This movie was very interesting, highly intelligent and suspense filled. Had a very good cast, Sean Penn, Catherine McCormack, Sarah Polley, Josh Lucas (guy who played the x-hub in Sweet Home Alabama) and Elizabeth Hurley. Based on the novel of the same name by the outstanding author of The Pilot's Wife, Anita Shreve. Very cool story and 2 or 3 outstanding acting jobs raise/save this movie from being a dull 8 2 a very positive 9, could have been a 9 and 1/2 or 10 if Hurley concentrated on acting a little more than showing off gorgeous bod. A must see! (Video )
McCormick plays a photographer who is in the process of doing a historical photo eassy on a horrible double-murder that took place on the islands off Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the late 1800s. Penn plays her husband, a famous poet named Thomas. They enlist Penn's brother, Lucas, 2 sail them out 2 the island, combining work w/pleasure. Jean (McCormick) does a little 2 much research and begins 2 question the quilt of the man who was hung. So now we have a 2 part film that alternates from now 2 1875, or so, and back again. On one hand u have the events leading up 2 the murders and on the other u have kinda a dinner party/conversation drama where all 3, as well as Hurley who plays Lucas' girlfriend along 4 the ride, play off each other personalities and help 2 analyse the events.
Sarah Polley does an outstanding job as the 1800s Fisherman's wife, and prob deserves an Oscar nod as Best Supporting Actress. McCormick (Moira in Braveheart and from Dangerous Beauty) and Lucas (He is a very good up and coming actor) do great work and the music and cinematography r beautiful.
If there r any drawbacks 2 this movie it is probably mainly due 2 Hurley being miscast. Her acting wasn't necessarily bad, she somehow didn't fit and didn't convince in her role which was probably the most important "present day" role in the movie. I could c Nichole Kidman or Julianne Moore, and prob a # of other good modern actresses solidifying the role and raising the movie from a 9 2 a 10 rating. And I've never said this b4 (cauz I love Penn) but Penn could have shown a little bit more emotion. I can't believe I just said that, but the director, Kathry Bigelow, tended 2 focus on the female character a bit more and prob thought Penn could carry his own weight.
Again if another actress played Adaline and Bigelow gave Penn a kick in the pants from time 2 time it would have been, almost, flawless...
And now Danlo looked in that direction, too. He remembered that snowy owls mate in the darkest part of deep winter, and so along with this beautiful white bird perched in a tree a hundred feet away, he turned to face the sea as he watched and waited.
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