Cate Blanchett Movie:

Editorial Review:
Charlotte Gray does little to tarnish Cate Blanchett's rising-star status but misfires badly as a moralistic World War II drama. The title character of the film, which is based on a popular novel of the same name by Sebastian Faulks, is a young Scottish woman (Blanchett) who has come to London to help with the war effort. After quickly falling in love with a dashing pilot who is summarily shot down in southwest France, the intensely patriotic Charlotte joins a special operations outfit in order to find him. Competent melodrama to this point, the film goes astray from here. Since repeated references are made to Charlotte's fluent French, it is hard to maintain any suspension of disbelief when she parachutes into Lezignac and we discover that the French resistance fighters she works with speak English with alternately French or British accents (while the Nazis continue to speak German without subtitles). A similarly perfunctory schema of good versus evil among the citizenry is soon laid out as collaborators and patriots are painted with equally simplistic strokes. Blanchett, along with Billy Crudup and Michael Gambon, gives a lively performance despite a shoddy script, but director Gillian Armstrong's conceits to a mainstream audience seem jumbled and not a little condescending. --Fionn Meade

Charlotte Gray [Region 2] Reviews:
Good love story
2009-06-02 - It had a few nice twists and a nice developing love story. The only thing I didnt like was how sometimes Cate would have a good Scottish accent *like she should for the movie* and sometimes it would just be a plain british accent.... This is when she's "speaking english" not "speaking french" because both were in english. Anyway yeah it was good.

Where nothing is unthinkable, anything can be true--even a lie
2009-04-28 - "Don't give up hope, Peter, he's a real fighter..." That's what Charlotte Gray (Blanchett) was told when she heard her boyfriend, Peter, was shot down in France.

When given a choice between faith, hope, and love which one was most important--she chose hope. That's why Charlotte took training as part of the French Resistance. If Peter can't get free from the Germans on her own, she's going to come back to free him.

"Always remember who you are not..." This is the lesson she's given. She is now Dominique. Charlotte Gray is dead. She has a new name and she has no opinion of the war, she simply wants to survive...

"Charlotte Gray" is an under-rated but strong tale of heroism and yes, hope. While Blanchett is known for many more 'stately' roles, she will also be remembered for 'who she is not.'

Rebecca Kyle, April 2009

Excellent WWII Movie of Hope, Disappointment, Treachery and Salvation
2009-02-01 - I enjoyed this movie so much I purchased it so that I can see it when the mood hits me. It has a great cast, the production is excellent, the twist and turns keep you involved and the special features are very interesting as well. Overall, a great WWII movie. One of the better ones.

ROMANCE OF THE FRENCH RESISTANCE
2009-01-07 - "Charlotte Gray" is the story of the love that causes people to fight and survive during a war. But war can cause heartache as well as romance. Death is often just around the next corner. Only the strong survive, and dare to carry on.

Cate Blanchette (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Indiana Jones, & The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) plays the fantastic role as Charlotte, Scottish, who becomes an SOE (Special Operation Executive) agent. She joins to search for her lover, Peter, who is a RAF pilot shot down in France.

Under an alias, Charlotte gets involved with the resistance, and entangled in the lives of some Jewish families. She hears that Peter is dead, but continues to help with the local French effort as well as hide a pair of Jewish boys. She comes under the influence of Julien, a resistance fighter, himself 1/8th Jewish. War, unfortunately continues to take its toll with the lives of people Charlotte contacts.

The questions is, will Charlotte survive the 1 out of 3 odds of returning home?

A great job of filming within a small French town, making the set and action very realistic. This film shows a part of WWII often ignored. It has beautiful sets, even for a war-ravaged country. "Charlotte Gray" is about touching relationships and has the unexpected ending. A DVD VALUE for historical drama and romance. This DVD comes with subtitles to assist with the English, Scottish and German accents.


Satisfied Customer
2008-12-19 - I recieved this product quickly and it was in great condition. This was my first amazon purchase and deffinately not my last. I am usually hesitant about ordering online especially used things but my DVD came in prestine shape. I'm very impressed and would recommend buying on Amazon.com to anyone.