hello! i know it's been a while, and my sincerest apologies everyone for being away for so long. i'm...
hello! i know it's been a while, and my sincerest apologies everyone for being away for so long. i'm going to catch up on as many ops as i can in the next few weeks! sorry again x
Member since:04.02.2003
Reviews:19
Members who trust:38
This is a video that has been in my cabinet for years, one that I always intended to watch but never actually made an effort to stick it in the VCR, until an ill day off school, in which I learned that I owned one of the most tremendous film of love and betrayal ever made.
It is set in the North African desert during the Second World War. Count Almasy is a desert explorer on an expedition like many others, or so he thought. That is until Geoffrey Clifton and his beautiful wife, Katherine join him on a trip that would change his life forever. Almasy is unable to contain his lust and indeed love for the spirited Katherine, and the two embark in a passionate affair. Katherine finds herself torn between devoted husband and her exhilarating lover. Katherine and Almasy are forced to suffer the torment of suppressing their love for one another whilst facing the perils of a World War.
As a huge fan of classic British actors, Ralph Fiennes, Kristen Scott Thomas and Colin Firth did not fail in impressing me with their outstanding and memorable performances. Ralph plays Count Almasy, a Hungarian count/desert explorer, also a member of the international sand club. Kristen plays Katherine Clifton, independent and feisty wife of a British spy, Jeffrey Clifton, played by Colin Firth. All are absolutely fantastic within their roles, especially Scott-Thomas; whose performance was both believe and contained a real energy. For once in his career, Colin plays the doting and devoted husband whilst Fiennes plays the silent, ignorant yet passionate lover. I at first thought that would loved to be in Katherine's position, but as the film went on, I learnt of the emotional torment that goes through in choosing between the husband that she has known all of her life and the exciting lover that she hardly knows anything about.
As well as the main story, there is a sub-plot, set in Southern Italy. When the film begins, we see a badly burned and scarred Fiennes who is later nursed by the dedicated Hannah. Juliette Binoche, who plays Hana, a nurse fighting the emotional battle of losing those that she loves during the dangerous times of the Second World War. He later meets a revenge seeking, Caravaggio, played by William Dafoe, and is forced to re-tell the past that he would like to forget.
Although Binoche gave a convincing performance, I found her slightly irritating at times, this may be due to the fact that the sub plot seemed completely unnecessary, and even slightly boring at times.
As must happen in all stories of this genre, this film has its share of tragedy caused by love found and lost, but this is not wholly unexpected due to the telling of a classic tale (The Wife of Candaules) by Katherine at a party whilst the group are in the desert, which seems to mirror the love triangle witnessed here.
I have since read the book, and found that the material is of the same excellent quality but unusually the layout of the film has been carefully thought out, resulting in an end product better than the original.
It contains some brilliant 1930's jazz, reinforcing the feel and the mood for the time, and even providing an atmosphere almost bringing the audience into the film.
Brit Anthony Minghella, who also directed the 1999 masterpiece, ‘The Talented Mr.Ripley’, directed it. As well directed as 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' was, I found it a bit.... well, boring. So I would definitely have to say that I prefer his earlier work, such as, 'The English Patient' and 'Truly Madly Deeply'. His next film, 'Cold Mountain' is due out later this year.
Indeed, this one is somewhat of a tearjerker, but as the saying goes; it's better to have loved and lost rather than never to have loved at all.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Pat O'Connor - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over, 15 years and over - Starring: Geraldine O'Rawe, Colin Firth, Saffron Burrows, Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
This is one of my all time favourites, I just love the cinematography as well. I saw this at the cinema twice, have got the video and have read the book! Yup, quite a big fan of it! Nicely reviewed. KirstyM
timmyotoole 08.07.2003 19:44
Not a film I've ever watched, but no doubt I will do some day. Romance isn't usually my thing, but your opinion makes a convincing case anyway. Cheers, Timmy.
buster_uk 20.05.2003 20:07
I have never seen this, and yes there is a reason, i absolutely loathe soppy love stories, this sounds like one. You seem to have a high opinion of it, so i think i may have a go at watching it, but its not my usual cup of tea, more slapstick and monty python. Jimmy:)
Feb 19th, 2003
(Apr 20th, 2003)
very helpful by (100%):
