Movie Reviews for Separate Lies

Separate Lies

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Movie Reviews of Separate Lies

Movie Review: Lies Beget Lies
Summary: 4 Stars

"Separate Lies" is a film about infidelities, indiscretions and the manner in which individuals go about covering their tracks. It is with these types of films that the British typically excel.

As is often the case, once a lie is made, others inevitably follow. Very soon, an entire web of deceit has been constructed. Lies beget lies.

This is a very good film that deserves a wider audience than it will probably receive. I suspect it will be pigeon holed as art house. Such films rarely become box office hits. This is a shame as quality is too often overwhelmed by special effects, car chases and firearms.

If I was to find criticism with "Separate Lies" it is that the one of the main characters is simply too calm in the face of challenge to be truly plausible. When the cheated husband, otherwise played brilliantly by Tom Wilkinson, learns of his wife's infidelities, he is briefly shocked but, thereafter, seems untroubled. When further infidelities occur, he is simply too poker faced to be believed. There is little outrage and little anger. Would someone really be this calm? I suspect not.

Having found a weakness in the film, I still recommend it as worthy. The settings are marvellous and with exception of the above criticism, the characters are far more true to life than the typical fare from Hollywood. Take the trouble to see this film.

Movie Review: What Happened To The Plot?
Summary: 4 Stars

This is a delightful semi-thriller that explores several themes. A tragic hit and run accident provides a test of ethics for the main three protagonists. The movie asks the question do we protect someone we love from the consequences of that person's actions? It is almost amusing to see the ethical about face of one of the cast when it is discovered that the driver is someone else than the person thought to be the guilty party. An adulterous affair complicates the plot, and the movie explores the resulting anguish of the participants.

At the beginning of this review I stated that the movie is a semi-thriller. The three main characters are involved in events that cause an increasing state of tension as the movie progresses, but I really feel that the director wasn't trying to make a thriller at all. The emotional struggles of the the trio are what's really important. One reviewer commented that the movie dragged. When I watched it I marveled at the tight editing of the movie. Many scenes seem to last only a minute or less, and none of them contain any unnecessary material.

One thing that surprised me though, is that a certain aspect of the plot simply vanishes later on in the movie. Aside from that I really felt that this was a well crafted film.

Movie Review: Really Great Upholstered Furniture
Summary: 4 Stars

The bones may be Chinese but the English originated upholstered seating. I've never seen such pretty pieces as I did watching this movie. In an early scene between the husband and wife when she asks if he wants something, I knew that that over attentiveness means that the marriage is pure hated work for the wife. They don't have a good relationship. I find the story unbelievable but this was written by Julian Fellowes who wrote the excellent Gosford Park and I recommend watching this movie even though it's unpleasant.

Movie Review: Good stuff
Summary: 4 Stars

Great interiors and exteriors in this sex and lies adult melodrama from the Brits. True, the husband and wife have no chemistry, but that's the point, isn't it? The lover has a wonderfully hungry look to him. The plot is nicely twisted, but not overly complex. You could do much worse than watch this for an evening's entertainment.