Madame

Madame is populated by one-note individuals and the screenplay isn’t overly interested in building them beyond their core characteristics. As a result, lonely and bored Anne (Toni Collette) becomes unlikeable because she is defined by her vapidity and venality.

As a chance to watch Collette and De Palma at work, soak up some lovely Paris locales and root for a working-class underdog, Madame proves a breezy enough diversion.

The so-so film’s soul and saving grace is Rossy de Palma, the Picasso-esque muse of filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, who steals the show and, as the family maid, the heart of a British art dealer.

When the film works — or, whenever de Palma brings relatable spirit and charisma to her centrepiece role — it’s a slice of undemanding fluff, serving up an underdog fantasy that probes the difference between the haves and the have-nots without daring to dig too deep.

With writing that’s nowhere near as sharp as the tailoring, and which adorns a trite Cinderella story that stuffs the fabulously unconventional De Palma into a stiflingly conventional corset, Madame is less a baroque masterpiece than a subpar reproduction in a gaudy frame.

The film's stars are Toni Collette and Harvey Keitel, but the proceedings are stolen right out from under their noses by supporting players Michael Smiley and particularly Rossy de Palma. The latter, familiar from the many Pedro Almodovar movies in which she's prominently appeared, nearly manages to save the picture.

In Madame, everyone is longing for something they don’t have. Listlessness compiles into a “grass is always greener” mentality, showing that you can’t escape problems no matter your position in life. Filled with romances, quirky characters, and a fun soundtrack, Madame will make you laugh and remind you that you never really know someone. Surprises abound, this film is a must see for fans of romantic comedies such as Maid in Manhattan.

Madame is a movie about one woman’s journey to self-discovery. Maria, a maid to a wealthy French family, finds herself falling for an unattainable man. Through pursuing this love, Maria unravels parts of herself she didn’t know existed. The movie is funny and whimsical, guaranteed to leave you feeling rejoiced.

Madame is a charming new indie film about a maid who gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with a rich art collector after pretending to be a noblewoman. This modern day Cinderella story is full of heartwarming romance, laugh out loud comedy, drama, deception, and so much more. My favorite part was definitely the ending when the maid, Maria, finally finds the courage to stand up for herself. I highly recommend seeing this wonderful new film!

Be warned: this movie isn’t what you expect. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because surprises make for interesting stories. Rather than a cheap and shallow romantic comedy, Madame ends up creating some really poignant moments and some brilliant commentary on classism in America and around the world. It features some brilliant performances from Rossy de Palma, Toni Collette and Harvey Keitel, and as always, Paris is beautiful. The chemistry between the two leads can be tenuous at times, but other than that, this is a confident, genuine, and intelligent take on the romantic comedy genre.

Comedy with dramatic and satirical overtones. The argument has some originality but it feels quite artificial and although I cannot say that it was openly boring, it's not so pleasant either and its characters don't help at all actually. If you see it, let it be with reservations and with few expectations.