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Rated: R
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, et al.
Director: Anthony Minghella Review
Winner of nine Academy Awards and almost every critic's heart, The English
Patient (based on Michael Ondaatje's prizewinning novel of love and loss
during World War II) is one of the most acclaimed films of modern times.
Hana, a nurse (Juliette Binoche), tends to an archaeologist (Ralph
Fiennes) who has been burnt to a crisp in a plane crash. As their
relationship intensifies, he flashes back to his overwhelming passion for
a married woman (Kristin Scott Thomas). Meanwhile, Hana begins a new
romance with a man who defuses bombs (Naveen Andrews) and Willem Dafoe
almost steals the show as the thumbless thief Caravaggio. The intricately
layered flashback narrative, sounding the depths of the lovers' hearts,
improves with repeated viewings--especially with the sharp picture and
digital sound of the digital video disc.
------------ Anthony Minghella's adaptation
of the novel by Michael Ondaggte, is proof that directors nowadays can
still produce beautiful epic romances. This has everything a great movie
can ask for and it deserved every single Oscar it was nominated for (sadly
no Best Actor win for Ralph Fiennes). It's a quite complicated, yet
simple, story about an English archaeologist (Fiennes) and his
recollections as his memory and life are leaving him over War World II
under the care of an emotionally-challenged nurse (Juliette Binoche, who
won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this subtle, yet superb thought
provoking performance). He remembers the desert, his love for a married
woman (Kristen Scott Thomas) and of course, his wrong doings while he was
alive. The movie is made up of flashbacks or shots of beautiful
cinematography set up against even more gorgeous music. The performances
are all top-notch. Juliette Binoche and Willem Dafoe (as a thumbless
thief) are the stand-outs. The only bicker I have about the film is
Kristen Scott Thomas's character. She was supposed to be overwhelmingly
sensual and deep and if you ignore the acting of Thomas and instead listen
to her lines it will prove more effective, but she just seemed shallow and
unsexy. She nearly destroyed many of the scenes with Fiennes, but
thankfully he covered up her flawed character (that for the most part, was
well-written- just the wrong actress.) I would have also liked to see more
of the relationship between the nurse and her lover who undoes dangerous
bombs. Anyway, the movie in itself is like a sunrise beautiful and slow
and meaningful. A true cinematic achievement and hopefully a classic to be
remembered... Anthony Minghella is definitely a promising director
although I think this magnificent accomplishment will be hard to out do.
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