the fresh films reviews

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The English Patient (1996)

Director:
Anthony Minghella

COUNTRY
UK

Genre
Drama/War/Romance

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Den engelske pasienten

RUNNING TIME
162 minutes

Producer:
Saul Zaents
Screenwriter:
Anthony Minghella
Based on the book by:
Michael Ondaatje


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Count László Almásy Ralph Fiennes
Hana Juliette Binoche
Caravaggio Willem Dafoe
Katharine Clifton Kristin Scott-Thomas ½
Kip Naveen Andrews -
Geoffrey Clifton Colin Firth -
Madox Julian Wadham -
Major Muller Jürgen Prochnow -
Sergeant Hardy Kevin Whately -

 

Review

Beautiful photography and brilliant performances keep this borderline pompous film from Anthony Minghella afloat for quite some time, but not for the entirety of the film's overlong 162 minutes. This is a narratively ambitious film in which Minghella moves back and forth in time in order to convey his romantic tragedy. Whether or not he succeeds depends largely on whether you want it to succeed; the film requires you to make some concessions. The story is grand, but at the same time a little flat. Fine work from Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Willem Dafoe is overshadowed by Kristin Scott-Thomas, who steals this show with her natural charisma in front of the camera.

Copyright © 25.9.1997 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
(English version: © 18.03.2021 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang)