Possession
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Movie Reviews of Possession
Movie Review: Passion inspires passion!
Summary: 5 Stars
The film has some superficial similarity to The French Leutenant's Woman. Both films are based on novels about 2 love affairs separated by a century. But that is where the similarity ends. Possession is a love relationship that develops between an American grad student (Roland Michell) and an English Woman (Maud Bailey) who already has her Ph.D. She is drawn into a research project by the young American to uncover a secret love affair between a famous poet (Randolph Henry Ash) and a poetess (Christabel LaMotte) who was related to Maud Bailey. Like her she was, for her time an independent woman. Unlike her she was living in a lesbian relationship. The poet,Randolph Henry Ash, was married, but the marriage was childless. As the two researchers conduct their secret reconstruction of the affair from secret lost-- until now -- love letters, the British woman (Paltrow) and the American student begin to fall in love. Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart play their parts well and are quite believable even if Gwyneth's English accent is a little over done. Jeremy Northam is excellent as always as Ash. And Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice) was outstanding as Christabel LaMotte. This is not the typical Hollywood love story. Lesbians might be offended as well as the feminists who might think this is some kind of ... against the independence of women. Only women can have children and to point that out might be thought politically incorrect. The thoughtful folk will ignore this nonsense and just enjoy a good story in a film with superb performances.Movie Review: Three big advantages ---
Summary: 5 Stars
That I rejoice in after watching this engrossing film: A, I haven't read the book; B, I'm English, not American; C, I spent 12 years of my life as an academic in a Mickey Mouse university (though not in New Mexico). After reading most of the reviews it's clear to me that the book is a spoiler for the film, but from my point of view it was an entertaining, interesting, intriguing story; and very well-told. I'm really puzzled by all those American complaints about the casting. I'm English, for crying out loud, and I thought Gwyneth Paltrow WAS English! Her accent, her expressions and her mannerisms were just perfect: spot on, and not phony in the slightest. The American male lead was just as good --- I've known several American academics just like that. They used to clutter the place up when I was an undergraduate. Eckhart was infinitely more convincing than, eg Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor; or Stanley Baker (Baker an Oxford professor -- you must be joking) in that other university film --- was it called Accident? The English actors, who seemed so stunning to all the American reviewers, struck me as good, but more or less run of the mill. Fact is, most national art impresses foreigners more than natives. Finally, the academic world is indeed a petty, shifty, vicious and jealous kind of place. Sad to say. I thought the clash between overheated Victorian passion/repression and cynical, quotidian brittleness was excellent. Admittedly, it is all a bit of a woman's weepie. But so what? And doesn't Gwyneth have amazing ears?Movie Review: If you like your movies rich with a Twist at the end.....
Summary: 5 Stars
Then this one is for you. I happen to love Period Flix and this one does not dissapoint in my opinion, I was never once interested in moving from my chair once the movie began... BEWARE this is also one of those that if you get up and come back a moment later you may miss something essential to the story. If you see my other reviews you'll see that I devour romance novels, well this movie was like watching one of those come to life.Jeremy Northam and the Jennifer Ehle are remarkable in their potrayal of the 2 Poets, their words were moving and whomever selected them for these roles did a outstanding job.. during the movie their voices are heard reading passages from their letters to one another.. Jennifer and Jeremy's voices sound so sincere and passionate it wraps you in to this story from GO.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart were believable as the 2 present day people trying to piece together a mystery from the past. I loved this movie because the 2 stories were interwined so smoothly, their were no loose ends left untied and everything made sense in the end. I haven't read the book that this movie was made from but since seeing it I have been on the Auction sites looking for the original book.
If you like your movies with a "twist" at the end I would also recommend {The Red Violin} it is another period flick with a incredible story that keeps you seated throughout.
Respectfully Reviewed
Movie Review: Beautiful version of the book
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever read a book and missed something... it happened for me with Possession...
It was one of those books that just leapt out at me... I'm not usually into this type of book but the cover and the write up had me intrigued.
I read the book over the summer and absolutely loved the romance... slightly dark... but very real!
Then we get a wait of about 7 years! And I see the adverts for the film... and it's got Gwyneth in it!!
So first time I see it is on a flight to the US... oh my god I cried... discretely... but god it's a heart wrenching film...
And I picked up the the epilogue bit which I had never read or didn't remember from the book! That one floored me! A very perfect ending to such a beautiful book and film.
Acting is superb and really brings the book to life without losing any of the qualities of the book.
Highly recommended!!! Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle make such a fantastic couple with lots of natural chemistry... and Aaron Eckhart and Gwyneth make a great couple too... both irresistably drawn to one another!
Favourite lines... 'you take my breath away madam' and 'I just had to see your face'... both delivered with perfect timing...
Movie Review: A truly beautiful film from beginning to end
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't sure what to expect with this film, but since I love books and poetry I figured I would give it a try. I found myself amazed by this wonderful movie. Its the story of two scholars researching the lives of two poets that supposedly had no connection at all to each other. Ash was a poet that was supposedly a devout husband and Christabel was a lesbian poet living out her life with her lover. What no one knew was that Ash and Christabel had a passionate affair that is uncovered when the present day Roland discovers an old letter at the library. Its then he begins to search for the truth with a distant relative of Christabel's, Maude. From then on, the story unfolds between the present and 1859. As they make discoveries, Maude and Roland are changed by this forever.This is truly an amazing and romantic film that doesn't bore. The actors are all amazing and the flashes between then and now is done perfectly. If you are fascinated with the past as I am, you will love this. Its a literary film that isn't at all stuffy and the romance is weaved beautifully. I recommend this highly.
All in all, a wonderful film to be cherished.