Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

d-nicol6444 Wish Kitchen had not had the mustache. Wish Sarah Miles wasn't in it. I agree with the previous comment that she is over-rated and has no appeal at all. Even her voice, perhaps mostly her voice, is so unattractive that when she's speaking I turn off the sound. She is the fly in the ointment of any film she has been in, including Poirot. Otherwise this is a well-paced and beautifully photographed film. The settings are historically accurate and well thought out and researched. I enjoyed seeing the dignified offices, were they really so beautiful? Was this very English film successful in the USA? American films tend to move much faster, with warnings of 'flashing images'. No problem with that in this film, it maintains a steady slow pace which renders it plausible and life-like. David Thewliss is a wonderful contrast to Kitchen. His hangdog expressions provide a light touch, a technique Shakespeare uses to great effect. A superb film which I thoroughly enjoyed.

fudge_factory I really enjoyed the film, I felt that each character was well portrayed and (for want of a better word) fairly portrayed. I often find that in this kind of film it is all to easy to lay blame at a single character, in this case the Major. Instead the case is shown evenly and without bias, the audience can see "whodunit" but are also left to conclude for them selves who the real culprit was, this prompted a very long discussion in our house!The major is shown a good man with a dreadful wife, who after 20 (I think) years of marriage he'd had enough of being bullied, controlled and embarrassed in front of his peers and clients. Who, whether he did kill his wife or not, was arguably justified in his act. However he was also well shown to lose the plot a little between the first and second parts of the film. His decision to kill Martin was far more calculated and inexcusable.Martin ( by David Thewlis) was well acted - shown as a nervous and insecure young man who only gains any confidence after his marriage, and is most secure at work. This makes him a direct threat to Armstrong's business, and in line as the next victim.I really enjoyed the film - and would whole heartedly recommend the film to everyone - be aware though it's very moreish, and the 2 halves together make 3 1/2 hours of telle - we all got cramp from sitting down for the whole lot - but perhaps your more patient than us!

danlloydE I notice that the two comments with an American address have found difficulty appreciating the "Englishness" of the portrayals and general directorial approach. One complains of the missed opportunity to delve into the psychological thriller possibilities of the plot. Surely the point is that it is not meant to be a thriller at all and that this is all the better for it. As for Sarah Miles' acting, few play neurotic and repressed better than her. This is mainly why the death so strongly elicits sympathy in the watcher however morally unacceptable. I felt the production was perfectly pitched, the acting uniformly on target and Michael Kitchen, outstanding, doing what he does best, stiff upper lip, repressed emotion, English social manners etc.

Hans C. Frederick This story,if it is really based on truth,suggests one of the greatest miscarriages of justice imaginable.But,not,you might think,for the same reasons most people would imagine.I happen to have my own points of view.Consequently,in my opinion,Sarah Miles is one of the biggest catastrophes to every appear on screen.She can't act,looks like a horror,and has no sex appeal at all.I can't understand what anybody sees in her.And hanging a man who poisoned her is a true crime.He should have been declared a hero,been awarded a medal,had stamps struck in his honor,and had a holiday declared for his gallant action.