The Edge Of Love [2008]
![The Edge Of Love [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514JHL-b0fL._SL160_.jpg) RRP £19.99 Lowest New Price £9.98 
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Suitable for 15 years and over Lions Gate Home Entertainment Release date: Monday 27th of October 2008 Starring: Director(s): Format: PAL, Region code: 2 Running time: 107 minutes |
The best parts of The Edge Of Love prove to be in the build up, with the strong production values really allowed director John Maybury to build up his characters, and get across the setting of a war-torn London. Boasting good performances from the likes of Keira Knightley and Matthew Rhys, it’s hard not to get pulled into the film’s set-up. That said, the pay-off of The Edge Of Love isn’t quite as satisfying, and the second half of the film lacks the punch you’d expect it to have. It’s hard to pinpoint quite why it doesn’t gel, but as major dramatic events ensue, you’re simply not drawn into them as much as you’d hope. Perhaps a bit more fleshing out of the characters would have helped. However, there’s still a lot to admire and enjoy, and The Edge Of Love boasts some excellent visuals, and neat directorial touches. And even though it doesn’t fulfill its potential, it’s still a fine, eminently watchable drama. It just could have been that little bit more. --Jon Foster
RRP: £19.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Set during the Second World War, The Edge Of Love is, at heart, the story of a love triangle. In the middle of it is the poet Dylan Thomas (played here by Matthew Rhys), and it’s he who finds himself in love with two women. On one hand, there’s his childhood sweetheart Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley), and on the other there’s his wife, Caitlin Thomas (Sienna Miller). Throw in Caitlin’s husband, William (Cillian Murphy), and you have the basis of a complicated period romantic drama.
missed the mark by a long shot
Review date: 2008-12-05 Rating: 4 out of 10
Sorry, but this film went straight past me and I really felt no attachment to any of the characters. Knightley wasn't bad and Miller was ok but the characters just didn't mesh well together at all and I found the whole film very uncomfortable to watch! To be honest I thought the best character was Murphy, tormented after he comes back from the war by images of his collegues murdered before his eyes. Knightley and Miller's relationship was awful, so false and painful to see. I really thought this was going to be fantastic, but it wasn't, so its a no in my good films list.
Reviews
Not for fans of Dylan
Review date: 2008-12-04 Rating: 8 out of 10
I held off seeing this for a long time, because I suspected it would be awful. I'm not a fan of Miller or Knightley, and often feel like the only person in the world who didn't think Atonement was all that. But I was rather pleasently surprised by this. It's a slow-burner, and you'll probably think about it for a few days after watching before you realise you like it. Knightley pulls off a pretty convincing Welsh accent, which, as a native, was important for me. Miller was also pleasant to watch, I don't think she's ever seemed this warm in the media before. She can't do an Irish accent though, and thankfully doesn't try very much. Matthew Rhys smoulders away and thank goodness the boy's pretty, since Dylan in real life looked like a sweaty, overgrown schoolboy and it's hard to see what women saw in him. The film doesn't shy away from showing the more abusive side of the artistic personality either, and though you might not like Dylan you can't deny the character is realistic. Cillian Murphey manages to do a lot with the little screen time he's given.
So far, so good, but it's about fifteen minutes into the film that I realised why this film got such a bad press. For some reason it was presented in many circles as a Dylan biopic, whereas the poet plays only a marginal part in the dynamic of this film. What it's really about is the touching but at times claustrophobic friendship of two women under extreme circumstances. At first you wonder what Vera and Caitlin could have in common; the former is reserved and cautious, while the latter is flamboyant and uninhibeted. Their friendship evolves not because of the things they have in common, but because of the men they've loved and the times they live in. Men in general, and serious scholars, will loathe the bath-sharing, touchy-feely tone but most women can recall a short-lived but intense friendship with another woman and will find it both soothing and compelling.
By the way, much has been made of the suggestion of lesbian overtones between the two women, but I can't see it. Many men are indeed sometimes confused by the immediate and intimate bonds that can spring up between women, and often assume it must be sexual, but only rairly is this the case.
Where the film really excells is in it's depiction of the turmoil of wartime British society. The rushed marriage of Vera and William would have happened all over Britain as young people faced with the real possibility of death threw themselves into enjoying life. That bittersweet joy that verges on hysteria is present throughout the opening scenes of the film. And as happened again and again, husbands and wives united after long seperation only to find each other unrecognizable, and resented each other for it. In addition the clothes are pretty, the music authentic (Knightley isn't a terrible singer, though her miming is pretty off) and the windswept Welsh coastline has never looked more romantic. You can almost taste the salt wind, and shiver in sympathy as the characters crowd together in their wood and asbestos prefabs.
In conclusion,this is probably not a film that will appeal to many men. It's definately not for fans of Dylan's poetry, who will find the muddled chronology irritating and will feel they've walked into the wrong film. On the other hand it's visually arresting, sensitive and compelling. It's perfect for those who enjoyed Sophia Copolla's Marie Antoinette, though it has more substance. I'd recommend it for a grown-up girl's night in, or a lazy sunday afternoon when it's raining outside.
If It Wasnt For Cillian Murphy This Film Would Get 0 Stars
Review date: 2008-11-10 Rating: 2 out of 10
This film has a lot of potential, but fell flat on its face. The cinematography was lovely, but the majority of the characters were shallow and superficial. The character of Vera should have been complex, and it needed a much more experienced and more talented actress to give her justice. Keira Knightley doesn't act, she just says her lines with a silly smirk on her face, giving the audience no insight whatsoever into what she's thinking and feeling, and just left me feeling lost and confused and feeling no sympathy towards her character at all. Dylan Thomas was portrayed to be a horrible and self-centred man and I couldn't understand why both Vera and Caitlin were all over him, while William Killick, the only decent and believable character in the whole film, was used and generally treated badly. I know the film is based on real people, and real people don't always have straight forward motives, but the characters in 'The Edge of Love' are just fickle and inconsistent. Not all true stories are meant to be transferred onto the big screen, an audience needs to at least believe in the characters they're watching. Not to mention the dialogue was cheesy and clique, and the plot was jumpy and inconsistent (much like Keira Knightley's accent).
But I like to try and find some good in all the films I watch and as I said earlier the cinematography was simply lovely! Cillian Murphy was the only actor in the film that did a really wonderful job, as he always does.
If 'The Edge of Love' is this years 'Atonement', I'm thoroughly relieved I didn't miss much by not going to see 'Atonement'.
a beautiful film
Review date: 2008-10-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
The Edge of Love is a beautifully shot film, with an excellent cast, an intelligent script and real emotional honesty. The potrayal of love in all it's messy, complicated forms and an unlikely but strong friendship make this film very rich with emotion without trying too hard. The actors are incredibly convincing in their roles and you really feel for the characters. The scenes in war-time London are very evocative of the period and easily capture the fear and strife of the bombings. The latter part of the film which takes place in Wales is also visually stunning. Plus if you like fashion, you will love the outfits worn by Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. A great film, 5 stars.
really good
Review date: 2008-10-19 Rating: 8 out of 10
Really good drama- great acting interesting insight into Dylan's life. Also a interesting historical perspective of lives effected by war.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Sienna Miller
Keira Knightley
Matthew Rhys
Cillian Murphy
Creators:
Keira Knightley (Primary Contributor)
Sienna Miller (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
EAN: 5060052415547
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-10-27
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2008
Tech info, cast and quotes/trivia when available. Exclusions may apply with free delivery. Price and availabiltity subject to change
