Product Details

• Actors: Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper
• Directors: Stephen Frears
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
• DVD Release Date: February 8, 2011
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003UESJDI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,858 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Tamara Drewe" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Is there anything more idyllic than the English countryside? Perhaps not, but even the most bucolic of settings holds its dark secrets, according to Stephen Frears's lovely, offbeat Tamara Drewe. Tamara Drewe is based on the graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, a British cartoonist who based her work on Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd. There are homages, subtle and not, throughout to Hardy and his work, but even non-Hardy aficionados will enjoy Tamara Drewe and its dark, microscopic view of the gentry. The title character is played by the winsome Gemma Arterton, who as a young lass in the lovely burg of Ewedown was a bit of an ugly duckling, with a nose to give Cyrano a run for his money. But thanks to modern comforts like plastic surgery, Tamara's blossomed into a beauty and successful writer. When she returns to Ewedown, she manages to turn the entire tiny town on its ear. The cast is first rate, including Roger Allam as Nicholas, a bestselling novelist and randy old goat who cheats on his long-suffering wife, Beth (Tamsin Greig), who runs the writers' retreat that centers on Nicholas and his giant ego. Tamara attracts the attention of her childhood pal Andy (Luke Evans) and an annoying rock drummer, Ben (Dominic Cooper), as well as the distasteful Nicholas. With fawning writers descending on Ewedown, and two cheeky, bored teenagers, Jody and Casey (Jessica Barden and Charlotte Christie), acting as the story's Greek chorus, there are plenty of characters to keep things moving in Tamara Drewe. And it's to Frears's and the actors' credit that if none of the characters is particularly likable (except for Greig's Beth), the action is enough to keep the viewer engaged. There are laughs, cringes, and some true poignancy--and a climactic event that will touch everyone. Tamara Drewe will satisfy fans of Hardy, Frears, dark indie comedies--and those who want to stay far, far from the madding crowd. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

When journalist Tamara Drewe returns to her parents’ house with a new assignment – and a new nose – she sets the surrounding countryside’s male hearts aflame, breaking the picturesque tranquility and transforming the village of her youth into a swirling maelstrom of temptation, seduction, and tawdry gossip. But when a bit of silly mischief puts lives and loves at risk, Tamara Drewe must choose between getting it all and getting the one. In this fun, witty romance, director Stephen Frears (The Queen, Dangerous Liaisons) perfectly captures the spirit of the beloved graphic novel.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer delight February 24, 2011

By Kona VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

The sleepy English village of Ewedown becomes quite lively when former ugly duckling Tamara Drewe comes back to town. Now sporting a perky new nose and sexy Daisy Dukes, Tamara quickly becomes romantically involved with a rock star, a sleezy older man, and her childhood sweetheart. With a large cast and many subplots, this story of what really goes on behind the quaint postcard-pretty closed doors is full of laughs and tender moments and even some cattle stampedes.

This movie is completely charming. The characters are all believable, the setting is idyllic, and the script is clever and quirky. All of the adult shenanigans are witnessed - and complicated - by a pair of adolescent girls, a kind of comical Greek chorus who tie it all together. If you like good, indie British films, you'll love this one.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous black humor, not a Hollywood romcom September 5, 2011

By Snehurka

Format:DVD

I found this film on a really long flight home from Asia and started watching it because it looked easy on the brain. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be the best film that I've seen all year! The second surprise came when I read all the mixed Amazon reviews - it seems like half the world hates this, and the other half loves it.

To make it easy for you, I think if you like Hollywood style romcoms you will probably hate this, and if you like British black humor, you will probably really like it. This is definitely not a Hollywood romcom. If you want something brainless with a lot of stereotypical characters and a predictable happy ending, then stop reading. It's also not it if you want to be uplifted or intellectually challenged - it's meant to be a social comedy, but the black humor kind, not the kind that offers a serious social critique. There's also lots of dialogue and very little action, and there are no major conclusions, so if you have short attention span and like tidy endings, this is not for you.

So, why did I love this film? Well, as many other reviewers wrote, this is a social comedy set in rural England with plenty of British black humour and mediocre, real-to-life characters. Personally, I think this is the film's real charm. It displays life in all its beautiful-green-grass but nothing to do boredom - think Midsomer Murders - while showing all the life's little quirks and absurdities - bit like Amelie or the Secretary. All the characters are kind of likable, but kind of not: the main character, Tamara Drewe, has our sympathy because she grew up ugly and had to deal with all sorts of nastiness as a result, but at the same time she's arrogant and sleeps with people for all the wrong reasons. Her teenage love is likeable for his down to earth views, but despisable for his lack of ambition. The rockstar Tamara's engaged to is a louche character, but one that loves his dog and treats enamored teenage girls with respect. There's the budding writer who is a coward that lets someone die by accident, but who's just a really nice American guy. There are the obnoxious, pathetic, plain and bored teenage girls, but in the end you're sorry for them, 'cause if you lived in that village you would throw eggs at cars, too...

Is this real life? YES!! People who are bored, not happy with their lives and otherwise unsatisfied with life do all sorts of stupid things, and that doesn't make them bad. It just shows how absurdly ridiculous, sad and sometimes funny life can be. I think the film shows this to perfection but in a really silly, tongue-in-the-cheek kind of way (e.g. super exaggerated teenagers, Tamara in really short shorts.) In my opinion, the best thing about it is that it doesn't treat the issues seriously but rather pokes fun at the mediocrity of life. Plus the sets were gorgeous and the acting fabulous, particularly from the teenage girls. I lived in England for a long time and I just can't shake the feeling that the film holds up the mirror to British life rather well...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The film is not over until the cows come home April 3, 2011

By bernie HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Blu-ray

"Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?"
-- The Beatles

Based on a graphic novel this story plays more like a Greek Tragedy. It does not quit fit into any category. Still you will find yourself intrigued and kibitzing. Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Local girl Tamara (Gemma Arterton) gets a new proboscis and body to match. After making good as a journalist she returns to her hometown and plays havoc with the local men folk. And that is not all that is happing in the town. To name a couple, we have a married writer with a wondering uh...err... eye, and a couple of schoolgirls playing out their fantasies.

Be prepared for some colorful descriptive words and some suggestive scenes. The only poignant scene that sort of puts a damper on the presentation is when a main character (four-legged) is dispatched while having a little fun, even if it is relevant to the plot.

I only watched the Blu-ray version so I cannot compare. However the voice over commentary is worth taking the time to listen to. I also have not read the novel but will have to to be sure I did not miss anything.

The Girl Most Likely To . . .DVD ~ Stockard Channing