The Dressmaker

| Release Date: September 23, 2016

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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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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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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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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