Hussy

Production Notes

“Hussy” is an adaptation of Rosemary Kingsland’s 1980 book by the same name. It served as the directorial debut for Matthew Chapman, who also wrote the screenplay. After directing “Hussy”, Chapman successfully moved to the States and wrote the screenplays for “Color of Night” and “Runaway Jury”, among others.

Review ★★☆☆☆

There’s very little information on the making of “Hussy”, so it’s difficult to research what drew Helen Mirren to this project. The film is badly put together and looks as sleazy as the nightclub that Beaty works at. It falls flat because the story and its dialogue isn’t engaging at all. Here we have two characters in their early Thirties who try to make something out of their lives. Emory wants Beaty, and Beaty wants a better future for her son. As so often in this kind of story, the best idea they come up with is a drug deal? And why does Patty Boulaye show up every five minutes with the same damn song? Unfortunately, the film doesn’t know where to settle. Is it a portrait of London’s club scene? A love story? A gangster drama? Depending on its scene, it’s all of the above – just not good at any of it. Helen Mirren’s performance is fine. The advertisment for the film is misleading since she’s not the sexual bombshell seen on the poster. Her Beaty is a past-her-prime hooker with too much makeup, looking grotesque sometimg. Her looks vary through the film and sometimes you get a glimpse of the real Beaty. But the script has neither good dialogue nor anything important in store for the character, so not even Mirren is able to make “Hussy” a memorable film.