Reviews

I agree with Ed Deeth's comments about the film except for the part about the accents. Willing suspension of disbelief -- I think it would have been more distracting to have the actors attempt Russian and German accents possibly unsuccessfully, and perhaps the attempt would have distracted them away from their portrayals. The only English accent I was really aware of was Sasha's. This was a wonderful and moving motion picture, and I was especially impressed with the acting of Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes. I didn't realize who the actors were, though they looked familiar. They really became the characters, not themselves. It's nice to see a new generation of young actors who can take on a variety of roles believably and not just be one type. After the movie, when I realized who played Vasily and Danilov and thought about The Amazing Mr. Ripley and Shakespeare in Love, I was really impressed. These two can be compared to Rod Steiger, Olivier, and a few others could play more than just one type of character.

This is a very interesting movie, very well-acted and with a good and unique plot/story. It's hard these days to find a movie with an original idea, and this is one. It's funny, with serious ideas and overtones thrown in.

I'm surprised to see this listed as a 1995 movie, because it's a "new release" in the video stores and the film's case has a date of 1999. I agree with Dick 108's review heartily. The acting is very good, and the story is interesting. Like Dick, I was intrigued and researched, on the 'Net, Peter Warlock, and found the the movie seems far from the truth. It may have been based on a book or article by one of Heseltine's friends, a Mr. Gray. More I won't say, because I don't want to spoil things for someone reading this before seeing the movie. The actor, Jeremy Northam, looks exactly like him.

A wonderful, unforgettable movie! The acting is excellent, the stories are interesting, the plot is unique. The ending can leave one wondering. If you have not yet seen this movie, pay careful attention to the last prophecy. An advantage of renting, of course, is that one can go back after the ending to replay the last prophecy, if needed, to form an opinion as to what happened at the end.

Although gloomy, both literally and figuratively, and a little depressing, this is an excellent movie. The acting is absolutely wonderful, from the smallest child to the oldest character. This movie is a vivid portrayal of Ireland's urban poor in the '40s (and probably things haven't changed a lot), as well as what a family will do to survive; class prejudice; Catholic-Protestant prejudice; and Northern-Southern Ireland prejudice.

I was expecting this movie to be about the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, which I'd heard ended with them not speaking to one another. Actually, the movie takes place way earlier in their joint careers, since, after the Mikado, apparently they wrote 5 more productions. Basically, the story seems more of a framework for musical productions from G & S productions, almost all except the Mikado being from less popular, or less commonly done works. The acting was wonderful; the music and excerpts of productions were wonderful; costumes and make-up were wonderful. I was disappointed that so many loose ends were left untied, and so much in relationships and people's problems was hinted at and never fully developed. The characters were not as fully developed as I'd have liked. However, for a fan of G & S, the movie was enjoyable.

This is a feel-good, makes you smile movie, and there should be more movies made like this. Because of language and one sex scene, however, it is not for children, and that's too bad in a way. I think I heard, when the movie first came out, that it was one of Burt Reynold's best roles, and I agree -- I think it's his best, and maybe it will revitalize his career.

I really enjoyed this movie. I taped it from a tv showing and watched it skipping commercials; it did not seem at all slow to me but held my interest throughout. I remember that it got mixed reviews, but I don't know why. I thought the acting was excellent -- especially Kevin Spacey, the Lady Chablis, Irma Hall, and the gentleman who played the defense lawyer. Savannah and the people populating it were fascinating, and the story unfolded well.

Though popular and academy-award nominated for best-picture in its time, today the movie seems overlong and stilted. Most of the acting is good, and Clifton Webb certainly deserved his Oscar Nomination, if not the Oscar ( I don't know who were his competition that year), as did Anne Baxter. Tyrone Power, though one of my favorite actors, does little in this movie but look handsome and earnest. Though there are some good lines and some wonderfully amusing social commentary (the movie is, after all, based on Maughm's book), I was disappointed in the movie.

This movie still "has it." The acting by everyone in all parts is excellent. The dialogue, probably much of it verbatim from Oscar Wilde's story, is sparkling and clever, and the plot moves nicely, never lagging. I heartily recommend it.

I thought this movie is very well-acted by everyone, children as well as adults. It has a wonderful, true story -- a good plot with good development of character (the "heroine" develops --learns to stand up for herself and others). It was entertaining and moving. More films like this should be made.

After reading all the other comments, I agree with most. Liam Neeson does a good job of acting, but the rest of the acting is so-so and the plot is weak -- but the movie is fun to watch, and there is a lot of humor. Unlike some others, I enjoyed Jar Jar, though I couldn't understand him a lot of the time -- but I don't think we're supposed to.

Basically, I thought the movie was fun. One shouldn't compare it with the first 3 (though I agree with some others that the third was not as good as the first two).

I hope Star Wars 2 has more (numerically) "real" characters, characterizations and plots. The banter and attraction between Han Solo and Princess Leia in Star Wars I is one of the things that made it so enjoyable, and I'd like to see something like that in the sequel to Phantom Menace.

Recommendation: just relax and enjoy the movie for what it is (and the music).