Marguerite (2015)

This 2015 French movie inspired by the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins differs from 2016s Florence Foster Jenkins not just in that it is French with Catherine Frot in the Meryl Streep role but also in that it is longer, eked out in meandering chapters which suggest it might have evolved from a television concept, has a wealth of unnecessary characters (by the end, you'll wonder why several characters were in it at all), and is nastier than its frothier American younger sister, particularly towards the end when Marguerite's lifelong servants and her troupe of oddbod frenemies gather for a malicious reality check - for what possible reason - photos?

★★★☆☆

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Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

Meryl Streep endears completely as the title character (part Dame Edna, part Hyacinth Bucket and a good part deluded blind auditioner on The Voice), but the central character is Florence's pianist - it is through his eyes that the audience observes the comedy of Florence's situation (she thinks she can sing but can't and it's hilarious) but the movie's sympathetic approach isn't convincing: Hugh Grant is a cheater, gaslighter and enabler, Florence's pianist and beneficiary loves her on the basis of one moment of dishwashing, and the movie's final line from Florence on her deathbed, while poignant and apparently factual, jars with what the movie has presented before.

★★★☆☆

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