Well, as you can see, Victory Girl no longer contains my rants or photos. It no longer contains anything, really, because I’m starting the blog over again and going a different way with it.
My first order of business? I’m hunkering down, watching Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) for the first time. Since I’m really, really picky about my period films and shows (aka I hated Bomb Girls with a fiery passion), I have no idea how I’ll react to this but I’m giving it a shot. I’ll liveblog my way through it, so if you haven’t seen it yet, there are spoilers behind the cut!
5:20 pm
It’s starting. I’m a little nervous, people in the vintage community seem to love this film and I hate always being left out of the fanfare because so many films rub me the wrong way.
5:36 pm
As it turns out, it’s really hard to not like Francis McDormand in literally everything.
5:50 pm
I’m seven minutes in and I already have huge issues with the hair and much of the cosmetic use, but the wardrobe department outdid themselves!
6:14 pm
About eighteen and a half minutes in and the major thing that strikes me is that the characters are ridiculously cartoonish in a cute way, which is great, but it wasn’t pulled off very well. The sets are to die for, though!
6:30 pm
But, my, they do paint lovely scenes, don’t they? And the music is fantastic. After I watch I just might have to screencap. I wonder if a gallery of screencaptures from period and vintage films and shows would be useful to anyone but me?
6:34 pm
The cars are beautiful, the clothes are beautiful, the music is beautiful and yet I can’t move on by that hair. I’ve managed to take several screencaptures of Amy Adams hat in that last scene. Because I’m in love with it.
6:39 pm
It almost sounds like Adams redubbed her voice for this, there’s just the slightest disconnect between the way her mouth moves and what she’s saying. It’s barely there but I think that’s part of what’s bugging me.
6:53 pm
Pettigrew’s makeover is lovely but her hair before the transformation was nearly perfect for pincurling. I can’t imagine why they didn’t just do that? Everyone’s hair’s just a bit too long, anyway.
6:58 pm
Fine. Be handsome and in a sharp suit, see if I care.
7:07 pm
Look at that bathroom? I’m speechless and envious and I swear to Besame that I covet it. I’d still choose Lee Pace in period clothing over it but you can’t have everything, now, can you?
7:09 pm
How I wish I could pull off a center part. Doesn’t she look divine?
7:14 pm
Something tells me this movie is going to be all about Lee Pace for me from here on in.
7:17 pm
Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson) looks like the bride of absolute darkness in this film. So elegant and polished.
7:19 pm
Speaking of handsome men in sharp suits.
7:26 pm
More beautious Moaning Myrtle.
7:57 pm
Took a break to get some yogurt, come back to a possible air raid. :/
8:09 pm
While, thus far it’s a fun watch, there are absolutely not turns, twists or surprises that couldn’t be figured out within 45 seconds of meeting each character.
8:11 pm
How dare you, sir.
8:12 pm
You’re not off the hook, either.
8:16 pm
Can we seriously stop acting like we don’t know what’s going to happen?
8:20 pm
“If I Didn’t Care” unfortunately preformed with no era appropriate nuance to her voice (although she is talented, but her voice sounds odd for the time) and, for some reason, she seems to float through the movie doing a damn fine impression of late 1950s Marilyn Monroe. They have their eras a bit confused but it’s not bad at all.
8:22 pm
The change of song is a bit of a dirty trick, don’t you think? But Lee Pace. I’m having a hard time being angry with him.
8:30 pm
Wisdom during an air raid (drill?), still no twists and no turns.
8:34 pm
Are you as shocked as I am? That was sarcasm, if you didn’t catch it.
8:38 pm
More twists! More sarcasm from yours truly!
8:41 pm
This is the best makeup I’ve seen on her the entire picture. Her hair still sorely needs a hairnet or something if they won’t properly cut and curl it, though.
8:47 pm
Another amazing twist I totally didn’t see coming for the entirety of the film. Alright, I’m done being sarcastic. 
Read below for my final analysis.
The Verdict
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was a fun film, visually stunning and had lovely music. The acting was, for the most part, a bit average but top notch considering what the script apparently called for. Amy Adams delivered a forgettable performance as, frankly, she often does (even though she’s a darling on screen, full of energy).
There were too many characters for an hour and 20 minute-ish film and not enough time was spent on a select few to make you root for them and I think that hurt it quite a bit.
There was little in the way of surprise in the film, no heavy plots or anything too dire. Even so, it was fun to watch and I do recommend it to anyone who loves a good period film but isn’t looking for an X-File.
Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: 
(2.5 / 5)
