"Notes On A Scandal"

The NYPost takes the same line as many critics: that "Notes" is classy fun with Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench as two women at a school locked in a steely embrace. (Blanchett is having an affair with a 15 year old student; Dench clearly wants to be closer to Blanchett, though she would never acknowledge the reality behind her impulses.) I have to side with the NYTimes on this, however. For me, "Notes" was a silly, overblown and obvious trifle. No movie with those two (plus Bill Nighy to boot) could be completely without fun and indeed Dench seems to be doing her best Maggie Smith imitation (curling with sarcasm) in the voice-overs. But ultimately it's a very silly bit of nothing with nary a surprise on the way.