Aug. 30, 2002 - 10:00 pm

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Possession (2002)

ok, after months of waiting for this film to come out, it finally opened at one of the local Regal movie theaters. since i knew i would be spending the evening alone, as all of my closest friends had other plans, i decided i would go see this one by myself. i can't believe i actually thought to check out the movie schedule while i was still at work. if i hadn't i wouldn't have actually known it premiered here this evening. so anyway i finally saw the movie. i'm sure you remember me talking about this one.

it's the newest Neil LaBute film. much much better than Nurse Betty (2000). and i was expecting it to be anyway. this one seemed more focused and less on the badly-conceived side. it turned out to be quite good and i'm very glad i went to see it.

it deals with two literary detectives who are played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. each one has done tons of research on a particular poet. Eckhart (Roland) on a male poet from the Victorian era named Ash (played by Jeremy Northam), and Gwyneth Paltrow (Maude) on one of his female contemporaries named Christable LaMotte (played by Jennifer Ehle). one day Roland stumbles upon a letter which he thinks to be written from Ash to this LaMotte. he gets in touch with Maude and their search for a connection between the dead poets begins. as they begin to find more and more correspondence it reveals that the poets were indeed romantically involved. Maude and Roland begin to feel the same way about each other and as they discover the ups and downs of the poets' relationship, they ride the wave themselves.

it's really an interesting idea for a story. the two love affairs are so different, but really so similar. one is very beautiful and strong because it occurs in a more stylish era. the modern day one still somehow finds strength on the screen though. you don't end up feeling like one of the couples had a more passionate relationship than the other really. it feels like you need one to have the other. and that's really how you should feel i think after seeing a story like this being put together.

it looks like Neil LaBute's writing is starting to get much better. of course he had 3 other people involved on this one, so i might be speaking too soon. the acting was excellent. i'm sorry, but Aaron Eckhart is just a goofy guy. i think it somehow worked because Gwyneth Paltrow was onscreen with him. she can lend credibility to any actor you put her with. it's amazing really.

man, i hope they stop doing this "limited release" crap on indie films so that i don't have to keep waiting and waiting like i did for this one.