I was interested in the Miracle Club from the trailers mainly to see Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith, two of my favorite actors. I had trepidation because some films like this are slow and too talky and mostly because I find Laura Linney to be one of the overrated and annoying actors in the past 25 years from You Can Count on Me and Primal Fear through Hyde Park on the Hudson and everything between except the Big C TV series where her character suited her peripatetic style perfectly.
Well, reverse all those fears. The Miracle Club moves briskly with some very funny moments mixed with many poignant ones. Whether it comes to cinematography, pacing, coaching the acting, background, all of it, the Direction was superb. Kudos to Laura Linney - instead of her usual bleak and two-note performances in the past - she is marvelous as Chrissie using her mother's passing as a journey of discovery. Maggie Smith is magnificent and leant considerable depth to her character -every scene with her was perfect.
Well, reverse all those fears. The Miracle Club moves briskly with some very funny moments mixed with many poignant ones. Whether it comes to cinematography, pacing, coaching the acting, background, all of it, the Direction was superb. Kudos to Laura Linney - instead of her usual bleak and two-note performances in the past - she is marvelous as Chrissie using her mother's passing as a journey of discovery. Maggie Smith is magnificent and leant considerable depth to her character -every scene with her was perfect.