Ageing cinema audiences looking for intelligent dialogue are being let down by a male-dominated industry obsessed with blockbusters filled with violence and special effects, Imelda Staunton has claimed.
The Oscar-nominated actress is starring in a new romantic comedy called Finding Your Feet, which tells the story of a middle-aged snob who goes to live with her working class sister after finding out her husband has been having an affair.
Timothy Spall, David Hayman and Joanna Lumley also star and the film’s makers are hoping to exploit the so-called grey pound, with research showing a rise of over-45s going to the cinema, partly due to their higher disposable income and their extra spare time.
Imelda Staunton, pictured centre starring in Finding Your Feet, believes ageing cinema audiences are looking for intelligent dialogue and not action-packed blockbusters
Staunton stars alongside Timothy Spall (pictured) in the film which tells the story of a snob who goes to live with her sister after finding out her husband has been having an affair
And, speaking to the Observer, Staunton, 62, believes more movies should focus on the script rather than special effects.
She said: ‘There are a lot of people who want to listen to intelligent dialogue and see films that make you think, but also [with characters] that don’t just go around killing.’
Staunton, who was nominated for an Oscar for Vera Drake, added: ‘We’ve got so many terrible films. Everyone works really hard on whatever film they’re making.
‘But the money people couldn’t give a toss about the writing. It’s very annoying because there are so many films being made now.
‘Come on, quantity does not equal quality.’
Staunton plays a middle-aged snob in Finding Your Feet, but the character’s world is shattered when she finds out her husband has been having an affair with her best friend.
Acclaimed actress Staunton, who was nominated for an Oscar for Vera Drake, believes more movies should focus on the script rather than special effects
She leaves her plush Surrey home and goes to live with her estranged sister in her London council flat.
She reluctantly joins a local dance class and finds love.
Staunton calls it a ‘real story’ about everyday people’s lives.
It is not about ‘men holding guns and killing people’ and Staunton said she grabbed the role after seeing the quality of the script.
Nick Moorcroft, who wrote the film with Meg Leonard, said they wanted to write a film touching on issues of growing older.