Narrow Window into the Life of LS Lowry
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by CP Customer
Interesting film centring of the last years of Mrs Lowry's life and the hold she had over LS until her demise. Hopefully how he blossomed after her death will be the subject of another film?
5 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Matchstick Men
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by JD
I love the paintings of LSLowery and this movie is very well acted. Timothy Spall is one of your favourite’s.
Sadly the movie only explores the close relationship of mother and son whereas I wold have loved to see how his career developed.
Worth a look.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Slow
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by JB
found this incredibly slow and monotonous. Though gathered that his Mother was a real bitch, how on other did he live with being under her thumb? It was much too slow for me to enjoy, wouldn't recommend it to anyone!
2 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Interesting Part Biopic
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by GI
With two superb central performances from Vanessa Redgrave and Timothy Spall this is a low key theatrical chamber piece that follows the complex relationship between the artist L.S. Lowry and his bedridden, cantankerous and neurotic mother. A rather sombre film which lends itself better to a TV viewing it is set in Manchester in 1934 before Lowry has been 'discovered' and paints only to please his mother who is constantly critical and at times downright nasty about his talent. The film is not without its humour and it is of interest in charting the troubled life of Lowry but its the performances that make it worth checking out.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
First Rate
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by JR
Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave give an acting masterclass - every expression, every gesture is an expression of Lowry's love for his mother but also his pain and pent up frustration at her dismissal of his paintings. Redgrave as the bed bound Mrs Lowry balances her social climbing and sometimes cruel domination of her sensitive son with a portrayal of an intelligent and cultured woman whose every aspiration in life has been denied her by her social class and a bad marriage. Most of the film takes place in Mrs Lowry's bedroom in their grim Victorian terrace. but there is humour and beauty in the film's depiction of the landscapes and scenes of ordinary folk that we know from Lowry's paintings. Noble's direction and the musical score are both spot on and it all adds up to a first rate film.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
A bit slow but well acted
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by AL
Very well acted, but extremely slow. Would have been nice to have seen a little more of his art work, what gave him the inspiration and what happened when his career took off.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
So glad to have seen this
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by CW
A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Lowry Museum when I was in Manchester. Thrilling to see works spanning his career. Like the reviewer JD, I wish film would have continued to explore his life and painting after his difficult mother died. I would like to have scenes when his bedroom was opened revealing his passion for and purchase of Pre Raphaelite paintings, especially Rossetti. Still, what we saw was really interesting, poignant and well done. Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave nailed their roles. He suppressed so much of his life to care for and amuse her. This is a thoughtful loving movie. The extras in the Lowry Museum were also v good, where Spall studies a few selected paintings with the curator. This is an important movie of course for those who are familiar with Lowry’s work, but also for those who have not seen the paintings. It inspires one to visit the excellent museum too.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Painfully beautiful
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by BK
Heartbreaking yet heartwarming affirmation of intensity of humans feelings.Story of claustrofobic relationships between mother and sun.Story of devotion to art and to mother.Being true with himself whatever he did.Man of extraordinary perception of seeing beauty in ugliness Showed us that ugliness is also part of life,through it we appreciate beauty even more.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Terrific two-hander
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by DT
Spall is much better as Lowry than he was at being Turner a few years ago. You could really feel his frustration at being stymied by his selfish, needy and vulnerable mother. Redgrave rose to the occasion: one of her masterful portrayals. Nothing lagged or bored in the film.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Nice
- Mrs. Lowry and Son review by HM
Charming drama revolving around Lowry's relationship with his crochety old disabled mother. His career hasn't lifted off yet and she hardly encourages him so the film is really about his determination to pursue art as a career come what may. The obstacles are close and personal. The atmosphere claustrophobic. We know the outcome of his career but the tale behind is engaging and worth a watch. Liked it. Amazingly Maggie Smith didn't get the old lady role!
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.