Keeping Mum (2005)

A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an affair, and his children are up to no good.

Director:

Niall Johnson

Writers:

Richard Russo (screenplay), Niall Johnson (screenplay)

Stars:

Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rowan Atkinson	...	Walter Goodfellow
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Gloria Goodfellow
Maggie Smith	...	Grace Hawkins
Patrick Swayze	...	Lance
Tamsin Egerton	...	Holly Goodfellow
Toby Parkes	...	Petey Goodfellow
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Parker
Emilia Fox	...	Rosie Jones
James Booth	...	Mr. Brown
Patrick Monckton	...	Bob - Pond Workman
Rowley Irlam	...	Ted - Pond Workman
Vivienne Moore	...	Mrs. Martin
Murray McArthur	...	Vicar's Convention Master of Ceremonies
Morgan Gower	...	Reverend Campbell
Rupert Simonian	...	Billy Martin the Bully

Storyline

Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson), the vicar for the small English country parish of Little Wallop, has allowed his marriage to Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) go stale, and he is so detached from his family, that he has not taken notice that his seventeen-year-old daughter Holly (Tamsin Egerton) is going through a succession of relationships with unsuitable boyfriends, and his son Petey (Toby Parkes) fears going to school, owing to being bullied. Out of desperation for affection, Gloria begins to fall for the advances of Lance (Patrick Swayze), an American golf pro who is giving her "private" lessons. The problems upsetting the family start to fade away after Grace Hawkins (Dame Maggie Smith), the new housekeeper, arrives and starts tending to matters as an older, and rather darkly mysterious version of Mary Poppins.

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Plot Keywords:

school | neighbor | housekeeper | golf | hiding | 

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Taglines:

They took her in. Now she's taking them out.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

Details

Country:

UK USA Isle Of Man

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Secrets de famille

Filming Locations:

Pickering Station, Pickering, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$169,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£645,886 (United Kingdom), 4 December 2005, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,112, 17 September 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,618,957, 21 January 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Isle of Man Film, Azure Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min (dvd) 97 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is considered to be a vigilante flick.

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Goofs

When everyone is taking the trunk upstairs, the shadow is visible above Grace's head moving around.

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Quotes

Holly Goodfellow: Is she...?
Grace Hawkins: Yes, I believe she is.
Holly Goodfellow: Oh God, oh God, oh God.

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Connections

Featured in Keeping Mum: Deleted Scenes (2006)

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Soundtracks

Did You Ever Wonder Why?
(2005)
Produced and Written by Dickon Hinchliffe
Sung by Dickon Hinchliffe and Cara Dillon
Guitar: Neil Fraser
Engineered by Philip Bagenal at Eastcote Studios and Mat Bartram at Angel Studios
Mixed by Ian Caple
Published by Keeping Mum Productions Ltd

User Reviews

Watch Out For...Mom!

Niall Johnson's 'Keeping Mom' is a delightful black comedy. Russo and Johnson's innovative screenplay, the pleasant score and the surprising cast and the dark humour is brilliantly put together. At the same time, the characters are very identifiable. After all, Grace is just a mother who's protecting her children, Gloria just wants her husband's affection, Walter just wants to excel in his 'profession' and Lance is a sleaze you might have met once. Yet, the story cleverly takes them to extreme ends that results in murder, infidelity and voyeurism. Pretty much all the actors are cast in roles you have never seen them play before. Kristin Scott Thomas is the heart of the film (as the director himself stated) and she performs very naturally. While Atkinson has played Reverend earlier, he actually delivers a very subtle performance where he downplays the comedy (unlike his regular in-your-face comedy sketches). He is proving to be a versatile comedian. I loved how Patrick Swayze makes fun of his iconic status in an indirect way. The actor is excellent as the jerk and it has been ages since he has been in something worthwhile. Liz Smith is fun to watch as the annoying and nosy flower committee member. Emilia Fox is very good as the nonchalant killer and Maggie Smith is hilarious! This lady has never let down and she is a complete delight to watch as she goes on 'protecting' her family. 'Love the actress! The location shots are amazing. The fictitious town looks lovely yet the director manages to successfully bring out the coldness and boredom. The stunning cinematography deserves mention too. 'Keeping Mom' is a small but wonderfully innovative film that had me laughing all the way.