Driving Miss Daisy
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 15, 1989
8.1
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 107 Ratings
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Positive:
88
Mixed:
17
Negative:
2
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User Reviews

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7
oliver1hMar 6, 2013
Good movie which depicts the friendship between two people who are very different, yet very similar in many ways. Morgan Freeman's character (Hoke) is an African-American driver who never attended school, but has wisdom and common sense.Good movie which depicts the friendship between two people who are very different, yet very similar in many ways. Morgan Freeman's character (Hoke) is an African-American driver who never attended school, but has wisdom and common sense. Jessica Tandy's character (Miss Daisy) on the other hand is a rich, educated Jewish woman. Through the film these people slowly open up to each other and form a bond. The movie also depicts the many racial and religious issues of the 1950s America. It is worth a look, but I am not sure it deserved 4 Oscars (Jessica Tandy's and Morgan Freeman's performance were great though). Dan Aykroyd's character felt underdeveloped, though He was in a sympathetic role. Overall worth a look, but nothing outstanding, just good.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
LansdenrsJun 18, 2013
Driving Mrs Daisey is a sweet and touching. Fenominal acting. Grows with you over the years. A true classic of a tale. Will make you cry. Awesome!!!!!
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
marcmyworksJun 25, 2015
A simple and thoughtful movie about two different classes in the South. The chemistry between both Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman's characters is wonderful.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
ydnar4Mar 11, 2015
Driving Miss Daisy is such a simple film, but so effective. This movie was released 25 years ago and it still has just as much of an effect on people as it did when it was first released. I think it is safe to say that this movie is timeless.Driving Miss Daisy is such a simple film, but so effective. This movie was released 25 years ago and it still has just as much of an effect on people as it did when it was first released. I think it is safe to say that this movie is timeless. Morgan Freeman gets his breakout movie at over 50 years old with this film and anyone who enjoys his later work will certainly enjoy this film and its easy to see why filmmakers have called on him for so many amazing films over the last 25 years. Freeman's career really starts in this movie while Jessica Tandy's essentially comes to an end (she died in 1994). Her performance resulted in a well earned Oscar. Another important part of this movie is the makeup, which allowed the film to pass further through time and allow the characters to age steadily throughout. Driving Miss Daisy is just a good film and belongs up there with all the greats. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a friendship blossom.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
The3AcademySinsDec 25, 2018
A great examination of life in the south using the friendship between two very different people as the focus, Driving Miss Daisy is a modern classic. Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy may give the best performances of their careers in thisA great examination of life in the south using the friendship between two very different people as the focus, Driving Miss Daisy is a modern classic. Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy may give the best performances of their careers in this film. This is a very sweet and heartwarming movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
MattBrady99Mar 18, 2016
While Driving Miss Daisy isn't what i call a best picture winner, since there were more deserving movies that came out that year, but the movie shouldn't get hate just for that.

The movie is sweet, charming and heartwarming. This is theWhile Driving Miss Daisy isn't what i call a best picture winner, since there were more deserving movies that came out that year, but the movie shouldn't get hate just for that.

The movie is sweet, charming and heartwarming. This is the kind of film that granny's go to watch and after it's over their something like "That was nice". Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy were excellent in this movie, as both of them had great chemistry and very entertaining conversations between them.

It dose get kind of dull at times and i do wish the films pasting was a bit better, but that's just me. I say it's worth checking out, because there's plenty of things to like and appreciate in this movie.… Expand
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9
alejandro970Jan 7, 2022
Despite the years of existence that this film has, it still preserves its freshness; especially because he knows how to approach a story of friendship without a border in the midst of an environment marked by racial intolerance. And the filmDespite the years of existence that this film has, it still preserves its freshness; especially because he knows how to approach a story of friendship without a border in the midst of an environment marked by racial intolerance. And the film does without being opportunistic, and that is appreciated. To see an afternoon of total relaxation.… Expand
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8
FilipeNetoJun 3, 2020
This film is a little forgotten pearl today, and it is a pity that it is so. It has a lot of quality and is delicious to see. The script is very simple but it was well directed and developed, giving basis to a good story: after a smallThis film is a little forgotten pearl today, and it is a pity that it is so. It has a lot of quality and is delicious to see. The script is very simple but it was well directed and developed, giving basis to a good story: after a small accident without consequences, an elderly woman from a very respectable and well-heeled Jewish family has her own driver, a black old gentleman. At first, the relationship between them is cold, with the old lady feeling the presence of the new employee as rather unnecessary. However, the respectful but frontal way in which he treats her ends up establishing a strong friendship between them, that will last for decades.

Set in Atlanta in the mid-twentieth century, it is clear that it is a film strongly based on racial and intolerance problems, endemic in southern American society. And unlike other films, there are two clear types of intolerance here: the racism against blacks but also religious intolerance, noticeable in the way the Jewish community makes an effort to integrate and to appear respectable and active, despite the way it is invariably treated by others.

Okay, it is a little sugary in some parts and the plot is so simple and direct that it has no density and offers nothing more than the employer/employee relationship, but this is well delivered and done with commitment and competence. Directed by Bruce Beresford, it covers about twenty-five years, ending in the Seventies. This raises problems like the fact that the characters have to look old, which has not always worked well, and the public has to notice the leaps in time, something that has also not been well achieved. I, at least, took my time to realize that the film was skipping in time and that was boring, forcing me to see again from the beginning to have a clear perception of things.

The cast is very good, but as limited as the script: in all fairness, it can be considered as the most outstanding work in the career of Jessica Tandy, an already veteran actress who gave life to the grumpy Miss Daisy. Beside her, the always impeccable Morgan Freeman, with a strong southern accent that didn't always sound genuine but did not take the shine off his work. About 75% of the film is based on their dialogues and interaction, and both were very good at it. Besides them, the film still has the help of actors like Dan Aykroyd and Esther Rolle.

Technically, it is a regular film that does not stand out from most of those that were shot in the late 1980s. With a regular cinematography, it is tiring and misty to the eyes of a 2020 viewer, used to the best of the digital era. It has also great sets and good costumes. Cars are an important part of the film, insofar as they become one of its most important sets or are always, or almost always, in the background. It has almost virtually no special, visual or sound effects, or at least nothing worth noting, but it makes up for it with a decent soundtrack.

Looking back, we can understand why this film was forgotten... despite the professionalism and performance of the actors, despite having a good story, it has no depth and is a very simple film in almost all aspects. Even so, it won a good amount of Oscars (Best Film, Best Actress, Best Make-Up and Best Adapted Screenplay) and other awards, and deserves to be seen and appreciated for what it is.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
DawdlingPoetNov 20, 2021
This is a drama film featuring themes including old age, civil rights, racism and anti semitism. I found it to be an easy watch, with intriguing characters. I thought it was a good example of historical social commentary. I found some of theThis is a drama film featuring themes including old age, civil rights, racism and anti semitism. I found it to be an easy watch, with intriguing characters. I thought it was a good example of historical social commentary. I found some of the dialogue quite amusing - Daisy is very much a stubborn, principled lady, who seems very much aware of what she values and how she expects things to be and won't shy away from saying such. The way she argued with him could seem a bit infuriating at times but I liked his come backs (I found myself cheering for him, as he is a bit of an underdog character) and although there is relatively little, content wise, that goes on, I found it very much to be a watchable and entertaining film regardless.

Cast wise, Jessica Tandy plays Daisy. She looks very much the prim and proper type, with quite a sharp tongue. Meanwhile, Morgan Freeman plays Hoke. Given this film was released in 1989, I can only imagine that he had makeup (or otherwise) to age him, as he can't have been as old as his character appeared, I'd have thought but I liked how Hoke responded to Daisy's various jabs and his facial expressions were amusing. He has the look of a relatively older and wiser type - he is quite a philosophical type and I liked that. I'd go so far as to say that their a good match for each other. Meanwhile, an Akroyd plays the son, Boolie and Esther Rolle plays the African American house keeper, Idella.

The music played is classical in style - I suppose it highlighted the fact that Daisy was certainly from the upper classes. I found some plot elements quite touching - I'm not the sort to easily get emotional or find most things touching as such but I definitely did find myself feeling sorry for Hoke and I enjoyed the way the two of them held thoughtful conversations and also some of the more fly-away/impulsive comments made. Hoke has a nice sense of humour that I felt was relatively endearing - its thoughtful to see how different people, of different backgrounds and belonging to different minorities, see things.

Plot pace wise, its a bit slow but I found myself feeling quite intrigued and entertained throughout and I wouldn't say its especially bland or boring as such. If your keen on character driven dramas (pardon the car related pun there!) then you might very well enjoy this.

I found it quite revealing, some of the things that Daisy admitted to Hoke, which gives an insight into what life was like for people such as Daisy and Hoke, at the time its set in (the 1950s). Of course there is inevitably a moral aspect to this film, with racism clearly being depicted and not just racism but anti semitism as well. Its perhaps not the most visually shocking film, given its 'U' rating of course but it could be regarded as a thought provoking film regardless.

Content wise and as I say, there's relatively little in the way of graphic scenes or offensive material, although there are some quite mild domestic incidents (conflicts perhaps may be an applicable term?) depicted and there are some racist terms used, which could (of course) offend people. There are a couple of sad incidents which are spoken of, described by Daisy and Hoke but these are not visually depicted on screen. Otherwise there's nothing really likely to offend or upset people, I'd have thought. Due to this, as I say the film carries a U rating, making it suitable for all, although I imagine very young kids would find this a pretty boring watch, as its not full of special effects or cartoon characters and the like but thats pretty obvious.

I thought the film looked like a TV film - it seemed as if it had been filmed with a low budget, although thats not to say it seemed flimsy or put me off due to it - if anything, its nicely under-stated. It is a bit sad in parts but it is also light hearted and amusing in others, so its a decent all rounder, I suppose, if you know what I mean.

There's little I could think of in terms of criticisms, although the characters do have relatively thick southern American accents, which perhaps some might struggle to hear properly?.

Yes I'd recommend this film, as I felt it was quite touching, with good characters and cast, some witty dialogue, some funny moments and some sad. Its an easy watch and its relatively thought provoking as well.… Expand
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7
DogeGamer2015Dec 9, 2020
Se nos narra una bonita historia de amistad, que es acompañada por dos excelentes interpretaciones, la recomiendo mucho.
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