Paramount Classics | Release Date: October 29, 2004
7.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
47
Mixed:
3
Negative:
11
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9
Aerialist277Jun 19, 2021
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9
Pluto744Jun 21, 2021
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9
Shroud189Jun 26, 2021
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9
Stagger74Jul 14, 2021
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9
Vicinity578Aug 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie has many twists with stellar acting from the 2 leads, it is a different thriller that is worth checking. Everyone should see this thriller at least once, A-. Expand
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8
ChadS.Apr 29, 2006
It's not Toshiro Mifune-and-Akira Kurosawa-good, but the director of "Notting Hill" seems to know Rhys Ifans better than anyone else. Even when Jed(Ifans) is in full stalker mode, his expressive eyes should neutralize the revulsion of It's not Toshiro Mifune-and-Akira Kurosawa-good, but the director of "Notting Hill" seems to know Rhys Ifans better than anyone else. Even when Jed(Ifans) is in full stalker mode, his expressive eyes should neutralize the revulsion of even the most homophobic viewer. In real life, a straight man wouldn't want some hairy gay man serenading a "Pet Sounds" tune to him in a public arena, but in film, you can root for Joe(Daniel Craig) to relent, if only for the sake of a more interesting ending. Predictably, what you think happens, happens, but there is a sly indication that a "Cruising" moment could've been averted if Joe was more honest. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
MarkB.Nov 23, 2004
What was it that Roger Ebert once said about no good movie (except The Wizard of Oz, he later admitted) featuring a hot air balloon sequence? A bit of a generalization, to be sure: the original, non-Jackie Chan Around the World in 80 Days What was it that Roger Ebert once said about no good movie (except The Wizard of Oz, he later admitted) featuring a hot air balloon sequence? A bit of a generalization, to be sure: the original, non-Jackie Chan Around the World in 80 Days wasn't bad for what it was, but this unbelievably monotonous, pretentious, gussied-up stalker movie, in which director Roger Michell includes all the religio-philosophical twaddle (ana a thick slather of homoeroticism) that Adrian Lyne smartly left out of Fatal Attraction, begins with a hot air balloon accident...but as disastrously as everything turns out before and behind the camera, it might just as well have been a train wreck. Rhys Ifans (who was effectively repellent yet oddly endearing as Hugh Grant's flatmate in Michell's Notting Hill) plays a survivor/bystander of the tragedy who incessantly annoys another (Daniel Craig, whose response to this harassment is screaming the F-word so frequently that you'd think South Park's Terrance and Philip had a hand in his dialogue, only T&P would've used the word with imagination, variety and style). The results are offensive without ever being exciting or suspenseful; I'm no Michael Medved and absolutely never will be, but I'm getting really tired of filmmakers endlessly depicting Christians as psychotics. The normally talented Michell works as though he'd used up absolutely everything he ever knew about thriller filmmaking with the brilliant Changing Lanes, that terrific Samuel L. Jackson/Ben Affleck tale of escalating revenge in which he completely succeeded in blending action, characterization and message in ways that completely elude him here. In fact, his direction of Enduring Love's climactic confrontation sequence, and especially his final shot, would seemingly indicate that Michell has never even SEEN a suspense movie much less made one. There are only two possible reasons I can think of why anyone would want to seek out this junk: either to see what Samantha Morton (In America), playing Craig's significant other, looks like with her hair long, or to check out what a hot air balloon casualty looks like. Let me spare you the trouble: a.) Morton has a long career ahead of her, so you'll undoubtedly get plenty of other chances, and b.) like a busted accordion, only with intestines. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
CarolynW.Oct 19, 2005
This moving was surprisingly creepy and thought provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire plot, and am truly enamored by the twisted turn of events.
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5
elir.Dec 27, 2005
While it excels in capturing atmosphere, the passionate performances and courageous examination of subtletly is entirely undone by frustratingly illogical characters, half-baked plot development, and a tendency to stray towards While it excels in capturing atmosphere, the passionate performances and courageous examination of subtletly is entirely undone by frustratingly illogical characters, half-baked plot development, and a tendency to stray towards cinematographic gimmickry. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
DawdlingPoetNov 26, 2021
This is a drama/mystery film which features themes including obsession, emotional breakdown and harassment. It is quite a sad film, with a philosophical feel to it, or so I thought at first. Its one of those films which depicts a situationThis is a drama/mystery film which features themes including obsession, emotional breakdown and harassment. It is quite a sad film, with a philosophical feel to it, or so I thought at first. Its one of those films which depicts a situation which must be hard for anyone who happens to be passing by, to observe and take in - obviously its difficult to go in to many details about it for risk of giving spoilers. Suffice to say, I found myself wondering how I'd react if I'd been there, what could have been done differently to potentially lead to an alternative scenario and the like. Quite early on, it features camerawork depicting the main characters in bed from above (filmed from above i.e. down from the bedroom ceiling), with the camera going slowly around in circles, which is somewhat dizzying and claustrophobic. It also features stringed instruments and piano based instrumentals, sounding a little like someone on a tightrope - a tense, volatile situation, so it made me feel a bit edgy and unsure what may happen next. There is a definite unsettling feel to it, almost like with Hitchcock's thrillers...a bit of a slow burn type feel to it.

I thought the plot was intriguing - not particularly predictable. The film is based on a novel by Ian McEwan but it isn't one I've personally read, so I can't comment on how true an adaptation it is, comparing film to novel. In a sense im glad I hadn't read the book, as it meant I was even less aware of the main aspects of the plot.

Cast wise, the main character Joe is played by Daniel Craig (aka James Bond, for now anyway). There isn't a great deal of background information given to him, we only see him as a husband and teacher, although he does do well at portraying someone struggling to come to terms with a previous event. He is quite thoughtful/tight lipped and not keen on opening up about things. Meanwhile, Samantha Morton plays his wife, Claire, a loving and worried wife. Rhys Ifans plays Jed, a mysterious man who seems to know what went on and who Joe seemingly keeps bumping into - he does very well in his role as a person with an obsessive personality. Bill Nighy also appears, as Robin, who Claire uses to make a sculpture of (as is her line of work).

The tension between Joe and Claire is relatively palpable but I did feel frustrated that we weren't given a bit more background information on them - all we know is the event they got caught up in, at the very start of the film. It is definitely a mysterious film, both sounding and looking rather mysterious, in a spooky sort of sense. The plot pace is a bit slow but in the case of this particular story, I thought it was necessary to be a bit slowly paced, with it being a bit of a slow burner. The questions it raises is what kept me intrigued to keep watching, to see what happened next.

Content wise, the film contains frequent strong language and some instances of moderate violence. As I've already mentioned, it has quite a tense and unsettling feel to it for most of the film and so it could be perhaps slightly distressing to younger viewers, although it isn't so much a fast paced, horror style film but rather a slow burning characted based drama/thriller, so it may or may not frighten younger people. It has been given a 15 rating in the UK due to this.

I suppose you could argue that its a bit pretentious, with the main characters being seemingly comfortable middle class types, with decent, presumably high earning jobs and as there's little in the way of background info., you could wonder why we should care particularly about what happens to them, although I feel that the plot is one that would work relatively well regardless of the characters backgrounds. I didn't feel particularly nonchalant about Joe - if anything I felt sorry for him because of what happens but I suppose some people may feel a bit disinterested in the characters, due to a lack of background information as I say. I also felt the ending was a bit frustrating, as it didn't really answer all of the questions I had as a viewer and it seemed a bit of a cliffhanger to me, so I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.

Yes, I suppose I would recommend this film overall as it features a good use of music and camerawork, has an intriguing plot and some decent performances, particularly from Rhys Ifans. However, the lack of extra character info./detail and a not proper ending will likely put some people off. Its a decent enough watch but its by no means perfect, so its a cautious recommendation from me.
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9
Celestial91Sep 15, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An excellent work in a difficult genre - psychodramatic realism.

"Enduring Love" is an above average Brit flick all about Joe (Craig) who finds himself in wrestling with potential guilt over a hot air balloon accident. And, If that weren't enough, he finds that tragic incident also beset him with a peculiar sort of obsessive stalker which eats away at his peace of mind and infects his relationship with his girlfriend, Clair (Morton), until he finds himself slipping over the brink of destruction. A very well managed film with a good cast and production value and a plodding and plaintive story, this film builds slowly to a crescendo between two horrific incidents. "Enduring Love" should be an engrossing watch for realists into of psychodramas.
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