Possession (2002)

2/5

Possession is a film adaptation of a book that is likely superior in every way. The plot focuses on two English literature historians, Roland Michell (Eckhart) and Maud Bailey (Paltrow), who both research Victorian-era poets: Michell knows Randolph Henry Ash (Northam) and Bailey knows Christabel LaMotte (Ehle). As the two uncover a heretofore secret, hidden love affair from the past, they discover the emergence of their own love for each other. Yes, the storyline sounds more than a little cheesy, but it reminded me--in a good way--of Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love. (Unfortunately, it never even came close to being as good as that movie.) All the storytelling elements were there to make this a truly compelling story, but the rest of the filmmaking was not. The acting oscillated between flat and harsh. The written dialogue was unconvincing and stilted. Most of the shots were plain Jane boring. A few times LaBute surprised me with some clever juxtaposition of scenes or imagery, but I left the movie unimpressed. (It doesn't help that it ends on a ridiculously laughable action/chase/fight scene.) Trust me when I say that Possession is a movie not worth seeing. If the plot sounds interesting, I would suggest you try reading the book instead.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256276/

In the Company of Men (1997)

4/5

Neil LaBute's directorial debut is a ferociously brutal black comedy. It follows Chad and Howard who devise a plan to ruin an innocent woman's romantic future to get payback for all the times women have hurt them. Much like Closer, the characters' actions are almost too cruel to be real. But it is funny--hilarious most of the time--and provides great insight into society, male female interactions, and the drive for success. The acting is fantastic, as well as most of the dialogue. It turns very psychological very quickly: you never really know who's playing who. The thematics match well with interesting and effective cinematic techniques. For example, the intertitles announcing the week number with jungle music in the background work on numerous levels. They pace the film and excite the audience as the piece builds to a climax; the choice of music is also essential in creating the audience's subconscious association of a workplace and all social interactions as a jungle, where men and women return to primal urges and instinctive self-preservation mechanisms. The decision to make the woman be deaf and how it plays out in the final scene make the movie smarter than it looks.

But it looks awful. The compositions were forced, the colors were garish, and the camera movements were either nonexistent and unexciting or minimalist and uneventful. The dialogue sometimes strayed into inane babble about nothing, which I guess could stand as a statement about men and their egos, but it merely feels misplaced in its usage in this film. I felt some of the scenes at the end, with characters' lives spinning wildly out of control, was a bit exaggerated and unbelievable. A lot of the mannerisms, clothing, and interior designs really date the piece, although it's not severe enough to distract you too much. Anyway, highly recommended if you want a great foray into male-female interactions and the brutality that humans are capable of.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0119361/