Misbehaviour (2020) User Reviews

light history

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 20 October 2020]

It's the 1970 Miss World competition in London. Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear) is to be the host. Eric Morley (Rhys Ifans) is the organizer. Women are objectified in society. Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) is divorced with a young girl. She gets into University College London for higher learning. She joins a women's liberation movement but is trying to work within the system. On the other hand, Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley) is looking to take down the whole system, one graffiti at a time. Miss Sweden Marjorie Johansson is the favorite but is bitter at the situation. Due to pressure against apartheid, Morley quickly adds a black contestant from South Africa in addition to the white Miss South Africa. Miss Grenada Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) wants to be a broadcaster.

It's a bit of lesser known history. It's told in a relatively light fashion. The characters are essentially split into three groups. Knightley and Buckley lead the story of the protesters. The three contestants form the group inside the pageant. Bob Hope and Morley are the clueless men representing the male patriarchy. Each group contributes something important and interesting. There are little nuggets of greatness but they are scattered everywhere. The movie would function better and more cohesively with fewer main characters. At last, that may not be possible to tell the whole story. There is a lot of stuff crammed into this light comedic movie. I do question the final meeting between Hosten and Alexander. Maybe it happened in real life. I would think that Hosten would be better off talking to Johnasson which is more likely. The meeting in the movie feels somewhat manufactured. All in all, one learns a little bit of light history done in a light humorous way.

When the most interesting thing is the end-credits you have a problem...

[Zaffy-1 · 5/10 · 22 August 2020]

Indeed, the best thing was the post-movie credits with the real heroines making an appearance. How on earth they managed to create something so dull about women so inspiring ? The real heroines, even at their 70's, have more passion, more inspiration, more feelings in their eyes and in the few seconds we saw them they gave us more emotions than the darn whole movie.

I wasn't aware about the events and even at the end of the movie I never felt like what the girls did was important for women's movement. It was quite anticlimactic.. Biggest problem was they never managed to build well the sexist/patriarchy environment the women were living in at the time, so we can understand the impact of their actions. Whoever wrote the script was like filtering everything through a 2020 optic. I am not even sure why a large portion of the story was dedicated to Bob Hope. Bit of a shame really this wasn't good.

All 5 stars for the real ladies at the end of the movie.

Slow burn, but great climax

[CrazyArty · 6/10 · 7 March 2022]

True story of the women's rights group that disrupted the 1970 Miss World contest. Stars Keira Knightly.

I really like the source story and Knightly does a nice job, but it's a very slow burn. It doesn't really deliver emotional passion until the end which is easily the best part of the film. Nothing special here until the great ending.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 21 March 2021]

A nice comedy about beauty contest, feminism, Bob Hope proposed, in fair way, by Greg Kienner and beautiful portrait of Dolores Hope by Lesley Manville. A reasonable social critic and inspired recreated atmosphere of the period.

Misbehaviour

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 27 March 2021]

The trouble with beauty contests that it means different things around the world.

In Britain they acquired a reputation of being a cattle market that degraded women. As the years went by beauty contests went off the main television channels.

In the Americas, it can be used as a stepping stone to further your career objectives.

Misbehaviour has to tread this fine line. Based on the true incident of the 1970 Miss World Contest co-hosted by Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear.)

Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) and Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley) led a protest that showered Hope with flour on the night. It should had been rotten eggs as his act stank.

Sally is a mature university student who has to deal with sexist attitudes at university. She is appalled that Miss World is regarded by her own family as wholesome entertainment.

On the other hand for black contestants like Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who is Miss Grenada and Pearl Jansen (Loreece Harrison) who is Miss Africa South. It offers an opportunity to break down barriers when the women are from impoverished backgrounds. Pearl Jansen is from a country where shs cannot even mix with whites.

Jansen was included as no black representative from South Africa had even entered. She would beat Miss South Africa in the contest. Miss Grenada was the first black winner, until then it would always be certain types that would win. White and blonde.

The film never quite gets to grip with the racial politics. It is lightly dealt with in contrast with the gender arguments. Sally and Jo could never appreciate the kind of world that some of the contestants came from.

One aspect of the competition that is glossed over was that the Morleys ran the contest with an iron grip.

Eric Morley (Rhys Ifan) comes across as a rough diamond. However they had strict rules which seemed absurd at the time. Constant chaperones for each contestant. If any contestant had posed nude or were married they would had been disqualified. In many ways such rules shielded the Miss World organisation from any later #MeToo allegations.

In the end Misbehaviour is an amiable film that overstates its feminist credentials.

Important and engaging.

[domtaylor · 7/10 · 14 March 2020]

'Misbehaviour' tells an important story well; it's fairly fast-moving, has some great performances and is always engaging. While there's nothing outstanding in the filmmaking department, it's all well-done and supports its narrative by letting the characters and messages lead the way. Speaking of its messages, it has a great overall pro-equality stance that goes deeper than its feminist roots, covering issues like social class and racism. In that regard, it's a very important film for today as it's sadly all too relatable to current affairs. The flick does have a slight issue with the story it wants to tell, though. It focuses on both the liberation group and the 'Miss World competitors', especially Mbatha-Raw's Jennifer Hosten. While this does give the chance to view things from different perspectives and allows for the exploration of more themes, it makes things feel slightly muddled. Perhaps it would've benefited from choosing one perspective to focus the story through to make things a little more streamlined. Still, both storylines are effective and the thing works as a whole, but it just feels like something which could have improved the proceedings slightly. Overall, though, it's certainly worth the watch. 7/10

Great Family Movie, Very Entertaining

[martimusross · 7/10 · 23 May 2020]

Misbehaviour

I really enjoyed this movie from start to finished. The script tread a delicate line between the political and the comedic, and it did a fine job.

At the time, and in our innocence and naïveté, we all thought this was an "honest" competition that merely was part of the panoply of family entertainment with It's A Knockout and The Two Ronnies. This script was careful to show how public consciousness needed awakening to the obvious objectification of women and the stultifying job opportunities that were open to women at the time.

It was genuinely funny and really very heartwarming as the different characters came to grips with changing reality. Eric & Julie Morley were portrayed as the brains behind a global show and the success of that show was what guided their principles, they certainly did not believe their show exploited women, they believed is exalted female beauty for entertainment and gave the winners only dreamt of opportunities.

The acting was crisp the styling inspired and it breathed in all the right places. Millennials will be shocked forgetting that intent must lay behind any form of discrimination and that this show was mainly watched by women at the time who loved it.

I love this family movie and it reminds us that any form of objectification is a simplistic view of the world.

A fun inspiring movie

[wintercript · 7/10 · 11 January 2021]

This film feels clutters at point because of its multiple storylines. However, I loved seeing the story come together and to see Keira Knightley's character, Sally, grow in determination to stand up for women's rights, not only for herself, but also for her daughter.

This is a beautiful film with a few small teething problems

[Joe-Faulkner-0 · 9/10 · 17 April 2020]

Firstly I can't believe my eyes at the low review score. I watch (or try to) films from every Genre, depict every political and social narrative.

There is nothing to dislike here. It's not gender swapping shallow rehashes and trying to sell it with 4th wave feminism. It is a BRILLIANT and accessible film about a bunch of brave women. Now that isn't to imply we don't need a badass roster of women in our Marvel's and DC's but this is a story of real heroic women fighting against a seriously oppressive regime.

I thought that a few of the younger characters were going to be obnoxiously off-putting but for ONCE they aren't, for once despite a few slightly cringe moments near the start, they are real characters with the attitude to fight for change.

I think no matter what race you are, the colour of your skin or your gender you can take something away from this movie and see how we should all be continuing to fight against injustices from every angle.

9/10 is a very high mark. It didn't have a few hundred million pounds in CGI, hell the angles from many perspectives can seem confusing. However I disregard the notion that this is another "woke film". It is unironically woke.

Super likeable comedy! Pop culture done right.

[Amyth47 · 7/10 · 10 December 2020]

My Rating : 7/10

A great drama with ample comedy to keep you entertained, 'Misbehaviour' is sensitive and interesting with a delicately tackled subject matter - set against the backdrop of the 1970 Miss World competition in London.

Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are polite (too polite!) and graceful however it's Jessie Buckley who steals the show - she nails the part of a punchy direct-action enthusiast, keen on graffiti-ing ad hoardings and cranking out agitprop leaflets on Gestetner machines.

All in all, could be more dynamite but it's charming overall.

Luke Warm

[crumpytv · 5/10 · 4 June 2020]

There was no real bite. A reasonable watch, but it lacked something. Having grown up through the era where Miss World was presented as family entertainment, the culture made for some very uncomfortable viewing.

We are not beautiful! We are not ugly! We are angry!

[ZoranNBG · 10/10 · 15 October 2020]

I adore and endlessly admire the true story of how, in 1970, the Women's Liberation Movement was taken over by Miss World, and the first black woman was appointed Miss World; In fact, it was the moment when the girls decided to make a spectacle for themselves!

The film itself is decent enough but....

[sala151183 · 6/10 · 14 March 2020]

The film itself is a decent enough one but sometimes I just wished they would focus and hone in on one of the two subjects a little more. I'd much rather have seen a film solely based on the miss world ceremony and shown us a strong message what was going on underneath the surface or have a film about female activists trying to fight for rights, I think with the two together it made me feel a little less engaged. Overall a decent film lacking narrative.

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 5/10 · 14 May 2020]

The movie had a nice message to come across and an interesting story to present, and yet, the movie was a bit boring. The performances though were good from everyone in the cast.

And the winner is...

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 13 March 2020]

'Misbehaviour (2020)' surrounds the 'Miss World 1970' beauty pageant, using this event to highlight the different ways in which sexism affects a few key characters. It's very much a feminist film, delightfully flying in the face of the patriarchy wherever possible. However, it's also surprisingly nuanced. It tackles misogyny, objectification, social conditioning, generational oppression, unbalanced power structures and, even, racism. The complex issues it examines are never boiled down to anything other than just that: complex. By focusing on a diverse group of women, the piece can explore varying types resistance and different degrees of progress without ever minimising one approach. Initially, its abundance of characters feels slightly messy, but it's not long before the less important players fall away somewhat so that the main stars can shine. The movie moves at a clip, too. It's over before you know it, satisfyingly bringing all its elements together in a chaotic finale and delicate denouement. It's a wonderfully inclusive film, as enraged as it is understanding. It's also constantly entertaining, even though isn't exactly exciting, and it often manages to get under your skin in the most necessary of ways. Its performances are on-point, its script is balanced and its message is important. It's really good, actually. 7/10

Messy, misguided, overfilled bizzare movie

[akcenat · 6/10 · 18 July 2020]

"Misbehaviour" seems a little too British for its own good. It is a bizarre mix of sexism, feminism, paternalism and racism. Unfortunately, some of characters have almost cartoonish feel, while others feels so flat. At one point, story is quite serious and than at another it's almost goofy. Basically, I'm still not sure is this film a comedy, parody or drama? In general, film doesn't follow its narrative journey, while the pacing was a little off. Actually, there are two struggles in motion here - one for gender and one for racial equality - but you get the sense that the film views the latter as an unfortunate inconvenience, a stick in the spokes of a more straightforward story of women vs men that the white woman filmmaker would rather she could spin. One of the biggest problem with this film is that it tries to show events from 1970 through the prism of 21st-century sensibilities, but it doesn't work either in life neither here. Ultimately, "Misbehaviour" sends mixed messages and leaves you yearning for documentary that might better explore its subject and setting. For a movie that was intended to be anti sexist/paternalist/etc it was also weird how some of the 'Miss' characters were presented. For example, Miss Yugoslavia (was presented) as one of the most brainless persons, but maybe director (Philippa Lowthorpe) didn't want to offend other nations yet she could this one because that country stopped to exist in 1990's which was awkward for an anti *ism movie and a very typical British move. It was a pity too that American comedian Bob Hope was demonized so badly, but it's even worst that Greg Kinnear was quite bad at playing him. To conclude, I can't recommend this quirky British film because only (so&so) worthy thing here was maybe last 25 minutes of the movie, especially 'post-credits' scene. To much miss opportunities here. Shame.

Rating: 6-/5

A piece of history to remember

[Gordon-11 · 20 April 2020]

This is a powerful piece of history, because it shows that a small group of people with a belief can spark a wave of awakening. I am moved by the film, the story and the characters.

Good remake of one of the best Carry Ons

[jamesmcconnon · 7/10 · 14 March 2020]

Only 7 people in the cinema today. Can't think why. Anyone would think there was a global pandemic on our something.

Misbehavior was pretty good. It's basically the true story of the Miss World protest that inspired the peerless Cary on Girls (who said protest doesn't achieve anything.)

Was worried that it might be a bit po faced and humourless, but it was actually pretty funny, and very entertaining. Rhys Ifans unleashed his inner Sid James, Kelley Hawes was very nearly as good as Joan Simms as his wife, and Kiera Knightly was good in the June Whitfield part, although you can't beat the original.

The subplot about the two black women, one of whom was the first from South Africa and the other one the first black woman to win Miss World, was actually pretty lovely, and very well done. It's worth seeing the film for that alone.

Only real weak spot was Greg Kinnear as Bob Hope. Not sure if it was him being bad, or the fact that Bob Hope was a bit crap, really, and he captured that perfectly.

Worth seeing. Even if it does have a huge Bernard Bresslaw in a frock shaped hole.

1970s anarchy

[CutUncut2021 · 6/10 · 18 February 2022]

Refreshing look back on one of the several 1970s movements that provided the lifeblood for the decade's rebel youth (women's lib, racial equality, housing rights, gender/orientation issues). Note that here the word used here is "anarchy", whereas now any action contrary to the status quo is branded as "terrorism". You spray-paint a slave-trading patriarch's statue in the town square, and you're suddenly a terrorist. The commendably enterprising director Lowthorpe did a sincere job here, and finally the otherwise unwatchable Knightley is well-cast as a dowdy version of herself, an upper middle-class woman desperate to connect with the real world. Note that none of her campaigning companions had her comfy bourgeois safety-net if things ran foul. The said "cattle market" is still ingrained in today's "advanced" society: mothers triumph over unwed or childless women, so be warned, a fair quota of the enduring fault lies amidst female society itself. Anyways, an engaging outing, if slack on guts.

Entertaining, thought-provoking, inspirational

[edgeoftheworldfilms · 9/10 · 2 May 2020]

Director Philippa Lowthorpe had to keep many plates spinning simultaneously in order to explore multiple characters in this ensemble piece. No easy feat, she has succeeded in giving us a beautifully thought-provoking overview of what it was like to be a woman in the early-70s from an ambitiously wide-ranging number of points of view. All while at the same time entertaining us with this scrupulously-researched period film.

'Misbehaviour' says sooooo much, on so many levels, and all done with a light touch and without being overly preachy, or strident. In so doing, the message is conveyed and reinforced, embroidered and elaborated upon almost via osmosis...

So many moving moments will remain with me; a mother and daughter impossibly at odds with one another cease fighting for long enough to hug each other in mutual respect and love... members of an all male, all white academic panel give Keira Knightly's character marks out of ten for her appearance and tut-tut about her relationship status rather than focussing on what she has to say as she pleads with them for a place (a seat at the table which turns out to be a high-chair)... the scuffed shoe of a contestant trying to fake it till she can make it... the excitement, exuberance and passion of the feminist protestors... Bob Hope's loving wife trapped in her gilded cage... Miss Africa South... I am so grateful for all these strong, resilient, gracious women who have gone before me, did what they could in the circs, and in so doing made it easier for me to potentially do likewise. I include the filmmakers in that equation - in addition to the women whose stories they have chosen to tell. Thank you! Hats off to you! Bravo!

A lot to get through...

[W011y4m5 · 7/10 · 11 May 2023]

I must say, what a cast.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Black Mirror), Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Carribbean, Atonement), Jessie Buckley (Men, Beast), Emma D'Arcy & Rhys Ifans (House of The Dragon), Emma Corrin & Lesley Manville (The Crown), Luke Thompson (Bridgerton), Keeley Hawes (It's A Sin), Clara Rosager (1899), Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey) etc. From the sheer talent assembled to star in front of the camera alone, the production is impressive enough, positively brimming with recognisable faces from a whole assortment of majorly successful hits within film / TV that have gone on to define modern pop culture.

Here, the ensemble collectively help to populate the world of director Philippa Lowthorpe's thematically resonant "Misbehaviour", an endearing & faithful recreation of the 1970s (or the very first year of that particular decade, to be exact), chronicling a time of civil unrest in the UK when attitudes were about to shift seismically (all across the world, even) & the topic of women's rights bubbled to the surface of societal attention again after years of systematic repression / normalised sexist behaviours, sparking the gradual mainstream acceptance of the women's liberation movement (physically holding its first conference in Oxford, previously treated as some sort of radicalist organisation) - which also had its first major demonstration in London shortly after the events depicted in the third act (validating their fight amongst the general public), denouncing the misogyny of the mass reported / extremely popular "Miss World" competition - at the time, encouraging dehumanising objectification & assigning value to those of the female sex based entirely upon outdated gender stereotypes & unreasonable beauty standards thrust upon girls (from literal infancy) under the oppressive weight of the crushing patriarchy.

Thus, although originally small in size, what the aptly titled "Misbehaviour" experienced during the controversial show went on to symbolise, unstoppably transformed in to something far greater than anyone could've plausibly imagined (inspiring others to speak out & join in solidarity), giving meaning & purpose to the few's act of loud, unashamed bravery & stoic defiance.

However, what makes this protest so interesting (& far more complex) than the potentially basic concept (it may seem, at initial glance - of inherent good V bad or right / wrong) is the deliciously nuanced conflict of interest / ideologies when context is applied to what occurred during the televised event, because despite liberalism moving at a much faster rate of progression in Britain (sadly, not fast enough - since it still hasn't been dismantled by 2023), for those whose development may have perhaps been less rapid (in other countries, only taking their beginning, tentative steps to equality - freeing their own mindsets of the imperialist values colonialists had imposed during tyrannical occupation), such profundity of one's evolution potentially came at the expense of another's, since the topic of feminism arguably overshadowed that of racism (when the competition gained its first ethnic minority champion - a huge triumph in representation, undoubtedly - & the subject of apartheid desperately required addressing), resulting in a fractured disconnect (in perspectives) between two marginalised groups who should've ideally had intersectionality & solidarity, in the face of one common enemy.

As a result, what should've been a jubilant (& fairly easy) celebration of marked progress (taking a refreshing step forward in our nation's growth) is contradicted (or juxtaposed, lyrically) by the bittersweet assignation of regression elsewhere, showing clearly how the remnants of white supremacy (& a past we tend to forget - of slavery, in which the Brits built our economy / wealth upon) lingered on, holding those in the commonwealth back (perpetuating the same damage inflicted by our ancestors), long after the empire had fallen.

Therefore, the lack of simplicity is thankfully referenced & I always appreciate three dimensional-analyses of imperfect circumstances (& conflict borne from the morally grey) but additionally, I do feel as though the exploration of the theoretical detriment experienced in response (as a direct impact) could've perhaps been done in more detail, so as to truly ensure justice was done to the issues being acknowledged.

That's not to say the depiction's handled badly or mismanaged... I merely got the impression as though we'd only scratched the surface.

Surreal laughing stock?

[Chrimle · 2/10 · 18 August 2020]

How odd... Almost as it was mocking the political movement it tried to glorify. Once in a while individuals would question or criticise the main protagonist's actions or reasoning - without retaliation, as if it is given that their actions are the only correct choice. This goes hand-in-hand with the extremely selfish, reckless and unlikable characters.

The acting is not noteworthy and would not make any difference to better connect with these "characters". The story and its direction is extremely predictable, uninspiring, unemotional and non-compelling...

The cinematography, directing and editing was extremely dull.

An interesting thought is that the movie cover perfectly fits the movie - the outcome is given at one glance!

Great comedy drama

[masonsaul · 8/10 · 13 November 2020]

Misbehaviour is a great, reasonably balanced if a little formulaic comedy drama that's funny and relevant. Keira Knightly and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are both incredible. Jessie Buckley, Rhys Ifans and Greg Kinnear are all great. Philippa Lowthorpe's direction is also great, it's well filmed and well paced. The music by Dickon Hinchcliffe is really good and the soundtrack is good.

Power to the ... women(?)

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 11 August 2021]

Equality ... for all is something that I probably will never witness. Those in power will always supress those with lesser power. Certain things have been moved and for that to happen, those oppressed have to revolt against it. Maybe you don't agree with the venue chosen or maybe you think it it the best available. Whatever the case it seems to have helped or rather birthed a movement.

Of course while this is based on a real event, it also does omit other things that were happening at the time (involving racism, calls for cheated voting and bribes and many other things). But this movie is here to give you a take on feminism and to show how certain things were and still are viewed upon ... and while the movement has improved on many things, nowadays we do have beauty peagants for young girls (and maybe boys? I don't know if that is true, but the girls alone is despicable and horrific) ... not sure that can be viewed by any angle or pov.

But the movie is well played (actors) and really well edited - again you have to be aware there is more to the story or to history (herstory if you want to be like that)

Could've meant so much more...

[karlmartin-47352 · 5/10 · 13 March 2020]

Everything looked dressed up like a 70's fancy dress, rather than trying the natural look & they obviously had zero money to spend on source music which could've been better to stamp the timeframe of it. The only slight time that I warmed to it was the very end with the social context of what the principle characters went on to achieve. Pretty disappointing & could've done & meant more rather than it trying to be a pretty little period piece, which is the exact opposite of what the film was supposed to be about.