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2008
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THE
EDGE OF LOVE
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STARRING:KEIRA
KNIGHTLEY,SIENNA MILLER,MATTHEW RHYS,CILLIAN MURPHY
WRITTEN
BY SHARMAN MACDONALD
PRODUCED
BY REBEKAH GILBERTSON & SARAH RADCLYFFE
DIRECTED
BY JOHN MAYBURY
GENRE:BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA/ROMANCE/WAR
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:15A/USA:NA
RUNNING
TIME:110 MIN
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An
emotionally dull biopic on Welshman Dylan Thomas (played here to wanker
perfection by Matthew Rhys), The Edge of Love keeps its distance
from the infamous poet, and instead focuses on the two women who influenced
his life and his writing.
Set in London during WWII, the film stars Keira Knightley as Thomas'
teen sweet heart, Vera Phillips. A singer by trade - and wouldn't
you know it, Knightley can carry a tune! - Vera and Thomas reunite
during a chance encounter in a bar. Yet the insatiable Thomas forgot
to mention that he is in fact married with child to eccentric dancer
Caitlin (Sienna Miller), who has travelled from Wales to keep tabs
on her husband.
Surprisingly, instead of a good ol' catfight, Vera and Caitlin hit
it off, and the trio form something of a love triangle, with Thomas'
attempts at trying to bed Vera never materialising, thanks to Caitlin's
forever watchful eye. Things get even more complicated when Vera begins
a relationship with husband to be William (Cillian Murphy), a soldier
about to be shipped off to the frontlines. So, if two is company,
and three is a crowd, then four is a disaster waiting to happen, and
happen it does as jealousy and infidelity reign supreme.
Yet, despite the supposed passion that such material should inspire
(the film was written by Knightley's mother, Sharman MacDonald), what
is presented is an emotionally void "love" story, which
features three cold, distant, and un-likeable characters, who fail
to draw the viewers empathy, due to their questionable and immoral
actions.
Thomas - who is driven by jealousy, ego, and smug elitism - in particular
has to be the biggest prick to grace the silver screen thus far this
year. Only William draws the viewer's sympathy. Yet since he has the
least amount of screen time, the films emotional balance firmly belongs
in lewd territory.
But despite the character of these characters, they are dutifully
portrayed to the best of its talented ensemble cast's ability Particular
menton should be given to the performances by Sienna Miller - who
proves that there is a talented actress behind the scandalous gossip
- and Keira Knightley, the reigning queen of the period film. Unfortunately
for the movie, her presence (combined with the films setting) does
evoke the vastly superior Atonement.
The films strength lies in director John Maybury's visceral approach
to the material. Whether it be the occasional askew slant of the camera;
the clash of the vibrant London and dreary Wales settings; or, how
the pure white puff of cigarette smoke fills the screen, Maybury -
along with cinematographer Jonathan Freeman - lend life to an otherwise
dreary movie, where emotion should reign supreme, but instead is left
teetering on the edge of, not love, but indifference. |
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