Okay, you know going in that it's yet another film about a female agent liaising with the Resistance in Occupied France during World War Two, some viewers may even have read the (undeservedly) best-selling novel on which it was based, but you go anyway, maybe you admire Cate Blanchett and I've no quarrel with that, she's a fine actress, maybe you like 'period' movies, again you won't hear a squawk out of me, in fact those two reasons were what prompted me. It's a good movie - well, it's not a BAD movie, but perhaps in this case the opposite of bad is NOT good. An indifferent movie is nearer the truth. Within the last couple of years an English newspaper gave away a series of dvds set in WWII one of which was Carve Her Name With Pride which covers much of the same ground except that it was about a REAL Resistance worker, Violette Szabo, who failed to survive the war unlike the fictional Gray; Carve Her Name, made in black and white is light years better than the Technicolored Charlotte Gray, Blanchett's fine performance notwithstanding. As long as we're making comparisons I also disagree with the person who unaccountably rated this movie higher than Claude Berri's Lucie Aubrac but then difference of opinion is what makes horse races.

This film held my attention the entire time. The cinematography was absolutely stunning. This is a beautiful film. I was taken in by the beauty that Cate Blanchett and Billy Crudup possess. It wasn't the most exciting cinema ever, but none-the-less it still had it's wonderfully planned moments. Worth a watch!

I am not denying Charlotte Grey doesn't have flaws, it does, but I for one do not think it is a bad movie. In fact I think it is pretty good. I agree the story is unbelievable on the most part, and the script is really quite poor in spots and the film does drag in the middle. However, the cinematography, costumes, sets, scenery and locations are immaculate and the music is haunting and beautiful and the growing attraction between Charlotte and Julien avoids the trap of being too sappy. The direction is decent enough too, while the acting is good particularly from Cate Blanchett who is very classy and determined and I liked Michael Gambon and Billy Crudup too. Overall, it is a pretty good film. 7/10 Bethany Cox