Gwyneth Paltrow, talk about a departure from her previous film, Shallow Hal. Granted, Possession is the type of movie that we have become accustomed to seeing Paltrow in, with Shakespeare In Love or The Talented Mr. Ripley being prime examples of that genre. That type being a more dramatic and humorous film, not the cheap humor of Shallow Hal.
The film starts in the London Library with American Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart from Nurse Betty) researching Mr. Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam, Gosford Park), a famous Victorian poet famous for his fidelity to his wife. Amazingly, he discovers a hand written letter to someone other than his wife that tends to suggest that he may not have been as faithful to his wife as originally thought. The letter was meant for Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle), an un-married aristocratic woman that her biographer says was gay. That biographer is Maud Bailey (Paltrow), whom Roland visits to find out more about the potential affair of Ash. The rest of the film has Roland and Maud running around England and France attempting to follow the path of Ash & LaMotte. Also on the trail, are some of Roland’s academic colleagues who are only in it for the potential monetary windfall. Of course as Maud and Roland trace the events of the past, they too must confront their feelings for each other. So what is to become of the two beautiful scholars, and will they find their smoking gun?

David Henry Hwang wrote a very good screenplay based on the novel by A.S. Byatt, plus Neil LaBute does a good job bringing the story to life as the director. My main qualms about this romantic comedy lie in the predictability of the story. But despite this shortfall, it is still a good film to watch.

Also in the cast are Trevor Eve, Toby Stephens, Anna Massey, Lena Headey, Holly Aird, Tom Hickey, Georgia Mackenzie, plus many others.

The film delivers on the comedy portion of the movie mainly by poking fun at us Americans. And I must say that watching Gwyneth is a pleasure all its own. All of that said, I give Possession eight couches out of ten.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:48:42 AM

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