The End of the Affair (DVD)

Author Graeme Green (The Power And The Glory, The Quiet American, The Third Man) had an affair with the wife of a wealthy English politician, one which they openly flaunted before the husband, with Greene often living close by to facilitate the relationship. The woman was completely without jealousy (hard to believe that's possible!) but Greene was consumed by it, obsessed with the fact that the woman had many other lovers. The husband meanwhile seemed to ignore the whole mess, reasonably happy to take from his wife what tidbits she might offer. The woman, introduced to the drink by the wastrel Greene, became a drunk and died some years later from ...  Read the complete review

From the outset, it is clear that this melancholy tale isn't simply going to be The English Patient 2. Aside from emphasizing the novel's miraculous conclusion, this screen version sticks remarkably close to Graham Greene's heartfelt story of love, hate, jealousy and faith. Set during the Blitz, Ralph Fiennes does his usual aloof-to-shouty thing as the fiercely jealous writer Bendrix, who embarks on an affair with the wife of dull civil servant Henry Miles (Stephen Rea). After an intense relationship, Sarah (Julianne Moore) inexplicably breaks it off. Bendrix, wrought with jealousy and grief, suspects she has found another lover, and hires a ...  Read the complete review

On my recent visit to the States being the movie buff I am I had to watch a new movie or two a day and this was one of them the story is about a man and woman meet through the personal ads, and agree to meet once a week in a hotel room and do something behind closed doors that the movie keeps a secret. The film is not about what they do, but about what they share--the discovery of one other person who shares their fantasy. Wise and observant in its insights into the nature of erotic need, and the way it is threatened by the mundane. ...  Read the complete review

I rented this DVD and thought the movie was a well made effort that was let down by some of the acting. Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore are fine actors, but are both wrong for this film as they lack warmth, which I feel is a prerequisite for a romance story. It feels much the same as The English Patient, partially because Fiennes is portraying almost the same role. The production design is fantastic, and it is always raining, which doesn't help the ice feeling the film conveys. Ian Hart, who played John Lennon in Backbeat is excellent as a private detective and deserved an Oscar, and the DVD is worth buying as it has two excellent commentary tracks, although as a ...  Read the complete review

I found "The End of the Affiar" a bit dismal and uninspiring. Based on Graham Greene's autobiographical book of the same name, the central character, novelist Bendrix, is played by Ralph Feinnes. I found that I had very little empathy with the man, and found him very self-centred. I don't think it was because of the acting, more because of Greene's own reputation and the source material, so I appreciate not much could have been changed about that. Julianne Moore plays Bendix's lover, in an incandescent kind of way, and there are some genuinely passionate moments. There's plenty of Catholic guilt all round. Stephen Rea is ...  Read the complete review