Movie · 1998 · Comedy, Drama, Music · 1h 37m · English
Curator score: 4.6/10 (24.1K ratings)
Finding your own voice can be magic.
Overview
After the death of her father, Little Voice or LV becomes a virtual recluse, never going out and hardly ever saying a word. She just sits in her bedroom listening to her father's collection of old records of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and various other famous female singers. But at night time, LV sings, imitating these great singers with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother's boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special and arranges for her to perform at the local night club, but several problems arise.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.6/10
IMDb: 7.0/10
Letterboxd: 3.43/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Metacritic: 69
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Mark Herman
Production
Scala Films
Cast
Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor, Jane Horrocks, Jim Broadbent, Annette Badland, Philip Jackson, Adam Fogerty, Fred Feast, Graham Turner, Dick Van Winkle, Karen Gregory, James Welsh, Alex Norton, Howard Grace, George Oliver
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, offbeat British dramedy with a standout central performance and a few genuinely electric musical moments, but it’s uneven and can feel overstuffed in its back half. The film is most rewarding as a showcase for mimicry, working-class melancholy, and the bittersweet thrill of hidden talent being discovered.
Best for
fans of quirky British comedy-dramas
viewers who enjoy performance-driven films
people who like backstage/talent-show stories
audiences drawn to working-class character pieces
fans of classic vocal impersonation and old-showbiz nostalgia
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted drama
you dislike broad tonal shifts
you prefer understated realism
you’re not interested in old standards and cabaret-style singing
you want a film with a consistently polished emotional arc
Overview
Little Voice is built around a terrific conceit: a shy recluse who can summon the ghosts of old-school divas with uncanny precision. That idea gives the film its best scenes, and Jane Horrocks’ performance makes the character feel both fragile and astonishingly alive. Around her, the movie leans into a distinctly British mix of melancholy, absurdity, and showbiz desperation.
Worth noting
The supporting cast is a major draw, especially Brenda Blethyn and Michael Caine, who bring volatility and bite to a story that keeps threatening to tip into farce. When the film stays close to LV’s private world and the emotional cost of being pushed into performance, it’s strongest. The musical set pieces are often the payoff, and they land because they feel like emotional release rather than just display.
Bottom line
It doesn’t fully hold together, though. The plot gets a little crowded, and the tonal swings can be abrupt, especially as it moves toward a more heightened final stretch. Even so, it remains an appealing, character-led crowd-pleaser with a memorable voice of its own, especially for viewers who like their feel-good movies with a streak of sadness underneath.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Will Steele (3.5★) · 65 likes
I may or may not have recorded my first podcast about this very film! However it turns out, I am feeling proud to have done something which I’ve dreamt of doing for long 🎙
Josh Gillam (3★) · 53 likes
A shy young woman with a talent for impersonating legendary singers nicknamed LV (Jane Horrocks) is spotted by the opportunistic Ray Say (Michael Caine), a third rate talent agent in a relationship with her overbearing mother (Brenda Blethyn) who tries to mold the reluctant performer into a star, in this musical comedy-drama featuring Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent.
It’s a quirky, offbeat little film, coming out around the time where lots of charmingly idiosyncratic ‘up North’ flicks like Brassed Off… more
hamfruitcake (5★) · 50 likes
A friend gave me this DVD as a gift and a gift it certainly is.
Anyone who can sing like Judy Garland is an immediate legend. Michael Caine knows this.
Brenda Blethyn is a force of energy which lights up every scene, she's incredible. Then Jane Horrocks sings and the world just stops. Bonus points for Jim Broadbent and a young Ewan McGregor.
I know I rant about music, I love music, but Billie Holiday, Judy Garland and Shirley Bassey help me get out of bed in the morning. I can't express how much I enjoyed this one.
heatherNZ (3.5★) · 30 likes
I really want to see a prequel of how LV’s dad ended up with Mari. That’s a night out that needs some explaining.
With much to enjoy and appreciate, Little Voice is like five different films at once. Staring five of the best in the business. And it very nearly works. Unfortunately, despite all that talent on offer, it makes a few poor choices in the back-half of the film, and never quite reaches its potential. But that’s showbiz, right?
Ren (3.5★) · 28 likes
it’s okay billy i’ll exercise the pigeons with you <33