Vera Drake (2004)

See all 5 Vera Drake posters

• Quotes (2)
• Plot Description
• Soundtrack
• Wallpapers
• Shooting Locations
• Popularity

Directed by
Mike Leigh

Written by
Mike Leigh

Cast
Imelda Staunton, Richard Graham, Eddie Marsan, Anna Keaveney, Alex Kelly [more]

Vera Drake Reviews

I see many Oscar nominations in "Vera Drake's" future, chief among them ones for Staunton's shattering performance and Leigh's notoriously intense direction and beautifully crafted screenplay. No less worthy are the costumers, make-up artists, art directors, and set decorators who have brought back to life London after the Blitz and done wonderful justice to Leigh's ensemble of finely drawn characters. [read review]  --Elaine Perrone (eFilmCritic.com) Gradually scenes become less humanistic and more about storytelling, something Leigh has always avoided. Scenes at the end seem to exist solely to further the narrative, and since the story is quite easy to predict, the film develops into a weighty melodrama we watch unfold while staying one step ahead. This is a weakness in an otherwise strong film. [read review]  --Lucas Stensland (CultureDose.net) Part of that goes to the outstanding Imelda Staunton, who if the Academy does not award at the end of the year, I will never watch the Oscars again. ... This movie is powerhouse stuff all the way. Bravo Mike Leigh. [read review] A --Craig Younkin (Lee's Movie Info) Conveying a bygone world with subtlety and skill, but not sentimentality, "Vera Drake" confirms Leigh's reputation as one of the world's master filmmakers — and showcases Staunton as one of its great actresses. [read review]  --Lou Lumenick (New York Post) Beautifully shot and impeccably acted with human interaction that remains easy to relate to though taking place in a different era, Vera Drake will keep your mind reeling well after leaving the theater. [read review]  --Rachel Gordon (FilmCritic.com) Where many filmmakers would treat abortion as an enormous entree and serve it up without a thought to presentation, Leigh uses it as a centerpiece and surrounds it with an elegant buffet. [read review] B+ --Eric D. Snider (EricDSnider.com) For those who have the patience to become absorbed in this kind of drama, Vera Drake offers a stunningly real character portrait whose image will linger long after the movie has faded. [read review]  --James Berardinelli (ReelViews) "Vera Drake" is a carefully calibrated parable that quietly sneaks into your heart and prods it sharply. [read review] --Desson Thomson (Washington Post) Impressively directed, heart-breaking drama with a stunning central performance by Imelda Staunton. [read review]  --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon) One inevitably leaves the theater not with a sense of anger, but in overwhelming sadness. [read review] --Shari L. Rosenblum (CineScene)

• review by David N. Butterworth
• review by Harvey S. Karten
• review by Jon Popick
• review by Jonathan F. Richards
• review by Karina Montgomery
• review by Laura Clifford
• review by Robin Clifford
• review by Steve Rhodes