4 gibbles outta 5

Director: Charles Sturridge

This is an absolutely badass movie. It gets docked a star for wandering a bit in the middle, which seems to be as a consequence of trying to incorporate a little too much from the book upon which it is based. I do not like period films, but there is a pleasant undercurrent of evil to this movie that makes it seem a tad off… Which is what kept me watching. And it was worth it. The plot focuses around an ideal marriage and its breakdown. The male lead’s resolve after this dissolve of ideals is where the film really begins to lay on the charm; the fact that the threads to this point take an hour and a half or so to weave is not a bad thing – the successful outline of all of the primary characters is what makes the balance of humor and tragedy work. Anyhow, if you enjoy movies that piss you off because they don’t go quite as you would wish (y’know, in a good way) – even if you don’t normally go for period films – try this one out.