Tea with the Dames

Name: Tea with the Dames
Genre: Documentary
Released: September 21, 2018
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Alan Bates, Bob Hoskins, Eileen Atkins, Frank Finlay, George Devine

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Tea With The Dames (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: September 21, 2018 | NR

Starring: Alan Bates, Bob Hoskins, Eileen Atkins, Frank Finlay, George Devine, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Michael Aspel, Michael Williams, Roger Michell, Rupert Grint, Vanessa Redgrave

Summary: What happens when four legends of British stage and screen get together? Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins, and Dame Joan Plowright are among the most celebrated actresses of our time, with scores of iconic performances, decades of wisdom, and innumerable Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and BAFTAs between them. They are alsoWhat happens when four legends of British stage and screen get together? Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins, and Dame Joan Plowright are among the most celebrated actresses of our time, with scores of iconic performances, decades of wisdom, and innumerable Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and BAFTAs between them. They are also longtime friends who hereby invite you to join them for a weekend in the country as they catch up with one another, reminisce, and share their candid, delightfully irreverent thoughts on everything from art to aging to love to a life lived in the spotlight. Bursting with devilish wit and whip-smart insights, Tea With The Dames is a remarkable opportunity to spend time in the company of four all-time greats—up close and unfiltered. [Sundance Selects]… Expand

Director: Roger Michell

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: NR

Runtime: 84 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Jim Slotek

Dec 3, 2018

It’s hard to imagine a lovelier fly-on-the-wall experience than Nothing Like A Dame – a documentary that basically intrudes on a regular, wickedly-funny get-together of four octogenarians who’ve been friends since they were barely more than precocious schoolgirls. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Sep 20, 2018

I would have loved to hear a discussion on a wider range of issues, particularly #TimesUp, but with a film this much fun, it seems churlish to ask for anything else. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Sep 20, 2018

I would not have minded a bit if the dames were given twice the amount of time this trim film allowed. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Matt Fagerholm

Sep 21, 2018

Michell’s film allows us the privilege to spend an unscripted hour or so with the four acting goddesses during their routine visit to Plowright’s home in the English countryside, and though our time with them is brief, the very thought of our world existing in their absence is almost unbearable. Read full review

The Playlist Julia Teti

Oct 3, 2018

Tea with the Dames is absolutely charming and surprisingly emotional. Read full review

Alan Ng

Sep 27, 2018

Serious actors will find a whole new respect for these women and their individual contributions to film and theater, who fought through way through a system made for men and blazed a path for those who followed. And fans of one or all the dames will see the object of their fandom be real, open, and honest. Read full review

Steve Davis

Dec 12, 2018

In the end, Tea With the Dames peters out as a conversation, given there’s no real beginning, middle or end to the film. It’s a privilege, however, to have been given a tableside seat to listen to this foursome reminisce and ruminate for an hour and a half, with laughter punctuating the conversation every few minutes. Read full review

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User Reviews

LegendaryLass

Dec 14, 2018

When you get four of the most fascinating and talented actresses with some of the longest careers in modern history together, it's nothing short of a must-see

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

GinaK

Oct 2, 2018

A documentary that should have been so much better, considering the wit, talent, and experience of the actresses chatting over tea (and eventually champagne): Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, and Judi Dench. The major weaknesses were two: not enough structure or interestingA documentary that should have been so much better, considering the wit, talent, and experience of the actresses chatting over tea (and eventually champagne): Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, and Judi Dench. The major weaknesses were two: not enough structure or interesting questions/topics (even the actresses looked bored sometimes) and if you like British theater, you will be left hungry to see the full performances by these actresses shown in dozens of short snippets of their work on archival film and videotape. And there was absolutely too much chatter about Laurence Olivier without any real insight or substance. More theatre gossip and more talk about how they approached their classic roles would have been welcome also. An opportunity wasted during a shallow and sometimes awkward 90 minutes that could have been so much more.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GreatMartin

Oct 16, 2018

What could be more fun than spending 80 minutes with 4 female senior citizens who have been friends for years? How about 800 minutes or a lifetime?!?

Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright and Dame Maggie Smith have no problem making fun of the Dame title but they are atWhat could be more fun than spending 80 minutes with 4 female senior citizens who have been friends for years? How about 800 minutes or a lifetime?!?

Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright and Dame Maggie Smith have no problem making fun of the Dame title but they are at the same time proud of it and having it presented to them by either Queen Elizabeth or Prince Phillip.

The 4 ladies have no problem 'dishing' themselves, each other, their husbands, their co-stars, sometimes their work but they are very respectful of the theatre, more so than the movies or television they have done.

The 4 women get together every year at Plowright's Sussex home, where she lived with Laurence Olivier, to hear what each has been up to and some of the past. We see snippets of film from past experiences only making us hungry for more just as we want more of their reminiscing of the various mediums they played in and talk about why some succeeded and others didn't.

Plowright, now blind, and Atkins may not be as well known as Dench and Smith but all are given equal time to talk about their looks, or lack of them, when they started, though nothing is referred regarding the #METOO so prevalent today while the casting couch was part of the norm when they entered the theatre world, let alone the world of film.

Instead of drinking water or tea and a toast of champagne at the end, it would have been a lot more fun if it had been reversed though all 4 Dames don't hold back in expressing their feelings nor letting their laughs come through whether laughing at themselves or each other.

Hopefully there is another hour or two that was filmed of "Tea With the Dames" and will be released on the DVD version but don't miss this just in case!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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