19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A REMARKABLE FILM..., July 5, 2001
Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor, and Jane Horrocks give absolutely stellar performances in this wonderfully quirky film. The title of the film refers to Jane Horrocks' character who is called "Little Voice" or LV, for short.
LV is a mousy, meek, painfully shy and reclusive little thing with an itty bitty speaking voice. She is totally overwhelmed by her brazen and common mother, Mari (Brenda Blethyn), who treats LV with scarcely concealed contempt. Part of that contempt is fueled by LV's devotion to her late father's memory and her fondness for old time musical stars. She has a collection of records by those long ago stars, that she plays over and over, a collection that she apparently inherited from her beloved father.
Her passion for this music drives her mother crazy, as it seems to remind Mari of her late husband, whom she apparently held in the same regard in which she holds LV. Only Billy (Ewan MCGregor), the local telephone repairman, a sensitive, young man who trains and raises pigeons as a hobby, seems to talk to LV as if she were a sentient being.
Mari begins dating Ray Say (Michael Caine), an over the hill, has been talent scout. Mari is pathetic, as she tries desperately to hang on to whatever vestiges of her youth remain. Ray, a sleazy opportunist, who thinks that he is God's gift to women, does not exactly reciprocate Mari's lavish affections. I cannot, however, think of two people who deserve each other more.
One day, LV is in her room singing, and Ray overhears her, but what he hears is "Judy Garland". It seems that LV can sing and sound exactly like those old time musical stars. Ray is in seventh heaven with his discovery. You can almost see the dollar signs in his eyes. He will do whatever it takes to get LV on stage, though his unctiousness towards her only serves to fuel Mari's jealousy of Ray's attention to her daughter.
Ultimately, Mari and Ray band together, however, as LV is their meal ticket to fame and fortune, if they can only get her to overcome her shyness and reclusiveness. They do not, however, understand why she sings. It is this lack of perception that that will, in the end, be their undoing.
Nonetheless, LV goes on to give one of the most show stopping performances ever to grace center stage. The transformation is incredible. Jane Horrocks gives a performance to be remembered! The only question is whether Ray and Mari can get LV to sing more than once. See the movie and find out for yourself. This is, without a doubt, an exceptional film.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A little known film that needs it's own spotlight!, July 14, 2000
I saw this movie on a whim. For those people, like myself, who haven't yet taken the big steps into 'indie' films, this movie is a good place to start.
It's about Little Voice (played by an amazingly talented Jane Horrocks, where did this girl come from?), a young woman with a voice that's barely above a whisper. And living with her mother (played by the enjoyable Brenda Blethyn), I can understand why. But LV has got something about her. When she wants to express herself she opens up her mouth and sings. What I was suprised to learn was that Ms.Horrocks does all of her own singing, which is amazing!
Needless to say, it's not long before people are discovering her, including sleazy agent Micheal Caine and sweet pidgeon messenger Ewan McGregor. I'm not going to say any more, I want everyone to see this movie, because it really is a fantastic one! It's too bad it's not more well known, because the performances are great, the acting is superb, and the whole feel of the movie is one that makes you want to get up and dance!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Little Voice is a BIG surprise!, September 15, 1999
I wasn't expecting great things when I first sat down to watch "Little Voice". My God, was I blown away. What a movie! What a cast! And Jane Horrocks (Bubble from "Absolutely Fabulous") what a voice! A shy, young introvert (Horrocks) locks herself away in her room where she mimicks Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Bassey in an attempt to escape her over-bearing, loud, common mother (played to the hilt by the brilliant Blethyn). Enter a sleazy, slimy talent agent (Caine) who discovers her and tries to cash in on Little Voice's amazing talent. I won't say too much more except you MUST buy this movie to add to your DVD library! If only to hear Horrocks' voice. Yes, she actually sang all the numbers herself in this movie....AMAZING! Why didn't this movie win an Academy Award for something? Who votes in the winners? Are they blind as well as deaf? What's wrong with Hollywood today?
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