Iris (2001/I)

Director:

Richard Eyre

Writers:

John Bayley (books)
Richard Eyre (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 January 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Her greatest talent was for life

Plot:

True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Plot Keywords:

Alzheimer's Disease | Novelist | Love | Marriage | Death

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Kate Winslet	...	Young Iris Murdoch
Hugh Bonneville	...	Young John Bayley
Judi Dench	...	Iris Murdoch
Jim Broadbent	...	John Bayley
Eleanor Bron	...	Principal
Angela Morant	...	Hostess
Penelope Wilton	...	Janet Stone
Siobhan Hayes	...	Check-Out Girl
Juliet Aubrey	...	Young Janet Stone
Joan Bakewell	...	BBC Presenter
Nancy Carroll	...	BBC PA
Kris Marshall	...	Dr. Gudgeon
Tom Mannion	...	Neurologist
Derek Hutchinson	...	Postman
Samuel West	...	Young Maurice (as Sam West)

Also Known As:

Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:18SX | Hungary:14 | Singapore:PG (video rating) (heavily cut) | Singapore:R(A) (theatrical rating) (cut) | South Korea:15 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:AA | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Magpie Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Timothy West who plays "Older Maurice" and Samuel West who plays "Young Maurice" are father and son.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Iris and John are traveling to the nursing home, they are seen crossing a bridge. This bridge is Magdalene Bridge and leads to East Oxford, yet The Vale House, where Iris Murdoch spent the final years if her life, was (and still is) in South Oxford.

Quotes:

Young Iris Murdoch: [to John] You know more about me than anyone. You are my world.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Magic of 'Finding Neverland' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

How Much is that Doggie in the Window

Incredibly Disappointing

Iris seemed to have all the makings of a great film at the outlook. It is supposed to be of an interesting person and who many consider a genius. The cast seems to amazingly put together and the film is made of a notable director. Yet this film is lacking a lot in many aspects.

Now the acting is the one thing that was not lacking, especially considering the way the rest of the movie went. The performances were the only thing that gave me hope for a fulfilling movie. Especially when it came to that of a prominent couple and a famous well rounded woman. That woman is played by two of the finest actresses; Kate Winslet and Judi Dench play Iris Murdoch at the opposite ends of her life. These casting choices were perfect as well as the choice of Jim Broadbent who plays the role of the older Jim Bayley. These choices are ideal and the film is came some what alive only because of them. They gave depth to their roles were not too much was given and made us feel emotions for characters that didn't come off as too interesting in the film.

Where this film does very much fail is the directing and writing by Ricard Eyre. The pacing of the film is horrible and our view of Iris Murdoch and Jim Bayley is extremely limited. Rather than them coming across as intellectuals, we are simply just told they are that. The story basically surrounds that of Iris Murdoch's battle with Alzheimer's disease and for not really any logical reason the telling of her early life is wasted. If you take Murdoch and Bayley for what they are in the film they come off as desperate and pathetic. Also in the movie their is not enough of a build up towards the end to make us feel anything emotional towards the characters. The film drags on with no climax at all and this movie is only about 90 minutes. This movie was supposed to be a short romance instead of a biopic and that proved to be very costly in a very boring and seemingly pointless film.