Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

“Florence Foster Jenkins” stars Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, and Rebecca Ferguson.  Released on August 12, 2016, the film is about a New York heiress who becomes an opera singer despite her poor singing ability.

The film is directed by Stephen Frears, who also directed films such as Hero, The Queen, Philomena, and The Program.  It is based on a true story about Florence Foster Jenkins‘ career as an opera singer.  Although I am unfamiliar with Florence, this film has already caught my interest thanks to its marketing, mostly because of the talented Meryl Streep.  I wish I could explain more about it, but I didn’t have that much to say, so...here are my thoughts.

Pros:
The performances were impressive.  Meryl Streep once again expresses her amazing talent as the title character.

Good direction.

Costume designs looked very nice.

Cons:
The story felt safe and didn’t carry that much emotional depth.

Final thoughts: “Florence Foster Jenkins” is a play-by-the-numbers biopic that’s both funny and charming.  Meryl Streep’s portrayal as the title character and the film’s costume designs are slightly enough to overcome its safe and simple storyline.  If it’s playing at a theater near you and you’re a fan of Meryl Streep, it’s worth checking out if you get the chance.  Just be prepared for when Florence starts singing.

B