Notes on "Notes on a Scandal"

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Va va voom! Check out Cate Blanchett at the New York premiere of "Notes on a Scandal" on Monday. The film opens nationwide Dec. 28. The Slug had the opportunity to preview this complex flick about an art teacher (Blanchett) who sleeps with her student (Andrew Simpson) and another teacher (Dame Judi Dench in her crazy finest) who both befriends her and torments her about it.

Both women are well deserving of their Golden Globe nominations — especially Denchie. Usually, we despise voiceover, which "Notes" relies heavily on, in movies. (Our screenwriting professor in college called it a crutch. He wrote classy B-movies.) But it works beautifully here with Patrick Marber's adaptation of Zoe Heller's novel, "What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal." On screen, Dench presents one person. In narration, she's another. Don't worry. There's no "Million Dollar Baby" twist. Just an elaborate look at duality.