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Movies / On DVD / Possession
Possession

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Possession (2002)

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Reviews Counted:154

Fresh:99

Rotten:55

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Based on Byatt's novel of the same name, Possession is a lovely, literate romance.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Set in both contemporary and Victorian England, POSSESSION, directed by Neil LaBute, is based on the novel by A.S. Byatt. The tale begins with Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart), a laid-back American... Set in both contemporary and Victorian England, POSSESSION, directed by Neil LaBute, is based on the novel by A.S. Byatt. The tale begins with Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart), a laid-back American studying the renowned Victorian poet Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam) on a fellowship. When Roland discovers what may be a love letter from Ash, a supposedly devoted husband, to the reclusive poet Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle), he recognizes that he's on to a big literary discovery. Enlisting the help of skeptical British academic Maud Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow), Roland embarks on journey to discover more about the link between the two revered poets. As Roland and Maud track Ash and LaMotte's elusive romance across the British countryside, the two scholars begin a relationship of their own. Although this film presents a kinder, gentler LaBute--who is known for emotionally caustic movies such as IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS--POSSESSION still focuses on the relationships between men and women with skillful attention. Paltrow reprises her convincing British accent from films such as SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and SLIDING DOORS, while Northam and Ehle lend gravity to their Victorian characters. However, it's Eckhart, a longtime LaBute collaborator, who proves to be the film's heart and soul; his relaxed yet complex personality grounds both the movie and its two intertwined stories. As the two tales progress, the relationships between the characters wax and wane, leading to an ending with a surprising twist. [More]

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle, Tom Hollander, Toby Stephens, Lena Headey

Director: Neil LaBute, Barry Levinson

Director: Neil LaBute
Screenwriter: Laura Jones, Neil LaBute, David Henry Hwang
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: David Barron, Len Amato
Studio: USA Films

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Reviews for Possession

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41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A poignant love story of two couples interwoven between the present and 1859 England.

Full Review Source: Houston Community Newspapers | comment Comment
09/09/02
Gary Brown
Gary Brown
Houston Community Newspapers

What could have been In the Company of Researchers ends up being a nastily fun romance.

Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
09/09/02
Jimmy O
Jimmy O
Film Snobs

If the idea sounds drier than James Bond's martini that's because you haven't seen Possession.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
09/05/02
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

There’s no denying the film’s intelligence and heady appeal.

Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies | comment Comment
09/04/02
Mark Dujsik
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies

LaBute effortlessly glides back and forth between the period part of the story and the modern day part, connecting them instead of making them seem distant.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
09/04/02
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

This film is boring. Boring, boring, boring.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Mercury | comment Comment
09/04/02
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Las Vegas Mercury

If you’ve read Ernest Hemingway’s neighbor’s memoir—about the day he helped Papa clean out his boat—this is the love story for you.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
09/03/02
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

Over time the past becomes more interesting, the present more disjointed.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
09/03/02
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

The performances are strong, though the subject matter demands acting that borders on hammy at times.

Full Review Source: Sun Newspapers of Cleveland | comment Comment
09/02/02
Gerry Shamray
Gerry Shamray
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
09/02/02
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

This is a Neil LaBute film, and sexual fun as the average Joe might perceive it is not high on his list of priorities.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
09/01/02
D.K. Holm
D.K. Holm
DVDTalk.com

If you let Possession grow on you, it's a winsome yet flawed endeavor...even the talented and courageous camera lens of LaBute couldn't hold a candle to Byatt's prize-winning creative pages.

Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
09/01/02
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye

Since the film let go of the author's poetry and built no suspense for its mystery, all that's left are a few odd romantic moments alone with the Victorians...

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/31/02
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
08/31/02
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

These two characters ought to be swallowing each others retainers, or having their moments of passion interrupted by an untimely asthma attack.

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
08/31/02
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

The journey to the secret's eventual discovery is a separate adventure, and thrill enough.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
08/30/02
Jack Zink
Jack Zink
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A film that could pass as either an After School Special for adults or a Love Story for the new millennium -- or a closeted comedy.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
08/30/02
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

Both thought-provoking and heart-stirring, a pleasurable combination for filmgoers.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
08/30/02
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

For a movie about the power of poetry and passion, there is precious little of either.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
08/30/02
Gemma Tarlach
Gemma Tarlach
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

While the film probably won't leave you swooning, it is at least an earnest love letter to its transcendent source.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
08/30/02
Connie Ogle
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Latest News for Possession

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