Jane Horrocks is dazzling as LITTLE VOICE, about a small, shy gal who has one very powerful set of vocal cords. Michael Caine as a seedy impresario and Brenda Blethyn as Little Voice's overbearing mom try to push LV onto a cabaret stage where she can show off those impressive vocal cords -- and make them rich. The wonderful Jim Broadbent is on hand as the owner of th seedy cabaret where LV is to perform. LV has other ideas. All comes to a terrible end -- at least it does for Caine, Blethyn and Broadbent. Ewen McGregor is on hand as LV's aspiring beau. While there are some very funny moments, this is a dark, dark drama, and being a British film, it does not end up playing out like ROCKY, which the plot of LITTLE VOICE strongly resembles. LV may be an underdog, but she isn't interested in becoming what Blethyn and company want her to. The ending is romantic in its own way, but odd. And decidedly off. But then, this is not a Hollywood movie with a typical Hollywood ending. LITTLE VOICE is really a dressed-up art-house flick that is not going to satisfy mainstream American audiences. Horrocks, a great singer, does get to belt out several classic tunes about two-thirds of the way through, but it's not nearly enough.
Review of Little Voice
