The only thing more dangerous than war... is love.
Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both. The passion and pathos of legendary poet Dylan Thomas is told through the lives of two extraordinary women. Vera Phillips and Dylan were teenage loves; fast forward ten years and the two reconnect in London. She's working as a singer whilst he's churning out scripts for government propaganda films and living off the last in a long line of infatuated women. The two former lovers feel the thunderbolt once more, but Thomas is now married to the adventurous Caitlin. Despite their love-rival status, the women form a surprising friendship. Caitlin indulges in her own infidelities, and recognises a similar adventurous spirit in her husband. But she knows his connection with Vera is something different, not to mention dangerous. Romantic turmoil continues in Vera's life. She marries her devoted admirer William Killick, but she can't deny the chemistry between herself and Dylan, nor does she want to - even if this means betraying Caitlin. When William is posted abroad, and a pregnant Vera returns to Wales with her married friends, the battle between her heart and head becomes more intense. William returns a changed man, but neither is Vera the carefree cabaret girl he married. Neighbourhood gossip fuels her husband's jealousy towards his rival. Enraged, William stages a violent attack on Dylan - an attack that forces Vera to choose between the men in her life and the friend that she loves. Desire and guilt are complicated by love and friendship in this real-life tale set in beautiful London and the majestic Welsh countryside.
Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Romance, War
Runtime: 110 minutes
Rating: 6.4/10 (3,383 votes)
Release Date: 15 May 2008
Country: UK
Languages: English
Company: BBC Films
Sound: Dolby Digital
MPAA: Rated R for some sexuality, language and disturbing war images.
Director(s): John Maybury
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Producer(s):
David Bergstein - executive producer
Paul Brett - executive producer
Rebekah Gilbertson - producer
Bill Godfrey - co-producer
Nick Hill - executive producer
Linda James - executive producer
Huw Penalt Jones - co-producer
Hannah Leader - executive producer
Joe Oppenheimer - executive producer
Sarah Radclyffe - producer
Tim Smith - executive producer
Lesley Stewart - line producer
David M. Thompson - executive producer
Anna Webster - associate producer
Writer(s):
Sharman Macdonald - (written by)
Cast:
Simon Armstrong - Wilfred Hosgood
Ben Batt - Sergeant
Geoffrey Beevers - Registrar
Rachel Bell - Midwife
Paul Brooke - Mr. Justice Singleton
Huw Ceredig - John Patrick
Richard Clifford - Alistair Graham
Richard Dillane - Lt Col David Talbot Rice
Joel Dommett - Train Soldier
Rachel Essex - Mel
Music: Angelo Badalamenti
David Bergstein - executive producer
Paul Brett - executive producer
Rebekah Gilbertson - producer
Bill Godfrey - co-producer
Nick Hill - executive producer
Linda James - executive producer
Huw Penalt Jones - co-producer
Hannah Leader - executive producer
Joe Oppenheimer - executive producer
Sarah Radclyffe - producer
Tim Smith - executive producer
Lesley Stewart - line producer
David M. Thompson - executive producer
Anna Webster - associate producer
Writer(s):
Sharman Macdonald - (written by)
Cast:
Simon Armstrong - Wilfred Hosgood
Ben Batt - Sergeant
Geoffrey Beevers - Registrar
Rachel Bell - Midwife
Paul Brooke - Mr. Justice Singleton
Huw Ceredig - John Patrick
Richard Clifford - Alistair Graham
Richard Dillane - Lt Col David Talbot Rice
Joel Dommett - Train Soldier
Rachel Essex - Mel
Music: Angelo Badalamenti
Posted on: March 3, 2009
November 11th, 2008
With its ww2 timing, falling in and out of love, and easy on the eyeKira, this is re-Atonement.
This a relationship story with focused main characters working out thethe balance between first and fast love in the home front of WW2. PoetDylan Thomas philanders his way between wife and ex in dark and smokyBlitz London and later in windy wales.
Vera's ex and next spark off each other as the poet and soldier becomea sideline while the girls bond and share. An easy watch that workswell in the era bouncing along with just a few dips in pace. Would workwell with French subtitles but then I may have been to too many arthouse movies lately.
November 16th, 2008
From the start of "The Edge Of Love", the viewer is transported to thestriking world of WW2 London. We follow the lives of four people whomight have been created just for this movie, an exploration of femalefriendship and the strains caused on it by marriage and infidelity.Except one of the characters is named Dylan Thomas, perhaps thegreatest English poet of the 20th century. And his reactions to theworld around him were not only selfish, but at times truly despicable.
This movie is based on Thomas' writings about love and romance. Thesewere adapted with a sharp screenplay by Sharman MacDonald (KeiraKnightley's mother). The director, John Maybury, does claim that thethree other lead characters were actual people.
All four are performed very strongly. Sienna Miller is Dylan's wife,Keira Knightley is the cabaret singer Vera Phillips. Matthew Rhys isDylan Thomas, and Cillian Murphy is William Killick. The first sectionof the movie takes place in London during the Nazi air raids, with Verabeing pursued by Willaim, a soldier waiting for deployment. By a chanceencounter, Dylan meets with his first love, Vera. From there Vera meetsCaitlin, Dylan's wife. While the three are drinking, Williamsuccessfully breaks Vera's guard.
The film follows their lives as Vera and William are married and he issent to war. Vera has become pregnant, and returns to Wales with Dylanand Caitlin. There they face a gritty existence, with Vera supportingDylan and Caitlin with her husband's war pay. Through these times,Vera's and Caitlin's friendship grows. So does Dylan's infatuation withVera. She gives in. This creates the first test for the two women.
When William returns from war, he barely recognizes his wife, and hasno bond with his infant son. Things get worse, as Dylan idly watcheshis friend struggle with battleground fatigue (post traumatic stressdisorder). William realizes something has happened between Dylan andVera, and in a drunken rage shoots up Dylan's house.
"Edge Of Love" starts as a stylish romance in war torn London and endsin the stark, gritty life of motherhood, infidelity, and attemptedmurder in Wales. The treatment of PTSD is well done, and should speakto an American audience. Some day (see ending).
Each star has a great moment. Miller when she is yanking out stitchesin her head in response to her abortion of another man's child.Knightley and Murpy when he finally bonds with his son. Oh hell, almostall their scenes are awesome. And Rhys when he purgers himself on thestand to get Vera's husband sent to jail.
Yet, the real star of the movie is Jonathan Freeman's cinematographyand John Maybury's direction. They seem to understand that no matterhow good the story or how historical Thomas is, this is a filmdominated by two great actresses of our time. And they cherish theirscenes with stunning shots. While this isn't best picture material, itis a very good movie (much more engaging than "The Dutchess"). It has avisual lyricism that accentuates the use of Thomas' poetry. Also, thisis clearly Knightley's second best performance of her career, andperhaps Miller's best.
I have always had a weakness for the Artist in struggle, whether it'sHulce's Mozart, or Hoffman's Capote. But I was stunned at how littlesympathy I felt for Dylan Thomas. His struggles with alcohol are wellknown. But his antagonism of William and Caitlin to gain possession ofhis first love Vera makes him out to be…..a bad man.
So is this Academy Award Worthy? Clearly no. At least, not this year.It will be released state side in March, 2009, making it ineligible forthe Academies. This is 9 months after it was released in Britain.Between Atonement, Miss Pettigrew, and Brideshead Revisited, the US hashad its fill of WW2 British period pieces. Too bad. This film is betterthen the other ones, except Atonement. But in this one, Knightley'ssoldier does come back, but as a shell of the man who left her.
November 29th, 2008
It was an OK movie and overall movie experience even though most of thestory that dealt with relationship between Vera, Caitlyn, and Dylan wasmade up when it came to romantic feelings and the affair.
In fact there isn't a shred of evidence (or even rumors) to supportthose claims at all.
Even so the performances from Knightly, Murphy, and Miller were allexcellent.
Ironically though when watching the movie Murphy's "Killick" soundedmore like a poet when he spoke compared to Rhy's "Thomas".
Again this movie is an OK movie experience and I would recommend it toanyone who has nothing else to do and a few hours to waste.
November 29th, 2008
Oh,God,great movie,great performances especially Sienna Miller.I amtruly impress.It was so brilliant and so touching,so emotional and sogenius.Seriously,it deserves a nomination to the Oscars and an award atBafta.And i'm saying this because for a long time movies did notimpress me that much(except my favorite movies).I was truly impressedby the acting and by the script.I could not stop watching,I wanted moreand more.God,here comes a movie that can touch people's hearts,a moviethat will always be true,and not invented.It is a drama combined withcomic parts and excellent lines.This is a movie that you can seetwice,because is extremely brilliant.See it !For God sakes,SEE THISMOVIE !
November 30th, 2008
Can't grade this very well, because I can't say I liked it. But it isthe story that bothered me, not the realization of the film. Theacting, directing, atmosphere, music were all good. It's just thatafter you see a bunch of people doing things you can't truly relate to,the movie ends. It is educational in the way that it shows the horrorsof war as seen from home and the way feelings don't need to make anysense at all and still be strong, but that's about it.
The plot covers a period of a few years in which the poet Dylan Thomasis taken under the roof of a former ex-girlfriend. He is married,brings his wife and later the kid, while the ex (Knightley) marriessome other guy. But the tension is there, Dylan is a self obsessed jerkand the new husband comes back home from the war with a slight case ofPTSD. Add in some pretty temperamental characters and you have yourhands full.
Bottom line: you have to be "in the mood" to like this film. The hardpart is defining this mood. I don't think I've ever been in it yet.Ever. So it is probably better watched by adults with a grasp on weirdcomplex human behaviour and maybe a curiosity about Dylan Thomas.
February 19th, 2009
Naturally, before watching this film, ones expectations are high. Thetale of Dylan Thomas and his lovers promises to be exhilarating. Thestars used in the production hold high promise. However the result isdifferent. There is just something not quite right about this film.
Whilst it manages to capture the viewer with moments of cinematicbeauty, The Edge of Love fails to entice. In some scenes thecinematography is perfect. The set design and costume cannot befaulted. The glamour and horror of the era are portrayed perfectly. Butthe story itself does not piece together. The sudden friendship of thetwo women seems too soon and lacking in explanation. The charactershave little depth and I felt no real sympathy for any of them. Italmost seems as if several crucial scenes were omitted.
The film itself is fairly disappointing, but perhaps worth watching forthe moments when everything comes together because when this happensthe film is stunning.