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The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version ofLouisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England duringthe Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family asthey split into the world, ending up with the most independent, theoutspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics andconclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life'slittle accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh,so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into amodern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. KirstenDunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The youngensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a roleakin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of anOscar. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (113)

What You Would Call a "Beautiful" and Brilliant Movie
In my opinion, this is the best version of "Little Women". Although it sways just a bit from the book, it captures the essence of the book perfectly and weaves a story that works splendidly. The acting is phenominal and the casting was done incredibly well. Claire Daines, Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon provide a stability to the movie that grounds it (and they do it so well), and Winona Ryder brings the passion and character of the beloved "Jo" that makes it such a fantastic film.

I also find this movie a thing of beauty. Everything about it, from the cinematography, to the color schemes, to the sets, to the seasons and the natural shots, to the Oscar nominated score, to the costumes, to the acting and the storyline, are beautiful. They work together in an artistic collaboration to create an atmosphere of reality and eye candy that can only be achieved through a period film. Certain period films have elements that will stand out and ruin the feeling of belief, but this movie suceeds in it's efforts to keep you suspended there, and the whole movie flows wonderfully together.

This is a brilliant movie.

This film captures the spirit of the book
While this film version of LITTLE WOMEN does not follow the book exactly, it captures its spirit with expert performances and cinematography. The soundtrack beautifully enhances this classic story of a family of women, struggling largely by themselves, in unforgiving New England.

This may be Winona Ryder's best role - she captures the ambitious spunk of Jo with a winning performance. As Jo's sisters, Trini Alvarado (Meg), Claire Danes (Beth) and Kirsten Dunst (the young Amy) give strong, if sometimes uneven, performances. Susan Sarandon as Marmee has the right measure of no-nonsense Puritanism; her feminist lines often are too heavy-handed for this film that otherwise has a light touch, but the way she sweeps into a room overshadows any flaws in the writing.

All in all, this is an excellent adaptation. Children may be bored by the art film pace, but teens and adults will delight in these characters brought to life by nuanced performances.

Highly recommended.

The best movie adaption of the novel!
Of all the versions of Little Women that I have seen, Gillian Armstrong's is the best! She definitely chose her actors/actresses well - the cast includes: Winona Ryder (Jo), Claire Danes (Beth), Trini Alvrado (Meg), Kristen Dunst (Amy), Christian Bale (Laurie), Susan Sarandon (Marmee), and Gabriel Bryne (Professor Bhaer). What an astounding performance they gave - this movie made me laugh, cry, and feel for the characters each and every time I watched it! . . . And though some of my favorite scenes from the book were missing, it still portrays the characters extremely well. I love this movie and highly recommend this to all Little Women fans, the people who didn't bother to read Little Women, and everyone else!

blah
if one was to compare katharine hepburn to winona ryder, the results would be obvious. the book isn't supposed to be a feminist account, it's supposed to be a civil war tale of a family. since it's so modern, and the acting and even the colors are modern, we never feel the full experience, or that we are in the 1800's. In the 1933 version we feel a part of the family. This is less than inspiring. how clare danes became Beth, i'll never know, what Kirsten dunst is doing here is a mystery. Although SUsan Sarandon is fine, she is the best thing in here, but nowhere near spring bryington. Christian bale is too dreamy, and his and winia'a chemisrty isn't right. it doesn't follow the book, and the cast is miscast. I don't recommend, instead watch the beautifully done 1933 CLASSIC, or even the 1949 one with June Allyson and Margaret O'brien. Skip this.

The best version, and NOT just for kids
This version of Alcott's classic story is luminescent, brilliantly acted, perfectly staged, and far more emotional than the book.

Katharine Hepburn's Jo, six decades earlier, was hard to top, but Winona Ryder does it -- with sensitivity, more believable passion, and a far more expressive face. Ryder's Jo is entirely believable in her plunging into writing with reckless abandon, more so than Hepburn, for whom it took second place to love. Yet, paradoxically, the romance is far more believable for the newer Jo when it does come along.

Everyone else in the story reflects her struggles and triumphs, and it's a stellar ensemble cast. Especially adept are Trini Alvarado, a conflicted and beautiful Meg; Claire Danes, trembling and heartbreaking as Beth; Christian Bale, giving a raucous edge to next-door Laurie; and most of all, Gabriel Byrne, a younger-by-15-years Prof. Bhaer, finally made both believable and romantic.

All actors portray the same character throughout except for Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis, who assay Amy at ages 12 and 17. Others have criticized this casting, but it worked well for me, especially in the older Amy taking her propriety and "finishing" far more seriously than it deserved.

The story does depart slightly from the book, but not from Alcott, and the film is better for it -- certainly less precious and affected. A few plot elements from "Little Men" and later books flesh out this story, and Alcott's own attitudes about empowering women are brought into Susan Sarandon's quietly powerful Marmee. The Alcott family's intellectual interests inform Jo's stay in New York, adding some depth and grounding to her character and romantic feelings.

This new DVD's features are a delight, especially in Gillian Armstrong's intense narration on the commentary track. She had a vision and depth of attention to this film's details that ought to be celebrated, yet rarely is for women directors. Outtakes are also narrated, a rarity. The making-of featurette and other elements are well-shaped, though Danes's behind-the-scenes program from HBO is not present, which is a bit disappointing.

The transfers are crisp and clear, both video and audio. Thomas Newman's brilliant music can be heard on a separate audio track, and anyone who likes this film should watch it once with just his evocative (and often-imitated) score filling the ears. ... Read more

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Director Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career, Little Women) is behind this absolute gem of a movie. Though the soundtrack is pure New Wave, Starstruck has a surprisingly traditional plot. Jackie Mullins (Jo Kennedy, doing her own singing) has just gotta sing! And her cousin Angus is determined to make her famous. The two team up with local band The Wombats to take their shot at stardom and try to save the family pub. Starstruck's buoyant spirit will remind viewers of fellow Aussie films The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Strictly Ballroom, but it has a charming quirkiness all its own. Armstrong fills the background with sly sight gags and throwaway lines ("I'm looking for something good for the cat." "How about a brick and a bag?"), and the choreography has a real sense of humor, right down to the water ballet number with inflatable sharks. But for all its deliberate silliness, Starstruck is a musical with real heart; the 1980s hairdos and giant kangaroo costumes can't cover up the movie's deep central conviction that dreams really can come true. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The best fun!
I absolutely love this movie. It shows that if you're clever enough and have enough tenacity (not to mention talent) that you really can "make it". The Swingers were fantastic! For me, they were a stand-out in the film. The soundtrack is awesome. The only thing I would love to have changed about this movie is the sound quality with some of the dialogue. At times it's hard to hear what's being said.

I hope this will be released on DVD in the US one day.

Loved it when it came out!
The movie is light, but very funny. Aussie accents get only a little thick at times. A good movie for light entertainment. Loved the soundtrack, so I bought it--and am glad, since it's not out on CD. I was (and still am) a big fan of the late 70s-early 80s bands from Australia and New Zealand, and this film showcased a number of them!

Very enjoyable movie
I don't generally like Gillian Armstrong movies. I find them to be too snooty but I was surprised by this one. There isn't too much of a plot in this one. Young waitress from a small town wins a big contest but the atmosphere was fun, very 80's.
Throughout the movie I pointed out how the girl was such a Cyndi Lauper want to be. When my sister pointed out the fact that this movie was before She's so Unusual, I became silent.
The real gem in this movie is Ross O'Donovan who played Angus. Although he's good in business managing, he's just an adorable geek.

Starstruck
One of my all-time favorite films. Silly, over-the-top, but absolutely delightful. The water ballet doubles me up every time. The characters are endearing and enterprising--you'll cheer for them and for the gorgeous scenes at the Sydney Opera House. Infectious music will have you humming long afterwards, and might even inspire you to get a parrot for your shoulder.

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous, fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!
Without hesitation I give Starstruck my vote as one the the all-time great movie musicals, right up there with the best of Warner Bros of the 30s, Fox of the 40s and MGM of the 50s. Possibly, it's the only movie to perfectly integrate (original & terrific) rock music with a funny, compassionate & inventive plot. The dance numbers, particularly the campy all-male sharks-in-the-pool scene & the one with all the regulars in the tavern joining in a stunning spine-tingling production number are absolutely outstanding. The "Monkey-in-Me (That Made Me Wanna Do It)" show-stopper is literally that. Jo Kennedy is marvelous, Ross O'Donovan & all the rest are first-rate. They will never make another movie like this. What a gem! I hope it comes out on DVD & the word spreads. A great big gift of joy! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Brilliant Career - Judy Davis
This is one of the first films I ever saw Judy Davis. I loved this film and went out to buy the book. I don't understand why it is not on DVD. Gillian Armstrong has long been a favorite director, with this and Oscar and Lucinda being my favorite. I wouldn't mind seeing Starstruck coming to DVD either.

Everything about this film was well done.

Bring this FANTASTIC movie to DVD, pllllllease!
Why hasn't this wonderful movie come out in DVD!!!??? It is a quiet tour de force of good acting, beautiful art direction and cinematography, a wonderful story about a writer coming out of girlish egotism to join a larger world and form a vision, and an intriguing picture of Victorian Australia among the immigrant society. Judy Davis is sparkle and tang playing the volatile Sybilla, very molten as she fires, cools and then erupts like any young adult. Sam Neill, aside from being very effective eyedrops that reminds you of Gary Cooper or Alan Bates, swaggers and holds fast as her suitor, being a willing foil to unpredictability. There are accomplished supporting performances that paint her story with pathos, a lot of humor with the steady understanding of the importance of family love. In the spirit of a time when passions were to be restrained and redirected into more interesting pursuits, My Brilliant Career stays in character in this modern visual medium by presenting passion in the guise of mischievous boat rides and a pillow fight for the ages. You'll feel the panic of dust blowing mercilessly through the windows, parental anxiety, teenage anxiety, affection in the muddiest and wealthier places, and the frustration of love. It is edifying enough to glimpse into that time as a history or anthropology lesson, or you can just sit back and let it entertain.

I first saw this movie on double bill following Night of the Shooting Stars (by the Taviani brothers) at a movie theater in Washington, D.C. It was like eating really good lasagna with a really good apple pie. You have to really focus on each film and not think about them together. A better partner to My Brilliant Career would be Pricilla, Queen of the Desert, Man from Snowy River, or Lantana. You could also have a Judy Davis film festival by watching it with Husbands and Wives, Impromptu, or that film she did about Judy Garland. For a Sam Neill film fest, watch the Reilly Ace of Spies series, The Piano, Plenty, or Cry in the Dark. Or, you can watch it by itself, like a piece of really good apple pie.

A Quiet, Stunning Classic
This my favorite film of all time. I've seen it countless times and hope to see it many times more, and share it with my daughter in a few years.

Judy Davis is electrifying as a young woman trying to find her place in the world. Sam Neill is sweet and understated as her would-be lover. Gillian Armstrong's direction is flawless. And the Australian scenery is a character in its own right.

I keep hoping this beautiful film will be re-released on the big screen, or at least on DVD. Don't miss it.

An All-Time Favorite of Mine
I have watched this movie numerous times over the years since its release in 1979 and it never disappoints me. The story rings as true for me today (as a 40-something) as it did as a 20-something....great movies are like that, you know?

Wonderful....Just wonderful....
This movie is truly a joy to watch. It is about a young woman in turn-of-the-century Australia (which is very accurately portrayed in the film) who dreams from a young age of being a great artist, whether it be in music, literature, or acting. She is a loud, unruly girl born into poverty but given a chance to live with her rich grandmother, which is the beginning of everything. Two main suitors clamor for her hand in marriage, one of which she detests and one of which she loves - but she is faced with the decision of marriage to a man she actually likes, or to pursue her dream of artistic independence. Judy Davis gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Sybill, and Sam Neill is at his youngest. This a wonderful, endearing movie that you shouldn't be disappointed with. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The vicissitudes of war
CHARLOTTE GRAY is a much maligned movie, perhaps due to the fact that we are actively in a war state at present, a war state that is grossly dissimilar from the tenor of WWII. But whatever criticisms that may be laid at the doorstep of this fine little movie are quickly overcome by the visual beauty of the photography (have fields of lavendar in Southern France ever been so lushly captured/painted by a photographer?, etc) and most importantly by the performances by a cast of excellent actors. Cate Blanchett is certainly one of the most versatile and accomplished actresses on the screen today. Her commitment to this role of a Scottish woman who joins the French Resistance because of her love of a pilot and develops into a true believer in the plight of the invaded French people is a tour de force of natural acting. Billy Crudup continues to grow in stature as an actor and Michael Gambon raises the level of distinguished performances. Yes, this film tugs at the heart a bit....is that bad now? War creates abrupt changes in people and results in permanent alterations of places and psyches, and the various subplots of CHARLOTTE GRAY make a strong point of this fact. See this film and decide for yourself.

swoon!
I LOVED this movie. From the second it started, with its gorgeous shots of French lilacs or lavender or whatever beautiful purple flower they are, & its sublime musical score by Stephen Warbeck, I was hooked. Cate Blanchett is always dependably good, but she really shines here. Her role is that rare thing- a woman who is not a doormat, a girlfriend, a hooker, or a nun, and she never gets naked. How refreshing! Plus, it's directed by a woman- too cool! I found the love story between the characters of Charlotte Gray & Peter Gregory very believable & terribly romantic, and, as it should, it drives the film to its logical conclusion- a heartbreaking one. Indeed several scenes in this film made my eyes well up with tears. I also appreciated how Charlotte's experiences with loss weren't just glossed over, as in most movies I've seen where someone loses a loved one and by the next scene they're back to normal. Ms. Blanchett is to be commended for bringing that bit of true humanity to her character. It's just an all around beautifully made film, and I admire everyone involved in the making of it. The director's commentary is also very good and worth listening to, however she gives A LOT away, including parts of the book that weren't included in the film. She does a good job of answering her critics during her commentary, particularly speaking about her reasons for having the characters speak English, which originally struck me as a bit odd, but her reasons are legitimate, and, after all "Chocolat" & "Schindler's List," to name just two, are in English & nobody complained about that. One minor thing that I found annoying, though, was the quality of the disc's supplemental materials- they misspelled...both Cate Blanchett's & novelist Sebastian Faulks' names- shame on them!

This is an excellent film.
I really don't understand what all these dungful reviews are about. This film is positively superb. The cinematography is gorgeous, the music wonderful, the casting and acting--perfect, and the screenplay and plot--very very good.

(Possible Spoilers) The characters developed very well, and the ultimate romance of the movie was cleverly thought out. The 'initial' romance felt a little rushed to me, but I would not say it was unbelievable. It is not hard to imagine how relationships might develop quicker than normal under desparate circumstances.

I intend to own this DVD and watch it again and again. Cate Blanchett and costars--you all did a fine job! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

Lengthy... Meandering Plot
I wanted to like Charlotte Gray. I'm a big fan of war stories, but I found this film to be drawn out, and at times tedious. Charlotte is a Scotswoman, selected to become a spy in war-torn France. When her cover is almost blown, she is hidden away in a remote farm playing mommy to two orphan boys.

While I enjoyed the cinematography, I didn't care for Charlotte's character. Her romance with the pilot seemed superficial to me. Her convictions to help France, had all the genuineness of a dogma spouting cultist. And, I'm sorry... But if I were selected to be a spy, I would hope I'd do more than play housekeeper. Come on Girl!

I had to give up half way through the movie. I just couldn't muster the interest to finish it. Perhaps if the story had been a little tighter and the characters a little more engaging....? Overall, I was disappointed.

What's the beef?
I was thoroughly moved by this film. What's the problem of having the actors speak English in France? A little unrealistic but...most Americans aren't fluent in both languages. I'd much rather have it in English than have to read subtitles the entire time. If you want more historical accuracy, go watch a documentary. Look at the title. This movie is about a woman's journey. I thought there was just enough historical relevancy to suit the film's purposes. The plot is inspiring and always taking an unexpected turn. The relationships develop quickly but are strong. Maybe I'm melodramatic, but I'd watch this movie again and again and again... ... Read more

Reviews (36)

DESTINED TO BE
Most films featuring Cate Blanchett are destined to be brilliant simply by virtue of her luminous presence. I would venture to say that her presence can elevate an otherwise mediocre film to being good. This is no easy feat. Oscar and Lucinda is a somewhat slow moving period picture, and while the subject matter is interesting, it will not engage the interest of every viewer. The movie could be well served with analysis of its complex elements, including its main characters' upbringings, the religious background of Ralph Fiennes's character, and the symbolic nature of the glass church the main characters build at the end. Blanchett is remarkable as the unconventional and gambling-addicted Miss Leplastrier, while the always brilliant Ralph Fiennes plays a tormented and equally gambling-addicted love interest who has been estranged from his deeply religious father. The characters are complex and rich, and the interaction between Blanchett and Fiennes' characters are deeply human and believable. The addictions from which both characters suffer are also quite believable onscreen. I felt that this was an underrated picture hindered only by the fact that it moved slowly. The ending is sad, but most good films do have a sad ending, even if the endings provide some kind of hope.

Well worth the effort
At first I didn't like the movie because it seemed too pale and almost watery, but after a second attempt I realized that therein lay the beauty. The two main characters are both as fragile and delicate as Lucinda's translucent glass, and in order to see the luster it has to be caught by the light at a certain angle. Once I did fall in love with the movie, I couldn't understand how it was bypassed by the oscars et al., and I think it must be because the protagonists are so quirky. I recently read the Booker prize-winning book by Peter Carey as a follow-up to the enchanting film, and the uniqueness came from the practically complete shunning of the hero and heroine. Not that they were without friends entirely, but the characters were described as having such strange appearrances. It's about time! But it's unfortunate that the film may have been ignored becase Ralph Fiennes was perhaps not his characteristically debonair self (at least on a superficial level), or because Cate Blanchett wore what looked like skirts over pantaloons. Both Fiennes and Blanchett live up to their exquisite potential, immersing themselves in the deeply wounded and yet inspiringly hopeful characters, spun as aptly and flawlessly as a spider web. Watch this sparkle of a movie, and then read the book, too.

Longing for a DVD
This movie is near the very top of my list of movies for which I CRAVE to be released on DVD but, at least for the time being, it seems to have fallen through the cracks having had its theatrical release just before the DVD format began to take off and not having been a massive hit to have made it a big priority for the studio to get out in the new format.

If you haven't seen this movie go ahead and find a copy of the VHS for watching it in this format is better than not at all. The acting is flawless (this was Cate Blancheet's first starring role) to cinematography superb, the costumes on target, and the story, the musical score gorgeous, and the plot though not a break neck action flick, very involving.

But above all I plead with anyone in a position to help in this matter to please see to it that this movie gets the DVD treatment it deserves, and SOON!

Excellent movie
Most of this film's exceptional qualities have been filled out in earlier reviews. This movie is extremely touching, romantic, and tragic. If you're a period film fan, you're going to love it. The single downfall is the VHS... no widescreen, and I'm sure Cate and Ralph would be all the more heartbreaking on DVD. So please, please, PLEASE, studio, give us this fantastic film on DVD!!

Pathetic waste of film
Don't ever watch this film unless you want to see how a bad director can ruin good actors' performances. Both Feinnes and Blanchett are pathetic and affectatious. The script is poor, the scenes are loose and do not connect. There's no real emotional impact even in the most tragic moments of the plot. I found myself lauphing rather than moved. Attempts at moralizing make the film even more ridiculous. A total failure if not for the beautiful Australian scenery. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Changing places
I bought this video only because Vincent D'Onofrio is in it. I had previously purchased The Whole Wide World which is an amazingly wonderful,mostly unseen film of immense power and D'Onofrio's portrayal of Robert Howard in that film just blew me away. He has to be the most underrated actor in films!! He is also one of the most romantic film kissers ever!- He likes to do character roles and is superb in them as well but I wanted to see him in another romantic film and Fires Within looked interesting. He plays the lover, not the husband, and is so sexy and natural that Jimmy Smits pales by comparison. The ending is unbelievable and nearly spoils the movie for me, but I will probably see it over many times just because of D'Onofrio's performance.

However, see this movie! You won't be sorry. And don't miss The Whole Wide World. It is in my all-time top ten dramas. First,probably. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A backup singer to an Elvis impersonator...in Australia!
The premise of a film involving a character who is a backup singer to an Elvis impersonator...in Australia....well it's too tempting.
While I was expecting a comedy, (how could it not be?), I found instead a nicely developed drama about a woman who gives her daughter up to adoptionand later comes across her by accident. The plot moves along with a few twists as we learn more about the circumstances of the mother and the daughter.
A bittersweet film that slowly grabs your attention and refuses to let go. The filming in Australia is understated and much of it takes place in a travel trailer/mobile home park along the beach.
Overall one of the best films I have seen. Highly recomended!

mermaids
This film reunites Australians director Gillian Armstrong and Judy Davis, after their 1979 My Brilliant Career, which brought them both world-wide attention. Here Davis plays Lilli, who chances across the teenage daughter she has abandoned, living in a coastal caravan park. The music of Peter Best with it's use of accordian, suggests both the sea, and Lilli's melancholy. Writer Laura Jones had initially devised the parent as a man, but by changing him to a her, the treatment becomes more complicated and far more interesting. Lilli is a gothic, dressing in black and with a lion's mane of hair, and her presence in this conservative environment is as if she is from outer space. When we see Lilli drunkenly walking on the beach in a wonderfully poetic tracking shot, it's hard to decide which is more striking - the coastline or Lilli. The irony that places with open countryside and big skies being emotionally bleak is not lost on Armstrong, whose use of speedi-cam represents Lilli's restless nature. Armstrong has always been a subtle director, with a keen eye for detail, and her direction here is superb. The framing is exact, and no scenes seem unnecessary. The few musical numbers she stages also recall her musical Starstruck in their sound quality. Even when Lilli is forced to perform a nightclub strip to earn money, Armstrong's use of music, and the focus on Lilli's humiliation, covers the fact that Davis isn't the stripper type. Jones overstates her case when she has Lilli say that she realises she is a coward, since we have already realised that from Davis, in the way she reacts to Jan Adele as Bet, the mother of her deceased husband, who has been raising the daughter. Armstrong seems to want us to embrace Adele as a lifeforce, but when she chases after Davis when threatened by her presence, it is more Lilli we identify with. Perhaps this is partly due to Adele's limited range, or partly because Lilli wins us over when we see her sobbing in a toilet cubicle, half in sadness and half in joy over her discovery. As a man Lilli befriends, Colin Friels doesn't have much to do, and I think his character is perhaps the weakest part of Jones' screenplay. He and Davis seem to become intimates overnight (or is it that real life husband and wife have an instinctive ease together?), and the idea of he having been adandoned by his wife and left with his own daughter, seems a bit too symmetrical. As Lilli's daughter, Ally, Claudia Karvan has a likeable directness and she plays off Davis well. In a way, the film is more her story than Lilli's. The way Armstrong and Jones end this film is quite remarkeable. Lilli is given a shocking opportunity. Will she repeat the past? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biiter-sweet romancing with an air of doom
This is classic Gillian Armstrong giving us a snapshot of inner-urban life in a Sydney home one long humid summer.

JP (played brilliantly by Bruno Ganz who was so memorable in Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire") is a Frenchman far from home. With his marriage to Beth (a woman whose vitality seems to have been snuffed out by marriage) already under stress, it takes only the arrival of Beth's wild and vibrant sister Vicki to send everything spinning out of control.

Vicki is Beth mirror image - but she is a reflection of what Beth once was. Beth longs to be wild and alive once more but that can never be. JP sees in Vicki what attracted him to Beth - and alone and longing for something that he can't find Down Under, JP drifts apart from Beth as she does from him.

But Beth has another problem - unresolved issues with her father (played by Bill Hunter who seems to be everywhere in Australian movies). Her father has all the personality of a prune, and won't admit his oldest child is now a grown woman with a mind of her own.

Beth, played in a deeply stressed manner by beautiful NZ actress Lisa Harrow, finds is being tossed about from the roles of mother, daughter and wife all at once - and she's the one that is left to suffer.

Truly a brilliant film, with a young Miranda Otto in the role of Beth's all-observing but resilient daughter, this is a touching film that captures much of the tension of our lives that will often cannot identify. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Vividly and brilliantly made!
Yet ANOTHER film to add to my favorite list of films! Could Diane Keaton be any more appealing and exquisite?!?!?! This beautiful movie deserves much MORE credit than it got! On a basic note, this movie is about a prison warden's wife, Kate Soffel, who meets and falls in love with a prisoner, Ed Biddle, on death row. Of course, that's very intriguing because how can two people on total opposite sides of life be together? I cannot say how emotional I was at the ending. It's impossible to sum up this exceptional movie in a few words. More or less, this story only applies to every person who have experienced true love, but also felt pain. Despite the conditions, the lovers manage to find a way to be together forever, and that's true love in its purest. The landscape, winter, contributes to the emptiness and instability of Kate and her husband's marriage, and the violet poem contributes to the youth and beauty of Kate and Ed's doomed, but beautiful relationship. It strikes your emotional chords at very opportune times, and it also gets you thinking about love back in the 1900's and the real Kate Soffel. Simply remarkable.I cannot put any of the words I'm thinking about the movie in clarification- I am telling this abstractly and undefined, because it's the way I felt. I felt the way I felt, and this is the best I can do. I am still emotionally attached to this movie, and of course, no clear explanations come with emotions. I have to admit, I found the ending S A D and unpredictable. It still brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of it. It's beautiful and painful. When Kate felt pain at the very ending, I also felt pain, too, for the doomed lovers. It's just so sad. I found the very last minutes striking. A voice sounding out lines from the violet poem while the camera looms down and swoops past prison cells... "A little violet from across the way came to cheer a lonely prisoner in his cell one day...." and from there, unfolds the heartbreaking story of Kate Soffel and Ed Biddle. DO N O T MISS IT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Romantic and Beautiful Movie: Mrs. Soffel
This movie is one of the best dark romantic movies that I have ever seen. A woman (Diane Keaton)who is not happily married finds renewal in life and for the first time in life falls in love with a prison inmate (Mel Gibson). She realizes how much she loves him and he realizes how much he loves her and their only wish in life is for God to allow them to be together. I don't want to ruin the movie by telling too much but, if you get this your getting a great movie full of love, lust, action, religion and a journey over feelings and how you must follow them to be happy. This movie reminds me of the dark romantic tale Romeo and Juliet.

Charlie

Touching with Wonderful Performances
Diane Keaton gives a remarkable and haunting performance as Mrs. Keaton. Her character stays with you long after the movie's end. Simply brilliant!

"Riveting".
I saw this movie when it first came out in 1984, and I've always remembered it as a favorite. Having recently purchased it, I viewed it all alone in my dark bedroom one night...I don't think I took my eyes off the screen for one second. This movie is emotionally charged, and draws you in from the start. I loved the excellent depiction of the era. I had forgotten how the movie played out...and now that I've seen it again, it is still a favorite, but I had forgotten how very tragic it all was! Tragic on so many levels. And based on a true story, no less. I don't think there was much doubt that the Biddle Boys died of their wounds in the end...their injuries were so realistic and painful to watch. Excellent perfomances. Of course I sobbed for 20 minutes at the end of this one. A tale of a tragic romance that you won't soon forget.

Pulled me into 1901 Pittsburg from the very first scene.
Mrs. Soffel (Diane Keaton) is based on the true story of a emotionally starved Mother of three. Her prison warden husband is not unsypathetic, but hasn't a clue as to what she's feeling.

Her daily routine of reading the Bible to the inmates can no
longer fulfill her emotional void...that is until the day she encounter's the new, guilt-in-question, death row inmates Jack Matthew Modine) and Ed (Mel Gibson) Biddle.

Rules of society were strict in 1901, but with death at stake, Ed Biddle begins a methodical plan to seduce the warden's wife to help them escape.

Black and White turn grey when it comes to just who is seducing who. Once the Biddle's escape the confines of their cells, it is Ed(Gibson)who doesn't want to leave "Kate" behind.

After the breakout is discovered the next morning, it seems only a Sheriff with a mind that can think the "unthinkable" suspects the warden's wife has escaped with the two deathrow inmates and not as their hostage...

On the run, Kate and Ed's passion grow until most certainly, one feels death is the only thing that can break them apart.

Mark Isham's dark film score is perfect. Who would have imagined Keaton and Gibson paired? Up until this movie, I had chalked
Gibson up to a pretty face with not much depth, BUT... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Changing places
I bought this video only because Vincent D'Onofrio is in it. I had previously purchased The Whole Wide World which is an amazingly wonderful,mostly unseen film of immense power and D'Onofrio's portrayal of Robert Howard in that film just blew me away. He has to be the most underrated actor in films!! He is also one of the most romantic film kissers ever!- He likes to do character roles and is superb in them as well but I wanted to see him in another romantic film and Fires Within looked interesting. He plays the lover, not the husband, and is so sexy and natural that Jimmy Smits pales by comparison. The ending is unbelievable and nearly spoils the movie for me, but I will probably see it over many times just because of D'Onofrio's performance.

However, see this movie! You won't be sorry. And don't miss The Whole Wide World. It is in my all-time top ten dramas. First,probably. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An air of gothic romanticism pervades every aspect of this remarkable film, based on a true story from the turn of the 20th century. In its torrid plot, one can hear the icy restraints of the Victorian era cracking. Diane Keaton is uncannily perfect as Kate Soffel, wife of a priggish prison warden (Edward Herrmann). She's funny and touching playing what used to be called a "neurasthenic"--a nervous, depressed woman with mysterious physical ailments. When the film opens, Kate is just recovering from a three-month-long spell, and back at work preaching to the inmates in her husband's prison. Whom should she encounter but dangerous death row inmate Ed Biddle, in the irresistible person of Mel Gibson. The forbidden affair that blossoms between them is feverishly exciting, but the film operates on myriad other levels. Director Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career) and screenwriter Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia) have much to say about capital punishment, and about the miserable fate of women in this repressive society who dare to act on their passions. There's nothing morally clear-cut in this movie, which is what makes it consistently fascinating. Kate and Ed's romance is as right as it is wrong; we never really know how to feel about either of them. The film's stunning cinematography and superb period details are exhilarating, from the towering, bleak beauty of the prison to the gorgeous panoramic chase scenes of horse-drawn sleighs in the snow. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Vividly and brilliantly made!
Yet ANOTHER film to add to my favorite list of films! Could Diane Keaton be any more appealing and exquisite?!?!?! This beautiful movie deserves much MORE credit than it got! On a basic note, this movie is about a prison warden's wife, Kate Soffel, who meets and falls in love with a prisoner, Ed Biddle, on death row. Of course, that's very intriguing because how can two people on total opposite sides of life be together? I cannot say how emotional I was at the ending. It's impossible to sum up this exceptional movie in a few words. More or less, this story only applies to every person who have experienced true love, but also felt pain. Despite the conditions, the lovers manage to find a way to be together forever, and that's true love in its purest. The landscape, winter, contributes to the emptiness and instability of Kate and her husband's marriage, and the violet poem contributes to the youth and beauty of Kate and Ed's doomed, but beautiful relationship. It strikes your emotional chords at very opportune times, and it also gets you thinking about love back in the 1900's and the real Kate Soffel. Simply remarkable.I cannot put any of the words I'm thinking about the movie in clarification- I am telling this abstractly and undefined, because it's the way I felt. I felt the way I felt, and this is the best I can do. I am still emotionally attached to this movie, and of course, no clear explanations come with emotions. I have to admit, I found the ending S A D and unpredictable. It still brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of it. It's beautiful and painful. When Kate felt pain at the very ending, I also felt pain, too, for the doomed lovers. It's just so sad. I found the very last minutes striking. A voice sounding out lines from the violet poem while the camera looms down and swoops past prison cells... "A little violet from across the way came to cheer a lonely prisoner in his cell one day...." and from there, unfolds the heartbreaking story of Kate Soffel and Ed Biddle. DO N O T MISS IT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Romantic and Beautiful Movie: Mrs. Soffel
This movie is one of the best dark romantic movies that I have ever seen. A woman (Diane Keaton)who is not happily married finds renewal in life and for the first time in life falls in love with a prison inmate (Mel Gibson). She realizes how much she loves him and he realizes how much he loves her and their only wish in life is for God to allow them to be together. I don't want to ruin the movie by telling too much but, if you get this your getting a great movie full of love, lust, action, religion and a journey over feelings and how you must follow them to be happy. This movie reminds me of the dark romantic tale Romeo and Juliet.

Charlie

Touching with Wonderful Performances
Diane Keaton gives a remarkable and haunting performance as Mrs. Keaton. Her character stays with you long after the movie's end. Simply brilliant!

"Riveting".
I saw this movie when it first came out in 1984, and I've always remembered it as a favorite. Having recently purchased it, I viewed it all alone in my dark bedroom one night...I don't think I took my eyes off the screen for one second. This movie is emotionally charged, and draws you in from the start. I loved the excellent depiction of the era. I had forgotten how the movie played out...and now that I've seen it again, it is still a favorite, but I had forgotten how very tragic it all was! Tragic on so many levels. And based on a true story, no less. I don't think there was much doubt that the Biddle Boys died of their wounds in the end...their injuries were so realistic and painful to watch. Excellent perfomances. Of course I sobbed for 20 minutes at the end of this one. A tale of a tragic romance that you won't soon forget.

Pulled me into 1901 Pittsburg from the very first scene.
Mrs. Soffel (Diane Keaton) is based on the true story of a emotionally starved Mother of three. Her prison warden husband is not unsypathetic, but hasn't a clue as to what she's feeling.

Her daily routine of reading the Bible to the inmates can no
longer fulfill her emotional void...that is until the day she encounter's the new, guilt-in-question, death row inmates Jack Matthew Modine) and Ed (Mel Gibson) Biddle.

Rules of society were strict in 1901, but with death at stake, Ed Biddle begins a methodical plan to seduce the warden's wife to help them escape.

Black and White turn grey when it comes to just who is seducing who. Once the Biddle's escape the confines of their cells, it is Ed(Gibson)who doesn't want to leave "Kate" behind.

After the breakout is discovered the next morning, it seems only a Sheriff with a mind that can think the "unthinkable" suspects the warden's wife has escaped with the two deathrow inmates and not as their hostage...

On the run, Kate and Ed's passion grow until most certainly, one feels death is the only thing that can break them apart.

Mark Isham's dark film score is perfect. Who would have imagined Keaton and Gibson paired? Up until this movie, I had chalked
Gibson up to a pretty face with not much depth, BUT... ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Vividly and brilliantly made!
Yet ANOTHER film to add to my favorite list of films! Could Diane Keaton be any more appealing and exquisite?!?!?! This beautiful movie deserves much MORE credit than it got! On a basic note, this movie is about a prison warden's wife, Kate Soffel, who meets and falls in love with a prisoner, Ed Biddle, on death row. Of course, that's very intriguing because how can two people on total opposite sides of life be together? I cannot say how emotional I was at the ending. It's impossible to sum up this exceptional movie in a few words. More or less, this story only applies to every person who have experienced true love, but also felt pain. Despite the conditions, the lovers manage to find a way to be together forever, and that's true love in its purest. The landscape, winter, contributes to the emptiness and instability of Kate and her husband's marriage, and the violet poem contributes to the youth and beauty of Kate and Ed's doomed, but beautiful relationship. It strikes your emotional chords at very opportune times, and it also gets you thinking about love back in the 1900's and the real Kate Soffel. Simply remarkable.I cannot put any of the words I'm thinking about the movie in clarification- I am telling this abstractly and undefined, because it's the way I felt. I felt the way I felt, and this is the best I can do. I am still emotionally attached to this movie, and of course, no clear explanations come with emotions. I have to admit, I found the ending S A D and unpredictable. It still brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of it. It's beautiful and painful. When Kate felt pain at the very ending, I also felt pain, too, for the doomed lovers. It's just so sad. I found the very last minutes striking. A voice sounding out lines from the violet poem while the camera looms down and swoops past prison cells... "A little violet from across the way came to cheer a lonely prisoner in his cell one day...." and from there, unfolds the heartbreaking story of Kate Soffel and Ed Biddle. DO N O T MISS IT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Romantic and Beautiful Movie: Mrs. Soffel
This movie is one of the best dark romantic movies that I have ever seen. A woman (Diane Keaton)who is not happily married finds renewal in life and for the first time in life falls in love with a prison inmate (Mel Gibson). She realizes how much she loves him and he realizes how much he loves her and their only wish in life is for God to allow them to be together. I don't want to ruin the movie by telling too much but, if you get this your getting a great movie full of love, lust, action, religion and a journey over feelings and how you must follow them to be happy. This movie reminds me of the dark romantic tale Romeo and Juliet.

Charlie

Touching with Wonderful Performances
Diane Keaton gives a remarkable and haunting performance as Mrs. Keaton. Her character stays with you long after the movie's end. Simply brilliant!

"Riveting".
I saw this movie when it first came out in 1984, and I've always remembered it as a favorite. Having recently purchased it, I viewed it all alone in my dark bedroom one night...I don't think I took my eyes off the screen for one second. This movie is emotionally charged, and draws you in from the start. I loved the excellent depiction of the era. I had forgotten how the movie played out...and now that I've seen it again, it is still a favorite, but I had forgotten how very tragic it all was! Tragic on so many levels. And based on a true story, no less. I don't think there was much doubt that the Biddle Boys died of their wounds in the end...their injuries were so realistic and painful to watch. Excellent perfomances. Of course I sobbed for 20 minutes at the end of this one. A tale of a tragic romance that you won't soon forget.

Pulled me into 1901 Pittsburg from the very first scene.
Mrs. Soffel (Diane Keaton) is based on the true story of a emotionally starved Mother of three. Her prison warden husband is not unsypathetic, but hasn't a clue as to what she's feeling.

Her daily routine of reading the Bible to the inmates can no
longer fulfill her emotional void...that is until the day she encounter's the new, guilt-in-question, death row inmates Jack Matthew Modine) and Ed (Mel Gibson) Biddle.

Rules of society were strict in 1901, but with death at stake, Ed Biddle begins a methodical plan to seduce the warden's wife to help them escape.

Black and White turn grey when it comes to just who is seducing who. Once the Biddle's escape the confines of their cells, it is Ed(Gibson)who doesn't want to leave "Kate" behind.

After the breakout is discovered the next morning, it seems only a Sheriff with a mind that can think the "unthinkable" suspects the warden's wife has escaped with the two deathrow inmates and not as their hostage...

On the run, Kate and Ed's passion grow until most certainly, one feels death is the only thing that can break them apart.

Mark Isham's dark film score is perfect. Who would have imagined Keaton and Gibson paired? Up until this movie, I had chalked
Gibson up to a pretty face with not much depth, BUT... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Changing places
I bought this video only because Vincent D'Onofrio is in it. I had previously purchased The Whole Wide World which is an amazingly wonderful,mostly unseen film of immense power and D'Onofrio's portrayal of Robert Howard in that film just blew me away. He has to be the most underrated actor in films!! He is also one of the most romantic film kissers ever!- He likes to do character roles and is superb in them as well but I wanted to see him in another romantic film and Fires Within looked interesting. He plays the lover, not the husband, and is so sexy and natural that Jimmy Smits pales by comparison. The ending is unbelievable and nearly spoils the movie for me, but I will probably see it over many times just because of D'Onofrio's performance.

However, see this movie! You won't be sorry. And don't miss The Whole Wide World. It is in my all-time top ten dramas. First,probably. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What an Odd Pair!
These movies are really good! It's a very odd combo though! Hook, an adventure/comedy with Robin Williams and Drama with Susan Sarandon! Why these particular two! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Vividly and brilliantly made!
Yet ANOTHER film to add to my favorite list of films! Could Diane Keaton be any more appealing and exquisite?!?!?! This beautiful movie deserves much MORE credit than it got! On a basic note, this movie is about a prison warden's wife, Kate Soffel, who meets and falls in love with a prisoner, Ed Biddle, on death row. Of course, that's very intriguing because how can two people on total opposite sides of life be together? I cannot say how emotional I was at the ending. It's impossible to sum up this exceptional movie in a few words. More or less, this story only applies to every person who have experienced true love, but also felt pain. Despite the conditions, the lovers manage to find a way to be together forever, and that's true love in its purest. The landscape, winter, contributes to the emptiness and instability of Kate and her husband's marriage, and the violet poem contributes to the youth and beauty of Kate and Ed's doomed, but beautiful relationship. It strikes your emotional chords at very opportune times, and it also gets you thinking about love back in the 1900's and the real Kate Soffel. Simply remarkable.I cannot put any of the words I'm thinking about the movie in clarification- I am telling this abstractly and undefined, because it's the way I felt. I felt the way I felt, and this is the best I can do. I am still emotionally attached to this movie, and of course, no clear explanations come with emotions. I have to admit, I found the ending S A D and unpredictable. It still brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of it. It's beautiful and painful. When Kate felt pain at the very ending, I also felt pain, too, for the doomed lovers. It's just so sad. I found the very last minutes striking. A voice sounding out lines from the violet poem while the camera looms down and swoops past prison cells... "A little violet from across the way came to cheer a lonely prisoner in his cell one day...." and from there, unfolds the heartbreaking story of Kate Soffel and Ed Biddle. DO N O T MISS IT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Romantic and Beautiful Movie: Mrs. Soffel
This movie is one of the best dark romantic movies that I have ever seen. A woman (Diane Keaton)who is not happily married finds renewal in life and for the first time in life falls in love with a prison inmate (Mel Gibson). She realizes how much she loves him and he realizes how much he loves her and their only wish in life is for God to allow them to be together. I don't want to ruin the movie by telling too much but, if you get this your getting a great movie full of love, lust, action, religion and a journey over feelings and how you must follow them to be happy. This movie reminds me of the dark romantic tale Romeo and Juliet.

Charlie

Touching with Wonderful Performances
Diane Keaton gives a remarkable and haunting performance as Mrs. Keaton. Her character stays with you long after the movie's end. Simply brilliant!

"Riveting".
I saw this movie when it first came out in 1984, and I've always remembered it as a favorite. Having recently purchased it, I viewed it all alone in my dark bedroom one night...I don't think I took my eyes off the screen for one second. This movie is emotionally charged, and draws you in from the start. I loved the excellent depiction of the era. I had forgotten how the movie played out...and now that I've seen it again, it is still a favorite, but I had forgotten how very tragic it all was! Tragic on so many levels. And based on a true story, no less. I don't think there was much doubt that the Biddle Boys died of their wounds in the end...their injuries were so realistic and painful to watch. Excellent perfomances. Of course I sobbed for 20 minutes at the end of this one. A tale of a tragic romance that you won't soon forget.

Pulled me into 1901 Pittsburg from the very first scene.
Mrs. Soffel (Diane Keaton) is based on the true story of a emotionally starved Mother of three. Her prison warden husband is not unsypathetic, but hasn't a clue as to what she's feeling.

Her daily routine of reading the Bible to the inmates can no
longer fulfill her emotional void...that is until the day she encounter's the new, guilt-in-question, death row inmates Jack Matthew Modine) and Ed (Mel Gibson) Biddle.

Rules of society were strict in 1901, but with death at stake, Ed Biddle begins a methodical plan to seduce the warden's wife to help them escape.

Black and White turn grey when it comes to just who is seducing who. Once the Biddle's escape the confines of their cells, it is Ed(Gibson)who doesn't want to leave "Kate" behind.

After the breakout is discovered the next morning, it seems only a Sheriff with a mind that can think the "unthinkable" suspects the warden's wife has escaped with the two deathrow inmates and not as their hostage...

On the run, Kate and Ed's passion grow until most certainly, one feels death is the only thing that can break them apart.

Mark Isham's dark film score is perfect. Who would have imagined Keaton and Gibson paired? Up until this movie, I had chalked
Gibson up to a pretty face with not much depth, BUT... ... Read more

Reviews (36)

DESTINED TO BE
Most films featuring Cate Blanchett are destined to be brilliant simply by virtue of her luminous presence. I would venture to say that her presence can elevate an otherwise mediocre film to being good. This is no easy feat. Oscar and Lucinda is a somewhat slow moving period picture, and while the subject matter is interesting, it will not engage the interest of every viewer. The movie could be well served with analysis of its complex elements, including its main characters' upbringings, the religious background of Ralph Fiennes's character, and the symbolic nature of the glass church the main characters build at the end. Blanchett is remarkable as the unconventional and gambling-addicted Miss Leplastrier, while the always brilliant Ralph Fiennes plays a tormented and equally gambling-addicted love interest who has been estranged from his deeply religious father. The characters are complex and rich, and the interaction between Blanchett and Fiennes' characters are deeply human and believable. The addictions from which both characters suffer are also quite believable onscreen. I felt that this was an underrated picture hindered only by the fact that it moved slowly. The ending is sad, but most good films do have a sad ending, even if the endings provide some kind of hope.

Well worth the effort
At first I didn't like the movie because it seemed too pale and almost watery, but after a second attempt I realized that therein lay the beauty. The two main characters are both as fragile and delicate as Lucinda's translucent glass, and in order to see the luster it has to be caught by the light at a certain angle. Once I did fall in love with the movie, I couldn't understand how it was bypassed by the oscars et al., and I think it must be because the protagonists are so quirky. I recently read the Booker prize-winning book by Peter Carey as a follow-up to the enchanting film, and the uniqueness came from the practically complete shunning of the hero and heroine. Not that they were without friends entirely, but the characters were described as having such strange appearrances. It's about time! But it's unfortunate that the film may have been ignored becase Ralph Fiennes was perhaps not his characteristically debonair self (at least on a superficial level), or because Cate Blanchett wore what looked like skirts over pantaloons. Both Fiennes and Blanchett live up to their exquisite potential, immersing themselves in the deeply wounded and yet inspiringly hopeful characters, spun as aptly and flawlessly as a spider web. Watch this sparkle of a movie, and then read the book, too.

Longing for a DVD
This movie is near the very top of my list of movies for which I CRAVE to be released on DVD but, at least for the time being, it seems to have fallen through the cracks having had its theatrical release just before the DVD format began to take off and not having been a massive hit to have made it a big priority for the studio to get out in the new format.

If you haven't seen this movie go ahead and find a copy of the VHS for watching it in this format is better than not at all. The acting is flawless (this was Cate Blancheet's first starring role) to cinematography superb, the costumes on target, and the story, the musical score gorgeous, and the plot though not a break neck action flick, very involving.

But above all I plead with anyone in a position to help in this matter to please see to it that this movie gets the DVD treatment it deserves, and SOON!

Excellent movie
Most of this film's exceptional qualities have been filled out in earlier reviews. This movie is extremely touching, romantic, and tragic. If you're a period film fan, you're going to love it. The single downfall is the VHS... no widescreen, and I'm sure Cate and Ralph would be all the more heartbreaking on DVD. So please, please, PLEASE, studio, give us this fantastic film on DVD!!

Pathetic waste of film
Don't ever watch this film unless you want to see how a bad director can ruin good actors' performances. Both Feinnes and Blanchett are pathetic and affectatious. The script is poor, the scenes are loose and do not connect. There's no real emotional impact even in the most tragic moments of the plot. I found myself lauphing rather than moved. Attempts at moralizing make the film even more ridiculous. A total failure if not for the beautiful Australian scenery. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The vicissitudes of war
CHARLOTTE GRAY is a much maligned movie, perhaps due to the fact that we are actively in a war state at present, a war state that is grossly dissimilar from the tenor of WWII. But whatever criticisms that may be laid at the doorstep of this fine little movie are quickly overcome by the visual beauty of the photography (have fields of lavendar in Southern France ever been so lushly captured/painted by a photographer?, etc) and most importantly by the performances by a cast of excellent actors. Cate Blanchett is certainly one of the most versatile and accomplished actresses on the screen today. Her commitment to this role of a Scottish woman who joins the French Resistance because of her love of a pilot and develops into a true believer in the plight of the invaded French people is a tour de force of natural acting. Billy Crudup continues to grow in stature as an actor and Michael Gambon raises the level of distinguished performances. Yes, this film tugs at the heart a bit....is that bad now? War creates abrupt changes in people and results in permanent alterations of places and psyches, and the various subplots of CHARLOTTE GRAY make a strong point of this fact. See this film and decide for yourself.

swoon!
I LOVED this movie. From the second it started, with its gorgeous shots of French lilacs or lavender or whatever beautiful purple flower they are, & its sublime musical score by Stephen Warbeck, I was hooked. Cate Blanchett is always dependably good, but she really shines here. Her role is that rare thing- a woman who is not a doormat, a girlfriend, a hooker, or a nun, and she never gets naked. How refreshing! Plus, it's directed by a woman- too cool! I found the love story between the characters of Charlotte Gray & Peter Gregory very believable & terribly romantic, and, as it should, it drives the film to its logical conclusion- a heartbreaking one. Indeed several scenes in this film made my eyes well up with tears. I also appreciated how Charlotte's experiences with loss weren't just glossed over, as in most movies I've seen where someone loses a loved one and by the next scene they're back to normal. Ms. Blanchett is to be commended for bringing that bit of true humanity to her character. It's just an all around beautifully made film, and I admire everyone involved in the making of it. The director's commentary is also very good and worth listening to, however she gives A LOT away, including parts of the book that weren't included in the film. She does a good job of answering her critics during her commentary, particularly speaking about her reasons for having the characters speak English, which originally struck me as a bit odd, but her reasons are legitimate, and, after all "Chocolat" & "Schindler's List," to name just two, are in English & nobody complained about that. One minor thing that I found annoying, though, was the quality of the disc's supplemental materials- they misspelled...both Cate Blanchett's & novelist Sebastian Faulks' names- shame on them!

This is an excellent film.
I really don't understand what all these dungful reviews are about. This film is positively superb. The cinematography is gorgeous, the music wonderful, the casting and acting--perfect, and the screenplay and plot--very very good.

(Possible Spoilers) The characters developed very well, and the ultimate romance of the movie was cleverly thought out. The 'initial' romance felt a little rushed to me, but I would not say it was unbelievable. It is not hard to imagine how relationships might develop quicker than normal under desparate circumstances.

I intend to own this DVD and watch it again and again. Cate Blanchett and costars--you all did a fine job! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

Lengthy... Meandering Plot
I wanted to like Charlotte Gray. I'm a big fan of war stories, but I found this film to be drawn out, and at times tedious. Charlotte is a Scotswoman, selected to become a spy in war-torn France. When her cover is almost blown, she is hidden away in a remote farm playing mommy to two orphan boys.

While I enjoyed the cinematography, I didn't care for Charlotte's character. Her romance with the pilot seemed superficial to me. Her convictions to help France, had all the genuineness of a dogma spouting cultist. And, I'm sorry... But if I were selected to be a spy, I would hope I'd do more than play housekeeper. Come on Girl!

I had to give up half way through the movie. I just couldn't muster the interest to finish it. Perhaps if the story had been a little tighter and the characters a little more engaging....? Overall, I was disappointed.

What's the beef?
I was thoroughly moved by this film. What's the problem of having the actors speak English in France? A little unrealistic but...most Americans aren't fluent in both languages. I'd much rather have it in English than have to read subtitles the entire time. If you want more historical accuracy, go watch a documentary. Look at the title. This movie is about a woman's journey. I thought there was just enough historical relevancy to suit the film's purposes. The plot is inspiring and always taking an unexpected turn. The relationships develop quickly but are strong. Maybe I'm melodramatic, but I'd watch this movie again and again and again... ... Read more