VHS : The Wings Of The Dove [1998]

Rating: - a truly beautiful film
Based on the novel by Henry James, `The Wings of the Dove' is a beautiful film both in terms of locations, story and acting.
Helena Bonham Carter plays Kate Croy, who after being taking on as a ward by her Aunt Maude, is forced to meet illicitly with her lower class lover Merton Densher (played by Linus Roache). When Kate discovers that her new friend Mille (played by Alison Elliot), a wealthy American heiress is terminally ill, she sets about enticing Merton to seduce Millie in order for Kate and Merton to be able to marry through the acquisition of her inheritance.
The cinematography of the film is simply stunning, especially the night scenes in Venice, the costumes too are beautifully made and in my opinion Helena Bonham Carter has never looked better; whilst she may not want to be known as a corset queen, it must be said that her performances in such period films are always superb. It is also obvious why Bonham Carter was Oscar nominated for the film, she succeeds playing a complex character and the scene where she writes a letter to Merton, terrified that her lover will fall in love with Millie is almost heartbreaking to watch, we can truly understand her pain, yet we also understand that this is a pain of her own design.
All in all, `The Wings of the Dove' is to be highly recommended, darker than your normal period drama; the film looks at human manipulation and jealously. The final love scene is incredibly emotive, the viewer can almost see the pain etched on the protagonists' faces, and indeed it is interesting that during an act of complete and utter intimacy, the two lovers have never been further apart from one another.

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Rating: - Love cannot be calculated,
Three reasons that this film shines:

1. An excellent screenplay that captures the gist of the novel and without getting bogged down.

2. Alison Elliot and Linus Roache outperform Helena Bonham Carter, no small feat, to create a special love.

3. Venice, shot so as to seem completely in the period of the story, makes it clear why this city was (and is) special.

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Rating: - This one is to be watched with a glass of good red wine.

If you liked 'A room with a view' (which I am waiting for Universal to publish PROPERLY on DVD. The current version is a mess), you are bound to enjoy this piece like I did.

Helena Bonham carter, Linus Roache, Alison Elliott and Charlotte Rampling (my favourite in this film) all play beautifully. They express the character's emotions in a very subtle yet effective way - just a glance, almost unhearable whispers, or even silence. Each scene is carefully crafted + shot. It is just like a series of beautiful paintings.

This one is to be watched with a glass of good red wine.

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Rating: - 3 1/2 stars really!
Set in the early 1900's the movie focuses on the relationship (almost love triangle) between Kate, Millie and Merton. Kate and Merton have been together for about a year and although they want to marry he is not of the same social class. When Kate befriends Millie (who is rich) and finds out she is dying she hatches a plan for Merton to seduce her and inherit her fortune.
Of course these plans never do turn out to be that simple. Unfortunately the writers failed to come up with a decent climax/ twist in the tale. This knocks the whole thing down a few notches as it didn't live up to my expectations.

It is beautifully shot though with some wonderful settings. The acting brings out a lot of the story without the need of words.

All in all ends up being slightly above a so-so movie.

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Rating: - Gripping story of love, deceit and debasement
I thought this was a powerful film, with a gripping story of love, deceit and collective debasement. The finale to the film is particularly strong, especially a chilling final scene back in rainy London.