Who would have guessed that a giggly 50-ish lady in a fuzzy pink suit could upstage all the witches, wizards and dark villains that populate the world of Harry Potter? But such is the case in the latest dazzlingly rendered saga, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which features the versatile British actress Imelda Staunton as the smug, order-loving Dolores Umbridge. The character, as written by J.
K. Rowling in her fifth "Harry Potter" book, was nuanced and cleverly conceived on the page. But Staunton brings her own disquieting flourishes to the part, as well as superb comic timing.
The fluttery giggles and singsong voice added by Staunton are brilliant choices. She's a vision of villainy in rose, her starched bouffant coif decorated by little pink hair bows. One scene perfectly captures her diabolical character: Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) serves detention in her cozy office, all in overstuffed chintz and framed images of kittens, as she orders him to write with a torturous quill that draws blood from his hand.
Umbridge gains and abuses power madly. She issues decrees that stifle ordinary youthful behavior and leaves students in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class defenseless with outdated primers and no practical knowledge. "Order of the Phoenix" deals with Harry's efforts to convince his Hogwarts classmates that Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is back and ready to attack.
Harry is portrayed as a liar by the Ministry of Magic (its headquarters is designed in a style that blends Victorian with '30s-style futuristic art). He clandestinely organizes a gathering of students, teaching them to defend themselves against dark magic. The film has the look and feel of a contemporary horror thriller, particularly in scenes where Harry has nightmares involving Voldemort.
Also chilling is a sequence where he and his friends battle the masked Death Eaters. These scenes, typified by sharp, fast cuts and terrifying visuals, suit the dark material. Tautly directed and artfully shot by David Yates, "Order of the Phoenix" has strong poignant moments along with visual panache.
(Several overhead shots of the Ministry buildings and the Hogwarts school are stunning.) The movie opens with Harry, an orphan, watching a mother and child at the playground. He also has an emotional exchange with his godfather, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who reassures Harry about his spiraling anger.
Among the film's most haunting moments are Black's death and Harry's anguished reaction, as well as the climactic appearance of Dumbledore in a duel against Voldemort. A pair of flying sequences dazzle. The effects in "Harry Potter" continue to be masterful but villains are given a new twist.
"Order of the Phoenix" is all the more fun because of it. Who would have guessed that a giggly 50-ish lady in a fuzzy pink suit could upstage all the witches, wizards and dark villains that populate the world of Harry Potter?
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