Nell [1994]

Year:	1994
Country:	USA
Language:	English
Genre:	Drama
IMDB:	IMDB Page
Rating:	7.5 Rate
Collection:	Seen It Wishlist
Community:	6 Have Seen


Director	Michael Apted
Selected Cast	Jodie Foster
	Liam Neeson
	Natasha Richardson
	Richard Libertini

Comments and Reviews


Magic Marmalade 8th Mar 2022		Rated 8/10 Another of those which I had not seen since I first watched it at the time of release, and only an impression of it remains... (Probably since skewed by other people's generally negative opinions) ...And on the face of it, it would appear to be one of those "moving films about "mentally disadvantaged" people" that has since become firmly ensconced in public consciousness as a meme, trope, or typically Hollywood style exploitation movie / opportunity for leading Hollywood actor to win an Oscar -type thing, which has since become thought of as unacceptable to do; To be filed alongside the likes of My Left Foot, Rain Man, or more recently, the hilariously self aware, and brilliantly cynical Tropic Thunder. However, this is not that, as Nell - Jodie Foster's character does not have any condition or "impairment", and this is not a movie that focuses on these kind of issues. Instead, it's another kind of movie, one of those where someone read something bizarre but strangely true in a newspaper article about one of life's odd ocurrences, and decided to make a film about it: "Boy raised by wolves", and the like. Nell has been living alone with her mother for a number of years in the woods, in total isolation from the outside world, and one day, inevitably, her mother dies, and Nell is left alone, only to be discovered by a local who usually brings supplies to the property. Of course, it's a big scientific and potentially media sensation, an opportunity to observe one of nature's "Wild Child" type of people. Liam Neeson is the scientist brought in to study her in order to determine if the state, under court order, should either allow her to continue living alone (if she can take care of herself), or if she is to be taken into "care", for her own good. But Neeson's rather modestly resourced scientist faces competition from the better funded and subsidised Natasha Richardson, and all the inevitable consequences follow from these above mentioned circumstances. It actually fares a whole lot better than I was expecting it to be... not a severely dated, toe curling exploitation movie I was expecting, but rather an actually quite lightly handled and sensitive portrayal by Jodie Foster, which is more of a sweet, and even magical movie, with the stunning cinematography of the beautiful woodland landscape around the lake, expertly directed by Michael Apted, and making for a film with an almost fairy-tale like, mythical feel, that's very engaging to watch. Still quite moving, and more than a little sentimental, as you'd expect, but if you like those kinds of movies, you'll like this. 2 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



jaimeeduardo 6th Jan 2021

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