Hawke and Hawkins makes this otherwise broad brushstroke biopic Maudie worth watching
Subtle performances save story of real-life Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis
THE job description for the title role would have read “cheerful, quirky and unglamorous demeanour”.
My guess is that the shortlist was very short. In fact, it probably just read “Sally Hawkins”.
The Happy-Go-Lucky and Paddington actress is now the go-to star when such roles come up.
This time she is playing real-life Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, who had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
A folk artist is someone in the art world without formal training – or as the shopkeeper in Maudie puts it: “My five-year-old could paint better than this.”
It’s easy, though, to see why people, including Richard Nixon, loved the open-hearted canvasses which match Maudie’s character.
Despite going full limp-and-arched-back Hawkins’ impressive performance is in some ways less transformative than Ethan Hawke’s.
The normally charismatic actor puts all his effort into being morose as mean-spirited love interest Everett, even less polite than Donald Trump’s spin doctors.
Proving that opposites really do attract Hawke communicates with the lively Maud in grunts, silences and downward glances.
The subtlety of Hawke and Hawkins makes this otherwise broad brushstroke film worth watching.
