What could have been In the Company of Researchers ends up being a nastily fun romance.
Possession (2002)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:154
Fresh:99
Rotten:55
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Based on Byatt's novel of the same name, Possession is a lovely, literate romance.
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $10,058,448
Synopsis: Set in both contemporary and Victorian England, POSSESSION, directed by Neil LaBute, is based on the novel by A.S. Byatt. The tale begins with Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart), a laid-back American... Set in both contemporary and Victorian England, POSSESSION, directed by Neil LaBute, is based on the novel by A.S. Byatt. The tale begins with Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart), a laid-back American studying the renowned Victorian poet Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam) on a fellowship. When Roland discovers what may be a love letter from Ash, a supposedly devoted husband, to the reclusive poet Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle), he recognizes that he's on to a big literary discovery. Enlisting the help of skeptical British academic Maud Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow), Roland embarks on journey to discover more about the link between the two revered poets. As Roland and Maud track Ash and LaMotte's elusive romance across the British countryside, the two scholars begin a relationship of their own. Although this film presents a kinder, gentler LaBute--who is known for emotionally caustic movies such as IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS--POSSESSION still focuses on the relationships between men and women with skillful attention. Paltrow reprises her convincing British accent from films such as SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and SLIDING DOORS, while Northam and Ehle lend gravity to their Victorian characters. However, it's Eckhart, a longtime LaBute collaborator, who proves to be the film's heart and soul; his relaxed yet complex personality grounds both the movie and its two intertwined stories. As the two tales progress, the relationships between the characters wax and wane, leading to an ending with a surprising twist. [More]
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle, Tom Hollander, Toby Stephens, Lena Headey
Director: Neil LaBute, Barry Levinson
Director: Neil LaBute
Screenwriter: Laura Jones, Neil LaBute, David Henry Hwang
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: David Barron, Len Amato
Studio: USA Films
Reviews for Possession
If the idea sounds drier than James Bond's martini that's because you haven't seen Possession.
LaBute effortlessly glides back and forth between the period part of the story and the modern day part, connecting them instead of making them seem distant.
If you’ve read Ernest Hemingway’s neighbor’s memoir—about the day he helped Papa clean out his boat—this is the love story for you.
Over time the past becomes more interesting, the present more disjointed.
The performances are strong, though the subject matter demands acting that borders on hammy at times.
This is a Neil LaBute film, and sexual fun as the average Joe might perceive it is not high on his list of priorities.
If you let Possession grow on you, it's a winsome yet flawed endeavor...even the talented and courageous camera lens of LaBute couldn't hold a candle to Byatt's prize-winning creative pages.
Since the film let go of the author's poetry and built no suspense for its mystery, all that's left are a few odd romantic moments alone with the Victorians...
These two characters ought to be swallowing each others retainers, or having their moments of passion interrupted by an untimely asthma attack.
The journey to the secret's eventual discovery is a separate adventure, and thrill enough.
A film that could pass as either an After School Special for adults or a Love Story for the new millennium -- or a closeted comedy.
Both thought-provoking and heart-stirring, a pleasurable combination for filmgoers.
For a movie about the power of poetry and passion, there is precious little of either.
While the film probably won't leave you swooning, it is at least an earnest love letter to its transcendent source.
Taken as a quirky sort of detective story, Possession is generally satisfying.
Latest News for Possession
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