Possession

After already having blogged about the very enjoyable book, now my review on the less enjoyable film.

 "Possession is a 2002 American/British romantic/mystery drama film written and directed by Neil LaBute based on the novel by A. S. Byatt."

www.thefilmyap.com

The basic plot line you can read up in my book post but it wouldn't be a Hollywood production if it wouldn't have been shortened and changed. What pissed me off the most was the casting of Aaron Eckhart as Roland Michell. To make an American self-assured sunnyboy out of that shy, inhibited and troubled British nobody...no! As a good deal of the story evolves around the rivalry between the British and the US university system this gets even more illogical.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Maud Bailey gets portraied too normal and is lacking all of the weirdness that is characterizing Maud in the story. And if American actors should be casted to play Brits...never have been sure about this.

But there is an upside to the film too. The Victorian plot aka Jeremy Northam as "Ash" and Jennifer Ehle (remember? it's THE Lizzy Bennet from the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice") as "Cristabel". They are more than suitable for their roles, they are brilliant actors and authentic that it makes your eyes water at some points. Ok, maybe I'm biased as I think of Jeremy Northam as an extremely handsome, fascinating and sexy actor...;-) But even without that, the Victorian plot has all the charme and the depths the 20th century plot seems to be lacking. But isn't that even true for the novel??

Anyway, the film itself is quite enjoyable (if you haven't read the book). A bit of a Dan Brown treasure hunt aiming for a female audience. The depth of detail and intertextuality of the novel although get lost nearly entirely.

www.fanpix.net