acting is superb, and that brings the subtlety of Dostoevski's study of a friendship to light - each man has his own arrogance, and is willing to let others - in the case of the character player by Firth, who believes the womaniser has wronged him, allows a child to suffer as a pawn between them - we are prepared by his over-reaction to a woman's expression of irritation when he smokes on the train - he throws her dog out the moving train's window. who is the bad guy in this one? it is impossible not to be seduced, as all women are in his sphere, by the Roth character. Firth rarely lands a woman except by bullying, it appears. he constantly places himself in competition with the hands-down winner, Roth's character. what distressed me most is the unlikely voice that emerges from the Roth character's voice box - as a musician i can accept Roth in the part but the utterly unlikely voice dislocates the film. he is a scoundrel who we love. under-rated eerily muted film...
4 Reviews
Packs a punch for 90 minutes, and Roth is brilliant.
SFMovieFan24 February 2004
Tim Roth has this creepy quality about him that somehow makes him irresistible in this film. He plays a wealthy playboy who appears to be emotionally impenetrable. This is a man who knows how to dress impeccably, but eats cake off another's plate with his hands--because he can. This is a man whose victories at duels number 29 because of the number of men's wives he has seduced. Tim Roth is brilliant in communicating his arrogance and boredom through his eyes, his posture, and his gait.
But he is a multi-dimensional character, and his affection for his sister and nephews is unquestionable. It is this affection for his family that makes his seduction of Theresa believable as love--otherwise, I would have interpreted it as only another conquest. His behavior at a duel at the film's opening also tells us he has a conscience.
But credit does not stop at Tim Roth's performance. Firth is impressive as a kindly looking gentleman, an open friend and passionate husband, who we learn is capable of the coldest revenge. I recommend this movie; it's not as predictable as the beginning leads you to think, and is well-made.
But he is a multi-dimensional character, and his affection for his sister and nephews is unquestionable. It is this affection for his family that makes his seduction of Theresa believable as love--otherwise, I would have interpreted it as only another conquest. His behavior at a duel at the film's opening also tells us he has a conscience.
But credit does not stop at Tim Roth's performance. Firth is impressive as a kindly looking gentleman, an open friend and passionate husband, who we learn is capable of the coldest revenge. I recommend this movie; it's not as predictable as the beginning leads you to think, and is well-made.
A quiet film with meaning
Sylviastel25 October 2001
I ordered The Perfect Husband for research purposes only especially on the late Victorian era. It was set in 1900 Prague so I bought the tape to observe the wardrobe, art direction, and style of that period. The most interesting moment is in the beginning about a man who fights with an old lady and a dog. She throws his cigar out the train window. He takes and throws the dog out to fetch it. It's a pretty sick moment in the film with a happy ending. There is much more to this story about marriages, infidelity, and a child's illness. It is done quietly and with subtleness. It is worth watching again but I would fast forward the scene about the dog because it makes me uncomfortable to think about it even. I'm sure nothing happened to that dog in real life.
Packs a punch for 90 minutes, and Roth is brilliant.
SFMovieFan24 February 2004
Tim Roth has this creepy quality about him that somehow makes him irresistible in this film. He plays a wealthy playboy who appears to be emotionally inpenetrable. This is a man who knows how to dress impeccably, but eats cake off another's plate with his hands--because he can. This is a man whose victories at duels number 29 because of the number of men's wives he has seduced. Tim Roth is brilliant in communicating his arrogance and boredom through his eyes, his posture, and his gait.
But he is a multi-dimensional character, and his affection for his sister and nephews is unquestionable. It is this affection for his family that makes his seduction of Theresa believable as love--otherwise, I would have interpreted it as only another conquest. His behavior at a duel at the film's opening also tells us he has a conscience.
But credit does not stop at Tim Roth's performance. Firth is impressive as a kindly looking gentleman, an open friend and passionate husband, who we learn is capable of the coldest revenge. I recommend this movie; it's not as predictable as the beginning leads you to think, and is well-made.
But he is a multi-dimensional character, and his affection for his sister and nephews is unquestionable. It is this affection for his family that makes his seduction of Theresa believable as love--otherwise, I would have interpreted it as only another conquest. His behavior at a duel at the film's opening also tells us he has a conscience.
But credit does not stop at Tim Roth's performance. Firth is impressive as a kindly looking gentleman, an open friend and passionate husband, who we learn is capable of the coldest revenge. I recommend this movie; it's not as predictable as the beginning leads you to think, and is well-made.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
