot new to be found here, but it is a comprehensive look at the effect of fame on the group and their music.

There had never been anything quite like “Beatlemania”, and no one was prepared for the impact.

Rating *** Worth A Look