Vera Drake (2004)

Heart-of-gold cleaning woman has a life hidden from all those closest to her. The movie's not bad...but the several repetitious scenes in a movie that's far too long really got on my nerves. It was also quite hard for me to believe that someone seemingly so naturally good would be able to hide these illegal activities from everyone. If she believed so strongly in the righteousness of her acts, no way could she not have spoken these beliefs aloud -- especially to her openly crazy-about-her husband. The very best parts of the movie were those that concerned bachelor Reg and his slowly blossoming romance with daughter Ethel. Those were heartwarming and welcome.

B-