This is based on the 1950 novel "A Way Through the Wood" by Nigel Balchin and though the majority of the original story dwelled more on the adulterous affair it still made it's point with the characters and British manners in terms of how they deal with stress. Story is about James Manning (Tom Wilkinson) who's a very successful professional solicitor in London and seemingly has a happy marriage with his wife Anne (Emily Watson) but while at a cricket match they meet William Bule (Rupert Everett) who's the son of a local Lord.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** One night Anne is throwing a party but James is unable to attend because of work but when he returns home he finds out that the husband of their housekeeper was hit by a car and eventually dies and this leads James to thinking that Bule is responsible after noticing a nick on his vehicle. James questions Anne about the accident and she admits to him that not only were they together romantically but that it was she that was driving and is the one at fault. The three of them decide to cover everything up with alibi's but this proves to be difficult when a police inspector comes snooping about and while he thinks he's knows what has happened he still can't get any of them to admit to anything. Eventually James and Anne separate and she spends her time with Bule even after it's discovered that he has terminal cancer and while James is obviously heartbroken he still maintains a sense of decency and stays friendly with his wife.
This is directed by actor/writer Julian Fellowes who won an Oscar for his screenplay for "Gosford Park" and here he's making his debut as a director. Fellowes is obviously fond of stories dealing with British manners and class as his "Gosford Park" script proves and he does a credible job of showing how the English can still be polite and proper even during the most extreme of times. I thought it was humorous when James was all set to call the police and turn Bule in until he found out that it was his wife that was involved and then decides that lying is the best course of action to take. While I thought the film hit a bullseye in dealing with the issues of moral responsibility and ethics I still had too many problems with other areas especially regarding how we're supposed to feel about Bule after he becomes sick. The film spends the majority of it's time making it clear that he's an incredibly shallow and selfish cad but after he gets one of those movie illness's the characters still feel sorry about him! We all know that there is nothing logical about a woman's taste in men so I won't carp too much about Anne staying with him but James reaction to the news just doesn't seem believable. I kept waiting for him to open a bottle of champagne and kick up his heels and scream "YAHOO" but instead James appears to be honestly sorry about the man who took his wife. There is also a totally unnecessary narration that takes place during certain intervals and I have always maintained that if filmmakers feel the need for a narrator than it's a sure sign that they don't have confidence in the way they're telling a story. The acting is top notch with Wilkinson enjoying one of his best roles to date and Everett is so good that you can't help but think that the film should have been more about him. Some are raving about this as being one of the best films of the year and while I'm the first to say that this is pretty well made and acted I still found enough things to make me think otherwise.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** One night Anne is throwing a party but James is unable to attend because of work but when he returns home he finds out that the husband of their housekeeper was hit by a car and eventually dies and this leads James to thinking that Bule is responsible after noticing a nick on his vehicle. James questions Anne about the accident and she admits to him that not only were they together romantically but that it was she that was driving and is the one at fault. The three of them decide to cover everything up with alibi's but this proves to be difficult when a police inspector comes snooping about and while he thinks he's knows what has happened he still can't get any of them to admit to anything. Eventually James and Anne separate and she spends her time with Bule even after it's discovered that he has terminal cancer and while James is obviously heartbroken he still maintains a sense of decency and stays friendly with his wife.
This is directed by actor/writer Julian Fellowes who won an Oscar for his screenplay for "Gosford Park" and here he's making his debut as a director. Fellowes is obviously fond of stories dealing with British manners and class as his "Gosford Park" script proves and he does a credible job of showing how the English can still be polite and proper even during the most extreme of times. I thought it was humorous when James was all set to call the police and turn Bule in until he found out that it was his wife that was involved and then decides that lying is the best course of action to take. While I thought the film hit a bullseye in dealing with the issues of moral responsibility and ethics I still had too many problems with other areas especially regarding how we're supposed to feel about Bule after he becomes sick. The film spends the majority of it's time making it clear that he's an incredibly shallow and selfish cad but after he gets one of those movie illness's the characters still feel sorry about him! We all know that there is nothing logical about a woman's taste in men so I won't carp too much about Anne staying with him but James reaction to the news just doesn't seem believable. I kept waiting for him to open a bottle of champagne and kick up his heels and scream "YAHOO" but instead James appears to be honestly sorry about the man who took his wife. There is also a totally unnecessary narration that takes place during certain intervals and I have always maintained that if filmmakers feel the need for a narrator than it's a sure sign that they don't have confidence in the way they're telling a story. The acting is top notch with Wilkinson enjoying one of his best roles to date and Everett is so good that you can't help but think that the film should have been more about him. Some are raving about this as being one of the best films of the year and while I'm the first to say that this is pretty well made and acted I still found enough things to make me think otherwise.