Notes On A Scandal (DVD)

The question is not about homosexuality or any kind of deviant behavior, really. The situation in which two women find themselves is definitely one of their own making, both actresses making the characters believable in their motivations, and even somewhat sympathetic as they make mistake after mistake, lusting after what they ultimately cannot have. Yet we empathize with these women because they are written so well and acted so sensitively and viscerally by Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench, with some real contribution from young catalyst Andrew Simpson as well. The two characters are truly more alike than they are different and we ultimately wonder if they ever really learn anything.