Love Will Tear Us Apart (Enduring Love (DVD))

Member Name: kirstymack80

Product:	Enduring Love (DVD)
Date:	29/09/05 (217 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great acting

Disadvantages: unsettling

Joe (Daniel Craig) is having a picnic with his girlfriend Claire (Samantha Morton) in the English countryside when a hot air balloon appears in the field behind them. There is a young boy trapped in the basket and his grandfather is trying unsuccessfully to help him. Three other bystanders see the balloon in trouble and run to help, grabbing the ropes to try and pull it back down onto the ground.

Joe runs to the boy's aid and soon the four would-be rescuers are air borne, still desperately holding onto the balloon until they have to let go in fear of being taken to their death. One man - a doctor - holds on. His body is later found in a field.

Joe is wracked with guilt. He should have held on. They all should have. Everything he sees reminds him of the accident, even though his girlfriend tells him he did all he could to help.

One of the other 'helpers', Jed (Rhys Ifans), contacts Joe, saying he needs to talk about the accident. He's very mysterious - asking Joe if he's got anything he needs to tell him. Joe makes excuses and leaves, not wanting to be reminded of the accident and a little freaked out by the tense man.

But Jed won't take no for an answer. Soon he is appearing everywhere. And Joe doesn't like it.

* Acting *

Daniel Craig is convincing as the guilt ridden Joe. But Ifans (Jed) really does shine as the creepy stranger. He's a loner and his intensity worries Joe, at first he thinks he's a fan of his writing, but after a while he realises it's more serious than that. "You know what I want" he desperately tells Joe. But Joe doesn't and he's getting angry at having his privacy invaded. Jed's following him everywhere, even into expensive restaurants and intruding on Joe's lectures. He believes they've been brought together by the hand of fate - and he won't let go.

Problems arise when Jed's behaviour cause cracks in Joe and Claire's relationship. She thinks Joe should 'see somebody' and talk through the accident. He thinks she doesn't understand what he is going through. Not only is he dealing with the aftermath of the balloon accident, he also has his own faithful follower.

Samantha Norton, as Claire, plays the long suffering girlfriend with a gritty determination, standing by her man even though she's not entirely sure what's going on as Joe becomes more and more withdrawn.

Bill Nighy makes an appearance, as does Andrew Lincoln. So an impressive cast and a London setting.

* What I thought *

OK well this is a pretty sensitive subject. I'd already read the book by Ian McEwan several years ago and it still remains one of my favourites. I found it really interesting at the time. This was because it's a tale of obsession, but not of a man and a woman, but a man infatuated with another man. And it's the fleeting moment that a person meets another person and then thinks they have a right to be in their lives forever.

I didn't really want to expect too much from the film. I'd read that it wasn't too similar to the book and I was worried about the balloon scene as the book describes it so vividly and this is the major focal point of the first meeting between Jed and Joe. However, the film captured the scene very well. I felt if the sheer terror and bewilderment of the 'rescuers' didn't come across, the whole film wouldn't follow through. This wasn't the case.

Ifans wouldn't be my number one choice to play Jed but he actually threw off his comedy cloak and played the part very well. He was alternately menacing and pitiful. His lanky frame and dishevelled appearance gave the impression of a loner but someone who could, at the click of a finger, turn very dangerous indeed. The viewer will end up hating him. It's easy. He sits on the climbing frame in the park at night in the rain, across the road from Joe and Claire's flat, just watching them. He sees Joe as giving him 'signals' that aren't there. He thinks he's in love with him and he doesn't even know him.

* Verdict *

This is unsettling and will make you glad you're not in Joe's shoes. This is an all consuming love story with a difference. It's not always easy to watch but the subject is tackled well and the atmosphere kept taut throughout.

If I had to say anything negative about the film it would probably be the swearing. However I won't take any stars away for this as, if I was in Joe's position, I'd be using all kinds of bad language myself! It's justified and doesn't detract from the surrounding storyline. It adds to the frustration and annoyance that Joe is experiencing.

There is a good use of slow motion then extreme fast forward which also adds to the mood and despair that Joe is feeling.

So the full five stars and a recommendation. Don't expect fast paced action. This is a slow mover but it's worth holding on for.

* DVD extras *

Scene Selection

Special Features:

Deleted Scenes - five in all (nearly 7 mins worth and not worth mentioning - they were right not to include them in the main film!)

"Burst" short film - 6 minute film featuring some of the actors

The actor's story - The Director and actors talking about the film plus clips from film (7 mins)

The film and novel - clips from the film, Ian McEwan talking. (5 and a half mins)

* Other info *

Price £6.99 play.com (free delivery)
Time: 1 hour 37 approx
Rated: 18 (strong language)
Director: Roger Michell (The Mother, Notting Hill)
Associate Producer: Ian McEwan
Year: 2004

Please note I haven't a clue why this was put under the 'T' section of dvds!

Thanks for reading.

Summary: A picnic turns to tragedy with long lasting consequences