Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 20, 2020

I can’t think of a movie more perfectly suited for a Sunday afternoon matinee than “Tea with the Dames.” It’s a film about friendship, camaraderie, and memory, taking viewers to the English countryside to spend 80 minutes with Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, and Eileen Atkins as they discuss themselves and others for director Roger Michell. While not without some moments of gravity, “Tea with the Dames” is as delicious as its sounds, breezing through easy banter that’s been in play for decades, with cameras capturing a friendship among actresses that’s developed with care and respect. Michell knows what he’s doing here, wisely getting out of the way as the Dames feel around for topics, digging up personal history as they discuss their lives, offering fascinating perspectives and triggering unexpected bellylaughs along the way.

The concept is simple. Michell, armed with a small crew of cameramen and photographers, plants himself at Plowright’s rural cottage, a home she built with her husband, Laurence Olivier. The getaway has been a gathering spot for the four actresses for a very long time, but only now they’ve decided to permit filming of the reunion, gathering around a table outdoors in the feature’s initial moments, trying to find their social rhythms. There’s no script, no plot, and no multiple takes, just conversation among four of the finest thespians in the British acting industry, who clearly enjoy one another’s company, willing to let Michell in on the fun. And it’s a blast, but one that’s not immune to a few complications, including rain, with bad weather chasing Dench, Plowright, Smith, and Atkins indoors for most of the picture, repositioning on couches, which, perhaps inadvertently, gives “Tea with the Dames” a necessary visual change, staying true to the idea of the movie while jumping around the dwelling, with the subjects often admiring the decoration.

While Michell keeps “Tea with the Dames” conversational, there’s some structure to the picture. Memories are key to the event, finding the foursome led down paths of remembrance, reaching back to 1958, when “Mags” met “Jude,” with the pair joining the London theater scene, which became an industry entrance for the entire foursome. Theater stories are plentiful, with Michell moving away from rivalry to focus on backstage tales, where Dench was once targeted by a vindictive director, and there are numerous anecdotes about co-stars, including Anthony Hopkins and Alan Bates. Shakespeare is the common thespian challenge for the gang, and they recall their time working with the material, which also introduces some philosophy to “Tea with the Dames” and vital recollections of technique, including Plowright’s questioning of actors who try to make The Bard’s writing seem like natural conversation. It’s not an acting class, but it’s fascinating to hear Dench, Smith, Plowright, and Atkins articulate their creative drives, which is perhaps Michell’s greatest achievement, exposing some sense of craft from largely reserved personalities.

Also engaging is the humanization of Laurence Olivier, whose legacy plays an important role in “Tea with the Dames.” He was Plowright’s husband, but also a titan of the stage and screen, intimidating those who worked with him. The movie shows off Olivier’s softer, domestic side, and Plowright is quick to reinforce that he was just as unsure about the job as others, though nobody really believes that. Michell spends some time on Olivier, but the actor was a major part of these lives, working with the Dames over the decades, and film and T.V. clips are provided to track onscreen maturation, creating career arcs that inspire more stories and reflections on changing eras, with the 1960s a key decade of development for the foursome.

Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a fairly static feature, but a pleasingly shot one. "Tea with the Dames" emerges with strong detail with thespian faces, capturing all the wonderful aging as these expressive women offer memories and crack one another up. Interiors are textured, and clothing is fibrous, helping along by fuzzy scarves and cotton layers. Exteriors supply compelling depth. Colors are distinct, and while the palette favors creamy whites with household visits, hues from clothing, jewelry, and interior decoration remain striking. Greenery as well. Skintones are natural. Delineation is ideal. Archival footage and media clips are in expected shape, blended well with the rest of the endeavor.

Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix has a simple job and it executes the sonic reach of "Tea with the Dames" very well. Conversations remains centered, picking up on personal nuances and emphasis, and group overlapping is defined without being chaotic. Film and television clips are wider, generating the intended feel of expansion as memories are triggered. Scoring is delicate and sharp, pushing out into the surrounds, creating a comfortable sense of circular engagement. Low-end isn't a priority here. The track is easy on the senses and does its job to generate immediacy with the talents and trigger emotions when necessary.

Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:56, HD) is included.

Tea with the Dames Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Tea with the Dames" is downright delightful at times, watching the actors remain playful with one another, engaging in teasing and triggering memories, saving their sense of humor for thoughts on critics and youthful pursuits. There's something of a serious side when the subject of husbands is raised, as most of the Dames married fellow actors, but Michell keeps the feature breezy, with plenty of humor about such topics as aging and royal ceremonies (Atkins's invite to become a Dame was initially lost in the mail), and the director adds a touch of rock and roll with a few songs from the Rolling Stones. "Tea with the Dames" stays cheerful and informative, supplying a different side to normally guarded personalities, while their interplay is warm and amusingly practiced, giving Michell a chance to merely bask in the glow of such liveliness, capturing this chemistry as a gift to fans.