The Dressmaker

| Release Date: September 23, 2016

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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User Reviews

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smiyamotDec 30, 2016

Don't know what to make of this movie. Seemed like a stylishly made movie, but the story was murky and not really clear on it's path. Maybe it was about life, and life doesn't always follow a straight path, but movies should.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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sanyrubOct 10, 2016

How does this get only a 5 from critics and audiences in this site? It is a funny, emotional, odd and very enjoyable film with some first rate actors who nail it (especially Kate Winslet and the one playing her mother in the film). AHow does this get only a 5 from critics and audiences in this site? It is a funny, emotional, odd and very enjoyable film with some first rate actors who nail it (especially Kate Winslet and the one playing her mother in the film). A character´s movie that will probably surprise you. It is a little bit flat when it comes to the mystery subplot. But it serves its purpose. The best part is the sarcastic way of depicting characters. Recommendable.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TVJerryOct 9, 2016

Kate Winslet plays a woman who returns to her small Australian hometown to reconcile her unfortunate past. Bringing her Paris couture skills back home results in an amusing, but somewhat unrealistic infusion of high fashion in the locals.Kate Winslet plays a woman who returns to her small Australian hometown to reconcile her unfortunate past. Bringing her Paris couture skills back home results in an amusing, but somewhat unrealistic infusion of high fashion in the locals. While she tries to reconcile with her mother (Judy Davis) and get to the bottom of her trauma, she's wooed by the local hunk (Liam Hemsworth). There are elements of quirky comedy that sometimes work and sometimes seem forced. More unusual is the especially grim final hour, which upends most of the film's mischievous promise. The dresses are beautiful and the performances are solid, but be prepared to be taken in a dark direction before it's over.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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TyranianApr 7, 2019

Decent visuals but stupid story and screenplay. Acting is okay but film is just dumb.

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GreatMartinSep 30, 2016

Judy Davis, as ‘Mad Molly’, almost, at first funnily then smartly, steals the movie right from under everyone’s noses but then gorgeous Liam Hemsworth lets all his masculinity, and bare chest, out and noses are forgotten. The only one who canJudy Davis, as ‘Mad Molly’, almost, at first funnily then smartly, steals the movie right from under everyone’s noses but then gorgeous Liam Hemsworth lets all his masculinity, and bare chest, out and noses are forgotten. The only one who can upstage them, and anyone else on screen, is Kate Winslet, Mad Molly’s daughter, arriving in this isolated town with the first words heard being “I’m back you bastards!”

“The Dressmaker” takes place in 1951 and is constantly swinging back and forth from comedy to drama to satire to melodrama, a tale of revenge, murder, paternity, brutality just as Kate Winslet is Susan Hayward from “Back Street” in one scene and then within another scene she is both Mary Astor from ‘The Maltese Falcon” to Rita Hayworth in Gilda and that’s only in the first 10 minutes of the film.

There doesn’t seem to be a ‘normal’ person in Dungater from the local policeman who is a secret course dresser, played by Hugo Weaving, to the town councilor, played by Shane Bourne, who goes to any woman he can get but has a deeper secret. Oh and talking about women this one town has a representation of every woman you can think of with most types of men, too.

The story starts off as a simple one with Tilly, Kate Winslet, having been exiled from the town 25 years previously when a schoolmate, Stewart Pettyman, played by Rory Potter, the son of Evan Pettyman, played by Shane Bourne and Marigold Pettyman, played by Alison Whyte, when he dies with a cracked head and she is the only one to witness it. Tilly doesn’t remember anything about what happened and after spending the years traveling to Spain, England, France and becoming a dressmaker she returns to take care of her mother and try to find out what happened that day.

“The Dressmaker” is all over the place with a lot of evil and a lot of laughs competing, especially in the second half, but many fine performances and very easy to follow with all that is going on though occasionally the Australian outback accent might be a little hard to understand.

There is a scene worth the price of admission alone where Davis, Winslet and Hemsworth are in a movie house watching Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard” and you will never be able to watch that film without hearing Davis’s comments in your head.

In many ways “The Dressmaker” is like one of those films ‘they don’t make anymore’ like they did in the 1950s but it will definitely be seen as a guilty pleasure, as I did, and enjoyed every minute but not admit it!… Expand

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foxgroveSep 25, 2016

Odd, funny, sexy and romantic. This is a real curio of a black comedy that has a perfectly cast Kate Winslet returning to the small Australian town of Dungaten after being banished as a young girl for a murder she may, or may not, haveOdd, funny, sexy and romantic. This is a real curio of a black comedy that has a perfectly cast Kate Winslet returning to the small Australian town of Dungaten after being banished as a young girl for a murder she may, or may not, have committed. The town’s people constitute a strange and eclectic bunch. Amongst the saner residents are Liam Hemsworth as the obvious handsome suitor and Hugo weaving as the police officer with a secret, also responsible for sending Winslet’s character away. Best of all is scene stealer Judy Davis as mad Molly, Winslet’s mother with a secret or two of her own. She is great, tossing off witty or acidic throwaways with consummate ease. The film is genuinely funny and taps into the black humour wonderfully, a rare achievement in itself. The costumes and music are divine and the general tone of the film hits its mark. Unfortunately, it does go on a tad too long which is detrimental to the overall impact.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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LeZeeOct 13, 2016

Home is where the vengeance is.

A stylish Aussie revenge-comedy that is adapted from a novel of the same name. Just superbly built screenplay on a tragedy that occurred some time back, but the movie reveals it only in the third act. AboutHome is where the vengeance is.

A stylish Aussie revenge-comedy that is adapted from a novel of the same name. Just superbly built screenplay on a tragedy that occurred some time back, but the movie reveals it only in the third act. About a woman who arrives in a small town where she was born and slowly gains popularity among the young women who seeks her stunning costumes to impress their counterparts. The town divides over her return, but why all the hate is the mystery that the movie going to solve for us in its entire narration.

The location and the settings were fantastic and it brought a western feel because of the Australians hot and humid weather. Kate Winslate was very good, her role simply reminded me Juliette Binoche from 'Chocolat'. I have heard people saying it was emotional, but I did not find it like that. Instead, I had fun watching it, not like I had the open laughs, but felt joy and satisfaction for the time I spent for it. My initial thought was it could be overrated, but after watching it proved I was wrong. This is one of the best Aussie movie I have seen in the recent years.

8/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Iamcritical86Mar 26, 2021

Interesting. Kate Winslet has a tendency to take on odd, complex roles in otherwise peculiar films, doesn't she? Well, The Dressmaker was no exception! Kate was sensational as always, but the movie itself seemed like such a "fantasy" for meInteresting. Kate Winslet has a tendency to take on odd, complex roles in otherwise peculiar films, doesn't she? Well, The Dressmaker was no exception! Kate was sensational as always, but the movie itself seemed like such a "fantasy" for me to take seriously. This film could be compared to some of Kate's previous "weird yet interesting" movies like Eternal Sunshine and Quills. Films like these (including THE DRESSMAKER), are just so hard to review because although they are works of art in their own right, they're really off the wall and not particularly MY kind of picture, yet I am able to accept them for what they are.… Expand

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beeanadouAug 8, 2019

Nice music and story, the design of the clothes is decent as well, haven't seen a better Australian movie like this for a while, really outstanding and astonishing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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r96skMar 21, 2022

Utterly superb! I wasn't expecting such greatness.

'The Dressmaker', to put it bluntly, is quality! It has a pulse and then some, I love the feel of the film throughout - with all its quirkiness, silliness and straight up brilliantness. ItUtterly superb! I wasn't expecting such greatness.

'The Dressmaker', to put it bluntly, is quality! It has a pulse and then some, I love the feel of the film throughout - with all its quirkiness, silliness and straight up brilliantness. It all starts off very strongly, though I did then feel a (very minor) plateau. However, to my surprise, it shoots straight back up as it culminates with a super ending.

Kate Winslet is top notch from beginning to end with an excellent performance, though isn't alone as the support cast all give very good performances - from Judy Davis to Hugo Weaving. I also note Liam Hemsworth, Alison Whyte and, at a certain point, Geneviève Lemon.

What a great film, full of twists n turns and it has a fantastic score. Loved it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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