Possession (DVD)

...I had never heard of Possession before but as it wasn't too long. I settled down one afternoon whilst my better half was at work and decided to give it a go. Here's what I found out.

This film starts with a shot of a lonely looking man walking through what appears to be a meadow wearing very old fashioned clothes, we later find that this is Randolph Henry Ash. This scene seems a bit odd as the subsequent ones are set in the present ...
...was again noticed after directing Possession in 2002. Throughout his career he has worked with some big stars, Rene Zellweger in 'Nurse Betty', Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Possession, and many more.
Overall I thought that the direction of this film was satisfactory, not amazing and certainly not terrible but somewhere in the middle. I think the transition between book and film may have lowered the overall intensity of this story. So much has been ... more

If you have read my recent review on Gossip DVD, you will know that I also recently had the bright idea to buy a job lot of DVD's from eBay. So, please expect a lot more DVD reviews in the future.

I chose to watch this film because I usually like Gwyneth Paltrow and as she was all over the front of the DVD case I guessed she must be one of the main characters. I had never heard of Possession before but as it wasn't too long. I settled down one afternoon whilst my better half was at work and decided to give it a go. Here's what I found out.

This film starts with a shot of a lonely looking man walking through what appears to be a meadow wearing very old fashioned clothes, we later find that this is Randolph Henry Ash. This scene seems a bit odd as the subsequent ones are set in the present day. Roland Michell is a literary researcher for Professor Blackadder, as there is a poetry festival coming up Roland has been researching Randolph Henry Ash. Randolph is a totally fictional character, who is a popular Victorian poet. Whilst Roland is undertaking an assignment to find out how much Gooseberry Jam Ellen Ash made in 1859 he makes an amazing discovery.
A book in the London Library which Roland has been using for his research looks to contain original love letters written by Randolph Henry Ash to a woman other than his wife. This throws Roland into manic confusion as it was thought that Randolph never so much as looked at another woman. Roland takes some leave from his work with Blackadder and decides to visit another literary authority, Dr Maude Bailey. Roland has narrowed down Randolph's mistress to one of three women, and with Maude's help he is able to discover which one. Maude is also an expert on the focus of Randolph's affections, Christabel LaMotte, who was thought to have lived with her lesbian lover, Blanche Clover, and never so much as looked at a man.
Using the poems of both Randolph and Christabel, Maude and Roland are able to trace their love, their adventures and even discover how and why they parted.
After meeting at a dinner party one evening Christabel and Randolph become good friends and regularly write to each other. However, Christabel's partner, Blanche, grows to be very suspicious of these strange letters which are hidden from her view. She confronts Christabel, who says they are from a friend, but troubles continue between the pair even after the letters cease. Eventually they can no longer be together and Christabel goes to meet Randolph. They spend time together in hotels, on the beach, they even find a hidden cave behind a waterfall. Roland and Maude find this after reading one of Christabel's poems, however they are perplexed by a time when both authors go quiet. As it happens Randolph took Christabel to France in 1859, during which time Blanche commits suicide after trying to speak to Ellen Ash with little luck. Things really begin to turn nasty when Christabel falls pregnant.
During their quest for the truth Roland and Maude's relationship begins to mirror that of the Victorian lovers. To be honest this was an expected cliché but all in all it doesn't spoil the film as there is a fair bit of the reality of falling in love included in this film. For some time Maude and Roland feel uncomfortable around each other and continue to do so after their first kiss, but all comes good in the end, just like real life!
After their first major discovery Maude makes the mistake of telling her on again, off again boyfriend, Fergus, that she has found some original evidence of Randolph's affair. Fergus quickly tells Cropper, an antique collector, for whom money is no object. Throughout the film Cropper and Fergus are on the trail of our young lovers, though they do not seem to get on well.
I think that the last scene of this film complements the first scene and really brings this story together, but together these scenes and in fact whole story are very sad.
I really enjoyed this story, though I did find the relationship between Maude and Roland a little odd. I cannot fully explain why but somehow it just does not seem genuine, it seems to be a slightly prudish, almost Victorian relationship. I don't know if this is what was intended or just some bad acting. The acting of the Victorian characters is far better, more realistic and easier to believe.
Here are just a few quotes that really sum up this movie
"I cannot let you burn me up, nor can I resist you. No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed."
"They say that women change: 'tis so: but you are ever-constant in your changefulness, like that still thread of falling river, one from source to last embrace in the still pool ever-renewed and ever-moving on from first to last a myriad water-drops."

CAST
Maud Bailey - Gwyneth Paltrow
Roland Michell - Aaron Eckhat
Randolph Henry Ash - Jeremy Northam
Christabel LaMotte - Jennifer Ehle
Blanche Clover - Lena Headey
Ellen Ash - Holly Aird
Fergus Wolfe - Toby Stephens
Cropper - Trevor Eve
I think that the casting decisions made here are really good. The dissimilarities between Maud and Roland really add depth to the story, and really it just goes to show that opposites attract. Gwyneth Paltrow pulls off a convincing English accent which contrasts with Roland's American voice. Trevor Eve makes a great baddy which increases the overall feel of the film, you really begin to believe that he is some sort of cold hearted monster. Toby Stephens also acts his part nicely, somehow he pulls of the slimy slug character which fits nicely with Cropper. The casting of Randolph, Christabel, Blanche and Ellen is brilliant, these are really the main characters in this film.

Director - Neil LaBute
LaBute started his career as a playwright, influenced by people like David Mamet,. He made his debut in Hollywood with the low-budget 'In The Company Of Men' back in 1997, for which he had written the script. He was critically acclaimed for his work with 'Nurse Betty' in 2000 and was again noticed after directing Possession in 2002. Throughout his career he has worked with some big stars, Rene Zellweger in 'Nurse Betty', Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Possession, and many more.
Overall I thought that the direction of this film was satisfactory, not amazing and certainly not terrible but somewhere in the middle. I think the transition between book and film may have lowered the overall intensity of this story. So much has been crammed into this film I think that this has made the film direction poor. However the juxtapositioning of the Victorian love and the modern day lust is portrayed very well throughout the story.
Neil LaBute also directed the 2006 production The Wickerman. I did not enjoy this film, I think that the directing style of Neil LaBute may not be in line with my high standards, not to say that he is a bad director just that his work is not to my taste.

Writer - A. S Byatt (Antonia Susan Drabble)
Written in 1990, Possession was a best selling novel which won the author the Booker prize. The book also won the Irish Times-Aer Lingus International Fiction Prize.
Screenplay - Neil LaBute, Laura James and David Henry Hwang
I have never read this book, but I can imagine that what is in the novel is a great deal more than is portrayed in the film. However I do think that the story which is shown is a powerful one and the dilemmas which face the characters are easy to relate to for the majority of viewers.
I think that the adaptation to screenplay must be very good. Despite staying true to the majority of the original novel, LaBute changed Roland to an American; some critics believe this is just pandering to his audience, whilst others believe this was simply to fit in his friend Aaron Eckhat into his film.

Executive producers - Len Amato and David Barron
Producer - Barry Levinson and Paula Weinstein
Co-producer - Stephen Pevner
Line producer - Guy Tannahill
It seems to me that this film was produced with a relatively low budget and that with increasing spending this film could have been so much more. However, the current production is enjoyable and easy to watch, if slightly dissatisfying in places.

Soundtrack
"Possesso"
Performer - Ramón Vargas
Conductor - Gabriel Yared
Music - Gabriel Yared
Original lyrics - Peter Gosling
Italian translation - Michela Antonello
Orchestra leader - Kathy Thompson
Producer - Gabriel Yared and Graham Walker
I always think that music can really make or break or a film. I think that the music used in this story really enhanced the mood.

This film was released in UK on 22/10/2002
The film was filmed in 2000 and 2001, I noticed a tax disc which stated 01-01.

Running time 102 minutes

Certificate 12

There are very few features included on this DVD
- Play movie
- Scene Selection, from a choice of 27 chapters
- Special Features
Cast & Crew - the DVD shows one screen which details the character names and who they are played by, the producers' names, the director's name, the names of those who wrote the screenplay and the author of the original novel. This could be very useful if you want to write a review on the DVD, but really, why not just read the back cover?
Audio description from the director - this is obviously Neil LaBute talking all over the film. I think that this is very boring, possibly because LaBute's voice is very monotone although it is full of useless information. So if you like your movie trivia you may want to watch, but it is certainly not one for me. I never buy the 2 disc DVD editions, because I never watch the extras anyway.
Theatrical trailer - I have no idea why this was included in the DVD as you have the film, why watch the trailer?! Hough, I must say that the trailer really does give a good overview of the film. It shows both the Victorian lovers and then mirrors this with the modern day couple. There are a few choice quotes thrown in for good measure too. I think the trailer makes the film seem quite sexy, not about sex or anything like that but very stylised; the trailer makes the film seem very clever.
- Languages
The DVD offers the story in three spoken languages - English, French or Italian
There are also which are available in English, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian or Castellano?
There is also a web address on the languages page, www.warnervideo.com. I think you may struggle to find Possession on this site now as you are redirected to www.warnerbros.com which is very flashy and up to date.

This DVD is selling play.com for £14.99
HMV currently has this item on sale for £4.99

To view the trailer for this movie visit
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256276/trailers-screenplay-E16582-10-2

Or, for more information about this film or story visit
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256276/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P ossession_%282002_film%29

I enjoyed this film, I enjoyed the story in general a lot more than I enjoyed the film. I think that most people would enjoy this film, though the film critics amongst you may be let down by this film. I think that this film is pleasant, but I can understand why this film is a 12 certificate, there are some scenes of a sexual nature, only Randolph and Christabel, don't worry not Roland and Maude. This doesn't really add to the film, it really does lower the tone of this story.
I would recommend this film to anyone looking for a historic romance. It's not really the sort of film that you would watch with your boyfriend/girlfriend though. It's more likely that you might find this one on channel 5 about 7.00pm on a Sunday. This is a film you could watch with family or friends, you could even watch it on your own, and really like it.
I would say, if you see this one in the bargain bin for 99p, which I think you may well do at your local supermarket, I wouldn't turn your nose up. I certainly don't think this film is for everyone but it could be enjoyed by many.

Hope to have helped

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