Madame

Good development with Rossy de Palma sitting at her Madame's dinner party and becoming the hit of the evening. Toni Collette is having an affair. Her husband Harvey Keitel likewise. Their older son writes a book about the maid. The rich dinner guest art connoisseur gives De Palma the impression he loves her. She loves him. He gives her expensive earrings and takes her to restaurants and weekends where Madame and family are. Toni Collete is furious that her maid is having an affair. She berates her. And then whispers something bad about DePalma to him. To that point the film is moving forward in a clear direction, but after that whisper the light loving script falls to unintelligible chaos. Collette has a bandaged foot. Her love ends. The son's book pages fly all over the terrace. Keitel kisses the French tutor. Rossy DePalma maintains her dignity even when the art connoisseur and Madame completely ignore her when she serves them tea. This film promises lasting love to us as well as DePalma, but it doesn't deliver.

It was a fine comedy with a strong beginning but a rather weakish second half. Toni Collette was great and and the top of her game with another great characters under her belt and she once again proved her abilities as a true chameleon actress. Also she was quite sexy here, that just on a side note. It was good to see Harvey Keitel in another major role and he obviously had a lot of fun with his character. A very vital performance. The true highlight of the film is the performance of Rossy de Palma. What a riot! She totally owns every scene she is in with her great charmes comedic timing and depth. A very good supporting performance. The rest of the cast is solid enough to give the film some drive. The screenplay was not great, as I said story and dialogue worked at the beginning but it seems they ran out of ideas quite quick and did not offer a great conclusion and neither a very interesting development. Fine score and good cinematography make it worthwhile.

This is totally a Rossy de palma's Movie. She takes the cake with her awesome performance be it the comic timing or the seriousness of her character. Toni and Harvey fo good jobs in their roles. But sadly the ending was too disappointing. I mean it could have been better. Overall worth a watch though.

In this almost one-woman show Amanda Sthers wrote the story, the screenplay, the adaptation (with Matthew Robbins), and directed this biting farce about wealth and values and prejudices and love etc. Largely due to a fine cast of actors this slight film works though it does wander a bit and leaves some plot lines unfinished. Adding a little spice to a waning marriage, Anne and Bob (Toni Collette and Harvey Keitel), a wealthy and well-connected American couple, move into a manor house in romantic Paris. While preparing a particularly luxurious dinner for sophisticated international friends, our hostess Anne discovers there are thirteen guests. Panic-stricken, Anne insists her loyal maid Maria (Almodovar favorite actress Rossy de Palma) disguise herself as a mysterious Spanish noble woman to even out the numbers. But a little too much wine, and some playful chat, lead Maria to accidentally endear herself to a dandy British art broker (Michael Smiley). Their budding romance will have Anne chasing her maid around Paris and finally plotting to destroy this most unexpected and joyous love affair. The subplot of art dealing is left unresolved as is the final resolution of Maria hopes for lasting love. Toni Collette is, as usual, a pleasure to watch - all innuendoes and snappy dialog and looks that melt other characters. Rossy de Palma is terrific and the remainder of the cast lives up to the very slight story demands that never quite get off the ground (or finishes).

There are complaints about the ending. But I found it to be a happy one. There were a lot of clues about the art dealer's true motivations. He found Maria charming, yes. But his true motivation was to meet her supposedly aristocratic family in Madrid and make some lucrative sales. He was no different than the other shallow, unfaithful, mercenary characters in that social set. She escaped the ultimate fate of Anne and the other chronically cuckolded characters with her dignity intact. And the knowledge of Maria's integrity and character, along with the expression on her face, made her appear truly beautiful as she crossed that bridge - despite her oddball features.

This movie could have been something truly amazing but it just seems to limp along without much focus at any of the main plot points. The only saving grace was the dead pan wit and charm of Rossy de Palma.

I really don't understand why people are bashing this movie. It is one of the most entertaining, heartfelt and hilarious comedies I've seen in a while. One of the main reasons why I went to see this movie with my mother was Rossy de Palma. I like a lot her work in spanish films and I think she's a very versatile actress in comedy, and her job in 'Madame' wasn't the exception. I loved her character and in general I liked everyone's job and how good they fit in it. 10/10 I think it is a very good movie with really funny moments every minute, good acting, nice script and fancy clothes. Believe me, it is totally worth of your time. You won't be dissapointed. Enjoy!