• Latest
  • Trending
The Miracle Club review

The Miracle Club Review: Faith, Forgiveness & Wasted Potential

Bullet Train Explosion Review

Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

Pets Review

Pets Review: Bryce Dallas Howard’s Ode to Companionship

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

The Mortician Season 1 Review

The Mortician Season 1 Review: Inside a House of Horrors and Profiteering

Falling Into Place Review

Falling Into Place Review: Aylin Tezel’s Debut Navigates Modern Romance

steven flynn

Film-Marketing Veteran Steven Flynn Dies at 70

8 hours ago
Scarlett Johansson

Johansson Fronts “Jurassic World: Rebirth” as July 2025 Release Nears

8 hours ago
Nathan Fielder

Nathan Fielder Lands Real 737 in High-Stakes “Rehearsal” Finale

8 hours ago
Cobie Smulders

Cobie Smulders Boards The Lincoln Lawyer Ahead of High-Stakes Season 4

8 hours ago
Carrie

Amazon Sets Cast for Mike Flanagan’s “Carrie” Series

8 hours ago
jonathan joss

“King of the Hill” Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot in San Antonio

8 hours ago
I'm looking to write a comprehensive and original news article on the topic I'm sharing below. Please: 1. Read and analyze this published article first: xxxxxxx 2. Search the internet for additional relevant information about this news story, including: - Latest developments since the original article was published - Alternative perspectives not covered in the original - Relevant expert opinions or statements - Background context that helps better understand the story 3. Carefully read and analyze all the provided source articles. 4. Identify the key facts, quotes, and background information relevant to the story. 5. Synthesize this information into a coherent narrative. 6. Based on your research, draft an original news article that: - Is written in a clear, objective journalistic style suitable for a major newspaper - Is completely original and free of plagiarism - Includes relevant facts, quotes, and background information - Presents a balanced view of the story, incorporating different perspectives - Is thorough and informative, capturing the essence of the story - Is structured with a strong lead paragraph, followed by supporting details and context - Uses entirely your own words to explain and describe the events and information - Maintains a professional tone throughout - Avoids directly copying phrasing from the original sources - IMPORTANT: Does NOT include any summary or conclusion section - Do not use subheadings. Write maximum 300 to 400 words. 7. After writing the main article, suggest 5 perfect news-website like titles for the article. These should be concise, attention-grabbing, and accurately reflect the content of the article. The Phoenician Scheme

Wes Anderson Film Nets $95K Per Screen Ahead of Nationwide Rollout

9 hours ago
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    steven flynn

    Film-Marketing Veteran Steven Flynn Dies at 70

    Scarlett Johansson

    Johansson Fronts “Jurassic World: Rebirth” as July 2025 Release Nears

    Nathan Fielder

    Nathan Fielder Lands Real 737 in High-Stakes “Rehearsal” Finale

    Cobie Smulders

    Cobie Smulders Boards The Lincoln Lawyer Ahead of High-Stakes Season 4

    Carrie

    Amazon Sets Cast for Mike Flanagan’s “Carrie” Series

    jonathan joss

    “King of the Hill” Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot in San Antonio

    I'm looking to write a comprehensive and original news article on the topic I'm sharing below. Please: 1. Read and analyze this published article first: xxxxxxx 2. Search the internet for additional relevant information about this news story, including: - Latest developments since the original article was published - Alternative perspectives not covered in the original - Relevant expert opinions or statements - Background context that helps better understand the story 3. Carefully read and analyze all the provided source articles. 4. Identify the key facts, quotes, and background information relevant to the story. 5. Synthesize this information into a coherent narrative. 6. Based on your research, draft an original news article that: - Is written in a clear, objective journalistic style suitable for a major newspaper - Is completely original and free of plagiarism - Includes relevant facts, quotes, and background information - Presents a balanced view of the story, incorporating different perspectives - Is thorough and informative, capturing the essence of the story - Is structured with a strong lead paragraph, followed by supporting details and context - Uses entirely your own words to explain and describe the events and information - Maintains a professional tone throughout - Avoids directly copying phrasing from the original sources - IMPORTANT: Does NOT include any summary or conclusion section - Do not use subheadings. Write maximum 300 to 400 words. 7. After writing the main article, suggest 5 perfect news-website like titles for the article. These should be concise, attention-grabbing, and accurately reflect the content of the article. The Phoenician Scheme

    Wes Anderson Film Nets $95K Per Screen Ahead of Nationwide Rollout

    Pablo Larraín

    Netflix Lines Up Four-Part Horror Drama “My Sad Dead” From Pablo Larraín

    Shanghai Blues

    4K Trailer Sets Summer U.S. Launch for Tsui Hark’s “Shanghai Blues”

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

    Pets Review

    Pets Review: Bryce Dallas Howard’s Ode to Companionship

    The Mortician Season 1 Review

    The Mortician Season 1 Review: Inside a House of Horrors and Profiteering

    Falling Into Place Review

    Falling Into Place Review: Aylin Tezel’s Debut Navigates Modern Romance

    Marshmallow Review

    Marshmallow Review: These Woods Hide Unexpected Secrets

    Zero Review

    Zero Review: Navigating Power and Peril on Senegal’s Streets

    Shadow Of God Review

    Shadow Of God Review: Redefining Possession in a Chilling Light

    Relative Control Review

    Relative Control Review: Juggling Worlds, Finding Focus

    The Italians Review

    The Italians Review: A Comedic Surface, Existential Depths

  • Game Reviews
    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    steven flynn

    Film-Marketing Veteran Steven Flynn Dies at 70

    Scarlett Johansson

    Johansson Fronts “Jurassic World: Rebirth” as July 2025 Release Nears

    Nathan Fielder

    Nathan Fielder Lands Real 737 in High-Stakes “Rehearsal” Finale

    Cobie Smulders

    Cobie Smulders Boards The Lincoln Lawyer Ahead of High-Stakes Season 4

    Carrie

    Amazon Sets Cast for Mike Flanagan’s “Carrie” Series

    jonathan joss

    “King of the Hill” Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot in San Antonio

    I'm looking to write a comprehensive and original news article on the topic I'm sharing below. Please: 1. Read and analyze this published article first: xxxxxxx 2. Search the internet for additional relevant information about this news story, including: - Latest developments since the original article was published - Alternative perspectives not covered in the original - Relevant expert opinions or statements - Background context that helps better understand the story 3. Carefully read and analyze all the provided source articles. 4. Identify the key facts, quotes, and background information relevant to the story. 5. Synthesize this information into a coherent narrative. 6. Based on your research, draft an original news article that: - Is written in a clear, objective journalistic style suitable for a major newspaper - Is completely original and free of plagiarism - Includes relevant facts, quotes, and background information - Presents a balanced view of the story, incorporating different perspectives - Is thorough and informative, capturing the essence of the story - Is structured with a strong lead paragraph, followed by supporting details and context - Uses entirely your own words to explain and describe the events and information - Maintains a professional tone throughout - Avoids directly copying phrasing from the original sources - IMPORTANT: Does NOT include any summary or conclusion section - Do not use subheadings. Write maximum 300 to 400 words. 7. After writing the main article, suggest 5 perfect news-website like titles for the article. These should be concise, attention-grabbing, and accurately reflect the content of the article. The Phoenician Scheme

    Wes Anderson Film Nets $95K Per Screen Ahead of Nationwide Rollout

    Pablo Larraín

    Netflix Lines Up Four-Part Horror Drama “My Sad Dead” From Pablo Larraín

    Shanghai Blues

    4K Trailer Sets Summer U.S. Launch for Tsui Hark’s “Shanghai Blues”

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

    Pets Review

    Pets Review: Bryce Dallas Howard’s Ode to Companionship

    The Mortician Season 1 Review

    The Mortician Season 1 Review: Inside a House of Horrors and Profiteering

    Falling Into Place Review

    Falling Into Place Review: Aylin Tezel’s Debut Navigates Modern Romance

    Marshmallow Review

    Marshmallow Review: These Woods Hide Unexpected Secrets

    Zero Review

    Zero Review: Navigating Power and Peril on Senegal’s Streets

    Shadow Of God Review

    Shadow Of God Review: Redefining Possession in a Chilling Light

    Relative Control Review

    Relative Control Review: Juggling Worlds, Finding Focus

    The Italians Review

    The Italians Review: A Comedic Surface, Existential Depths

  • Game Reviews
    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
The Miracle Club review

Pepper Grinder Review: Drilling Deep Into Fun

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Review - An Explosive Battle Royale, If Your Phone Can Handle It

Home Entertainment Movies

The Miracle Club Review: Faith, Forgiveness & Wasted Potential

Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, and Kathy Bates Transcend Flawed Material in Poignant Irish Spiritual Dramedy

Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi by Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi
1 year ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

In “The Miracle Club,” a quartet of Irish women spanning different generations – the venerable Maggie Smith, ever-dependable Kathy Bates, underrated Agnes O’Casey, and the profoundly talented Laura Linney – embark on a pilgrimage to the fabled holy site of Lourdes. Their motives range from seeking spiritual solace to clinging to the desperate hope of miraculous healing. With such a formidable ensemble, one anticipated a poignant, richly moving experience.

Alas, the film only partly fulfills that promise. Although underpinned by good intentions and thematic heft surrounding faith, guilt, and womanhood in 1960s Catholic Ireland, “The Miracle Club” is too content languishing in lightweight territory. Moments of raw power peek through, courtesy of the cast’s nuanced emotional excavations.

However, the narrative’s broader strokes prove underwhelming – saccharine cliches and thinly-sketched conflicts diminishing the overall resonance. This well-intentioned dramedy ultimately emerges as a misfire, a mildly heartwarming yet largely forgettable experience buoyed only by its peerless leading ladies.

Pilgrimage of Sisterhood and Secrets

Set in working-class 1960s Dublin, “The Miracle Club” revolves around a tightknit trio – elderly Lily (Maggie Smith), middle-aged Eileen (Kathy Bates), and young mother Dolly (Agnes O’Casey). United by steadfast friendship and Catholic devotion, they vie for the top prize in their parish’s talent show – a pilgrimage to the revered healing springs of Lourdes, France.

Their reasons are deeply personal. Lily remains haunted by her son’s drowning decades prior. Eileen harbors a potentially cancerous lump she fears seeking treatment for. And Dolly’s son hasn’t uttered a word, leaving her desperate for divine intervention. Complicating matters is the return of Chrissie (Laura Linney), who abandoned the town under mysterious circumstances and now unwittingly reawakens old wounds.

Despite resistance from unhelpful husbands, the quartet eventually find themselves traversing from Dublin’s hustle to the spiritual promised land of Lourdes. As they bathe in the purported miracle waters, long-buried secrets gradually unspool. Each woman’s specific need for healing – be it physical, emotional, or spiritual – takes centerstage, culminating in self-discoveries that just may eclipse any cosmic miracle.

Technically Proficient but Lacking Narrative Deftness

Director Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s steady hand ensures “The Miracle Club” remains an aesthetically pleasing, if unremarkable, viewing experience. John Conroy’s lush cinematography lovingly captures the verdant Irish landscapes and quaint village locales with a postcard-perfect allure.

The Miracle Club Review

The exterior Lourdes sequences specifically exude an appropriate air of spiritual grandeur and reverence. John Hand’s production design adeptly reinforces the story’s working-class milieu through the cozy, lived-in depiction of the characters’ homes.

However, O’Sullivan’s control over the narrative itself proves less commanding. The script by Jimmy Smallhorne, Timothy Prager, and Joshua D. Maurer gestures towards potent themes – Catholic dogma’s oppressive weight, the anguish of guilt and regret, the complexities of feminine resilience and solidarity. Yet these deeper philosophical undercurrents remain merely surface-level talking points, never plumbed with any genuine insight or conviction.

Tonal inconsistencies further undercut the film’s emotional heft. For every sincere dramatic beat exploring familial loss or personal trauma, a jarring tonal pivot into cheap slapstick involuntarily punctures the poignancy. Unfunny subplots involving the bumbling husbands’ homemaking woes exemplify this jarring unevenness between the heartfelt and the cringeworthy. A defter handling of this dramedy balance could have elevated the richer spiritual arcs.

Thespian Titanics Buoying a Slight Story

If any elements keep “The Miracle Club” afloat, they are the transcendent talents of its principal cast. Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney collectively represent acting royalty, and their gravitas single-handedly elevates swaths of pedestrian material. Each thespian turns in a masterclass in nuanced emotional evocation.

The Miracle Club Review

As the grieving, regret-stricken Lily, Dame Maggie Smith is soulful perfection. With understated restraint and those trademark piercing eyes, she articulates a lifetime’s anguish over her drowned son through mere glimpses and needful silences. Smith’s cathartic confrontations with Linney simmer with an almost palpable sense of loss and recrimination. Moments where her countenance crumbles convey the earth-shattering depths of a mother’s guilt more vividly than reams of dialogue.

Bates matches her illustrious co-star’s commitment, imbuing the cantankerous yet conflicted Eileen with multilayered humanity. Her defensive hostility towards Linney’s character belies a wellspring of pain and insecurity roiling underneath. Bates seamlessly integrates flashes of vulnerability amidst Eileen’s prickliness, laying bare the character’s complex relationship with faith and fragile sense of self-worth. Her climactic surrender into forgiveness is a small, quiet marvel.

As for Linney, her solemn, watchful presence forges the inscrutable emotional core around which the other narratives orbit. One marvels at how the actress can radiate such a tremendously burdened interior life while remaining outwardly reserved – her every movement and sideways glance hinting at worlds of unspoken anguish. Linney’s gradual unshackling of Chrissie’s secrets lands like a forceful exhalation.

The supporting players, while solid, understandably pale alongside the magnetism of the three leads. Agnes O’Casey invests Dolly with warmth and an appealingly mellow authenticity. Stephen Rea adequately captures the loving if slightly piggish qualities of Eileen’s loutish spouse. And Mark O’Halloran’s priestly chaperone provides a soothing, intermittently wry presence.

Ultimately, for all its storytelling flaws, “The Miracle Club” stands as a hushed testament to the transformative powers of skilled, empathetic acting. Smith, Bates, and Linney’s startlingly rich emotional transparency consistently courses through the relatively muted script, elevating each fragile human truth.

Spirituality Meets Harsh Social Realities

Amidst its gentle, saccharine overtones, “The Miracle Club” grapples with the thorny intersections of faith, feminine identity, and 1960s Irish Catholic mores. The film doesn’t flinch from depicting the era’s deeply ingrained sexism and religious oppressiveness weighing on its central women. Archaic prejudices manifest through the patronizing attitudes of their disgruntled, incompetent husbands and the stigmatization of Chrissie’s mysterious “sins.”

The Miracle Club Review

To its credit, the narrative tackles such sober themes as grief, guilt, and the long-term traumas of loss and societal shunning with admirable candor. Lily’s anguish over her son’s accidental death viscerally conveys how overwhelming anguish can burden even the most devout soul. Chrissie’s outcast status exposes the merciless judgment and alienation unwed mothers historically faced in rigidly traditional communities.

However, the script’s tendencies toward reductive moralizing blunts some of its more weighty conjectures. Its depictions of clandestine, potentially life-threatening abortion practices initially courted depth, only to skirt the issue’s complexities. The ultimate hand-waving of Eileen’s potential breast cancer in favor of a lazily “miraculous” outcome similarly rang hollow and regressive.

Still, in presenting an intimate sororial tapestry, “The Miracle Club” celebrates the resilience of womanhood in adversity. United by unshakable bonds of empathy and tough love, the central quartet serve as inspirations of hard-won self-actualization. Their spiritual journeys double as quests for autonomy over their turbulent lives and fraying senses of self – paving paths toward reclaiming feminine interiority from the dogmas of patriarchal oppression.

Goodhearted But Forgettable Spiritual Travelogue

For all its lofty ambitions to probe the depths of faith, guilt, and feminine resilience, “The Miracle Club” proves a rather forgettable, if consistently inoffensive dramedy. Its heartwarming sentiments and powerhouse performances from screen legends like Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney stubbornly radiate through even the most cliched narrative detours. However, a frustrating lack of narrative focus and tonal unevenness undercut the emotional uplift.

The Miracle Club Review

Ultimately, the film fares best as undemanding comfort viewing for the arthouse-inclined older crowd seeking a dose of mild spiritual catharsis. Those after transcendent religious profundities or blistering social commentary need not apply. But for the Downton Abbey demographic, there’s modest pleasure in watching venerable thespians etching tender, richly internalized portraits of women grappling with guilt, faith, and long-simmered personal traumas.

It helps that director Thaddeus O’Sullivan at least keeps the pastoral Irish settings and Lourdes backdrops looking postcard-ready. The cinematography and production design provide consistent aesthetic pleasures lacking in the scattershot, under-explored storytelling. And when Smith, Bates, and Linney’s dueling powerhouses share moments of quiet, wrenching revelation, glimpses of the profound spiritual journey peek through.

For the intended older arthouse crowd, “The Miracle Club” offers just enough seasoned acting bravura and heartfelt sentimentality to justify a viewing. All others can admire the talent assembled from afar while awaiting a more creatively robust exploration of its fascinating themes another day.

The Review

The Miracle Club

6 Score

While "The Miracle Club" boasts an impressive veteran cast delivering masterful performances, the film ultimately succumbs to a surfeit of clichés and a frustrating inability to fully capitalize on its weighty themes. For every moment of raw emotional authenticity unearthed by the talents of Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney, there are an equal number of trite narrative detours and thematic shallowness. Amidst its heartwarming intentions and gorgeous Irish vistas, the drama rarely transcends conventional spiritual sentimentality. An admirable effort buoyed by its venerable leads, but one that fizzles out as a faintly memorable arthouse trifle.

PROS

  • Powerhouse performances from Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney
  • Beautiful cinematography capturing the Irish landscapes
  • Explores weighty themes like faith, grief, guilt, and feminine resilience
  • Candid depiction of 1960s Catholic oppressiveness

CONS

  • Narrative lacks focus and gets sidetracked by cliches
  • Tonal imbalance between drama and misplaced comedy
  • Somewhat reductive handling of complex issues like trauma and abortion
  • Underdeveloped supporting characters and subplots

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: Agnes O'CaseyComedyDramaFeaturedJimmy SmallhorneJoshua D. MaurerKathy BatesLaura LinneyMaggie SmithThaddeus O'SullivanThe Miracle ClubTimothy Prager
Previous Post

Pepper Grinder Review: Drilling Deep Into Fun

Next Post

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Review – An Explosive Battle Royale, If Your Phone Can Handle It

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • Mountainhead Review

    Mountainhead Review: Deepfakes and Deep Trouble

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Death Valley Review: A Witty Welsh Wander into Cosy Crime

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 Review – Bridging Eras with Spellbinding Charm

    25 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Better Sister Season 1 Review: Not Quite a Killer Thriller

    16 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nine Puzzles Season 1 Review: Puzzle Pieces, Pain, and Police Procedurals

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MobLand Season 1 Review: Family Ties and Underworld Intrigues

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Bullet Train Explosion Review
Movies

Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

6 hours ago
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review
Reviews Games

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

3 days ago
Stick Season 1 Review
TV Shows

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

3 days ago
Destination X Review
Entertainment

Destination X Review: A Game of Veiled Realities

4 days ago
Earnhardt Review
Entertainment

Earnhardt Review: The Anatomy of a NASCAR Titan

4 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version