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Rating:  - Brilliant book dumbed down for film
The book, Possession by A.S. Byatt, was one of the best novels I have read in years. Unfortunately, all of the themes that make it a wonderful novel - feminism, the expectations of society, British reserve, a woman's struggle between love and work, and much more - do not translate well to a movie, and of course don't appeal at all to the modern American moviegoer. The story lines were "dumbed down" to fit the just-under-2-hours pace of a movie, ignoring all of the subtleties that made these characters believable in print.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart have no chemistry between them, and that only underscored the fact that their "struggle" to stay away from each other was poorly written in the film. Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle do sizzle, and made up the only watchable parts of this movie.
If you loved the book, keep it in your head and ignore the film version. If you want a light romance, stick with "Sleepless in seattle" and the like.
Rating:  - A Fascinating Film
This is a mature, intelligent film (based upon the fictional novel (by the same title) by A.S. Byatt) starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle. Aaron Eckhart plays Roland Mitchell, an American graduate student working at a museum in London who stumbles upon a previously unaccounted for original letter, written by the (fictional) Victorian poet laureate, Randolph Ash (played by Jeremy Northam). The particular letter is of a rather racy nature and turns out to be directed to another poet of the day, Christabel LaMotte (played by Jennifer Ehle, who is the aunt, thrice-removed of (present-day) gender studies professor, Dr. Maud Bailey-played by Gwyneth Paltrow). In an effort to verify the connection that seemingly existed between the two 19th Century poets, Roland consults Maud, who is an authority on LaMotte's writings and personal life. As a result, the two find themselves caught up in an independent investigation into the relationship between the two poets and unearth the startling discovery that Ash and LaMotte were actually lovers.
The reluctant romance that ensues between Roland and Maud as they doggedly pursue their investigation is contrasted interestingly by the flashback moments in the film of the similarly love-shy, Victorians. Northam and Ehle, two veteran period actors, shine in their respective roles and the strong chemistry shared between the two is electric. The set designs and sumptuous costuming (particularly true of the Victorian shots in the movie) are lovely and help transport the viewer between the present-day parts of the movie and those which occur during the middle of the 19th Century.
"Possession" is a fascinating, suspenseful story about romance and inhibitions. While Roland and Maud tenaciously pursue their investigative work, the viewer also becomes acquainted with the political and highly competitive nature of scholarly study in the world of academia. As is normally the case in regard to matters associated with intellectual property, big money rides on the results; Roland's and Maud's joint research draws the attention of less-than-scrupulous colleagues, who launch their own investigation in an effort to also re-write literary history.
"Possession" will appeal to anyone who enjoys a love story or detective story, since both elements are combined beautifully in this film. The acting is top-notch and the story is believable and cleverly presented.
Rating: - From Booker Prize to Motion Picture
Possession was the 1990 Booker Prize that came to screen in 2002's film with Academy Award winner Paltrow. This is a romance that weaves through time the love between a married poet named Ash and a lesbian spinster minor poet Lamott. A chance discovery of letters in the London library send teaching assistant Robert Mitchell through the English countryside in search of proof that there was a connection between the two poets. Joining him is academic feminist Maude Bailey whose a descendant of Lamott who doesn't believe Mitchell at first. The passion is obvious in the flashbacks of Ash and Lamott similar to The French Lt's Woman starring Meryl Streep but there isn't the same level of connection with Maude and Robert. The wild goose chase culminates in some fascinating personal and literary history but it would have been more richer had a similar romantic dilemna fallen upon the modern day scholars.
Rating: - More Dangers from Being Around Poets
This movie is an emotional "roller coaster" ride dealing with what can happen to you from getting into research and especially into poetry.
The final scene in the movie, however, is worth the price by itself.
A warning: poetry is very dangerous stuff; be careful!
Rating: - Toby Stephens Fans - save your money
Toby Stephens barely appears in this film. He's supposed to be a villian but you see so little of him he hardly registers.
The film itself is well-plotted, well-shot, well-acted but very poorly written. It's about poets (a take-off on the Brownings' story), but none of the characters says anything remotely poetical or memorable. You would have to care about the characters to swallow the fantastical story, and unfortunately the characters are such stereotypes that it just doesn't hold together. If you're hungry for romance read the Brownings' letters -- pure sugar cane as opposed to this way over-processed stuff.
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