Separate Lies

Name: Separate Lies
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Romance
Released: September 16, 2005
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 71

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

See All

6.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Separate Lies

Now Playing: Separate Lies

Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 16, 2005 | TV-MA

Summary: A compelling, humor-tinged romantic mystery that is not so much a "who done it" as an exploration of the riddle of why people make the fatal errors they do - in life, in marriage and when their decisions count the very most. (Fox Searchlight)

Director: Julian Fellowes

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Romance

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 85 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Wilkinson once again astonishes with his ability to convey weakness and strength, hypocrisy and gallantry, cruelty and compassion in the same male animal. Read full review

Peter Travers

Watson and Everett, both superb, bring ferocity and feeling to their roles. But the one you won't forget is Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) in a towering performance of grace and grit that deserves to put him on Oscar's shortlist. Good show. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Three impeccably cast actors are fully engaged in something like a psychological thriller that has much of the crushing weight and lingering pain of grown-up life on this Earth. Read full review

Connie Ogle

If you need proof that the British are different from the rest of us, look no farther than the thought-provoking Separate Lies, a chilly, intelligent and absorbing drama about infidelity, ethics and forgiveness. Read full review

Steven Rea

So gin-and-tonic dry, so deceptive in its deadpan-ness, that it's not always clear that Julian Fellowes is having fun. But he is. Read full review

Rick Groen

Separate Lies is deceptive in more ways than it intends. Because the acting is so uniformly superb, we're almost fooled into believing that the movie is as good as the cast. It isn't, not by half. Read full review

Dallas Observer Staff (Not credited)

When all is said and done, you'll likely find you have nowhere to place your sympathy, no character worth rooting for. Read full review

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

StephaneM.

May 29, 2007

For someone who likes to see life as shades of grey, and apreciate seing extremely polite people with impossible choices, it is the most beautiful movie that I ever saw.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BerryJ.

Apr 16, 2006

Worth seeing for the classy English village and room settings alone, but throw in an interesting rupture in the lives of a small group of people and I think this is near cinematic perfection.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Pablo6120

Oct 17, 2016

Separate Lies (British – 2005)
It was 1:30 AM CDT and I could not sleep. So I did the worst possible thing, according to sleep experts and turned on the TV. After a brief search of on demand fare, I noticed the British film starring two actors whom I greatly admire: Tom Wilkinson and EmilySeparate Lies (British – 2005)
It was 1:30 AM CDT and I could not sleep. So I did the worst possible thing, according to sleep experts and turned on the TV. After a brief search of on demand fare, I noticed the British film starring two actors whom I greatly admire: Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson. My interest was also tweaked by the fact that this was Julian Fellowes directorial debut. He is a much lauded writer and actor, known best for Downton Abbey, Gosford Park and From Time to Time.
James and Anne Manning (Wilkinson & Watson) have recently moved into a country manor to get away from the city life, after living for years in a flat in London. A well-known and highly regarded barrister, David works long hours and arrives home after a train commute. Their marriage appears to suffer as Anne longs for a more social life, while James is curmudgeon and prefers isolation and rest from a stressful occupation.
The onset of an accident involving a cyclist, who was the Manning’s housekeeper’s husband, and a large, black SUV, invades the Manning’s lives. This deepens the plot-line of the film and an acquaintance, Tom Bule is implicated, well-played by Rupert Everett. There are some unexpected twists and turns, as the involvement of the Manning’s cleaner, Maggie (Linda Bassett) becomes an imposing factor.
A solid adult drama, Separate Lives requires attention to details. One is reminded of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot in the steady police work of Inspector Marshall (David Harewood).
For those of us who tire easily of super hero and CGI laden cartoon-like flicks, Separate Lives satisfies the inner soul.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

keithw.

Oct 4, 2005

Strong cast-great clothes-a Range Rover product placement and I loved it all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RhettW.

Dec 28, 2005

Very subtle stuff. It was not totally satisfying.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SHFB

Dec 5, 2005

I was hoping to like this film more than I did because I love Watson and Wilkinson. But I found it rather uninteresting and uninspired and contrived. The best thing about it is the way it captured the cold dreariness of the English seaside town during the off-season - that was truly I was hoping to like this film more than I did because I love Watson and Wilkinson. But I found it rather uninteresting and uninspired and contrived. The best thing about it is the way it captured the cold dreariness of the English seaside town during the off-season - that was truly brilliant! But the rest of the movie was rather pedestrian. Watson's character was particularly spineless and annoying (although I loved the chopping vegetables scene. That was perfect).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DawdlingPoet

Aug 4, 2022

This is a pretty average thriller about upper class people (the fact its co-written and directed by Julian Fellowes of 'Downtown Abbey' fame was a bit of a give away). I wasn't too bothered about the characters and didn't find the story too engaging, though I did think Emily Watson gave aThis is a pretty average thriller about upper class people (the fact its co-written and directed by Julian Fellowes of 'Downtown Abbey' fame was a bit of a give away). I wasn't too bothered about the characters and didn't find the story too engaging, though I did think Emily Watson gave a good performance. At first I thought I'd guessed the outcome and felt quite clever but I'm not sure it's as simple as I'd assumed. I didn't feel entirely bothered to follow all the sub plots. It comes across a bit like an extended drama show, only without much to compel me to want to find out what happens in the end really, so its not great and I certainly wouldn't actively recommend it, no.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS