| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2006

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 5, 2005

A fascinating and involving chamber piece for two superb actresses.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jun 4, 2005

A wistful little thing about regret, jealousy and love.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 2, 2005

Brilliantly subtle performances of stunning skill and beauty. These women are anything but simple and their scope is as broad as the ocean outside their home.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | May 28, 2005

Under Dance's sure hand, and the even surer performances of Smith and Dench, who know that underplaying an emotion often increases its punch, the film is a small study in the dignity of letting go.

| May 27, 2005

A funny, civilized little romantic drama in which Smith co-stars with the equally estimable Judi Dench.

| May 27, 2005

As long as Dench or Smith is on the screen there's plenty to absorb one's interest.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 27, 2005

Dance has had the great good fortune to cast two legendary British actresses, and thus Ladies in Lavender gets elevated to the rare-treat category.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 27, 2005

Pastel-light but highly pleasurable.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 27, 2005

Not even the skills of Dames Smith and Judi Dench can make this tea strong enough to swallow.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 27, 2005

The kind of Masterpiece Theater-type film that does its level best to bland us into a pleasant slumber.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 26, 2005

There are two royal reasons to see the film -- Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith, both over 70 and still very much in their prime.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 13, 2005

With the bell-jar atmosphere familiar to certain period pieces, it suggest we are not the only nation with tired, go-to genres.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 13, 2005

Just formula entertainment, classy but still trite.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 13, 2005

As compelling and original as this theme is, it's not enough to keep our attention, no matter how lovely the ladies in lavender are.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 13, 2005

A film of graceful persuasion and quiet majesty.

| Original Score: A- | May 12, 2005

Ladies in Lavender assembles those two great Dames, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and sends them off to play sisters sharing a cozy little cottage on the Cornwall coast. That is an inspiration. What they do there is a disappointment.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 12, 2005

A sweet little character sketch that is low on drama but high on charm.

| May 12, 2005

The two thespian lovelies would enchant just reading the phone book.

| Original Score: B- | May 11, 2005