Possession Movie Review 2002

English lit lite in this uninvolving romance from LaBute, based on the 1990 novel by A.S. Byatt. Brash and scruffy (doesn't the man own a razor?) American scholar Roland Michell (Eckhart) finds letters from 19th-century poet Randolph Henry Ash (Northam)--possibly to feminist poet Christabel LaMotte (Ehle). Michell hooks up with repressed Brit scholar Maud Bailey (bun-wearing Paltrow), an expert on Christabel, to investigate the connection. They discover the married Ash and LaMotte had a brief, passionate affair that changed their lives. The modern-day duo are too wary to get involved the same way--at least at first. Looks beautiful but is utterly predictable.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 102 minutes.
Originally from United States, British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Writers, Period Piece: 19th Century, Romantic Drama, London, Adultery, Suicide, Lesbians, Poetry, Director/Star Teams: LaBute & Eckhart

Screenplay

Neil LaBute, David Henry Hwang, Laura Jones

Cast

Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle, Lena Headey, Toby Stephens, Tom Hickey, Trevor Eve, Tom Hollander, Graham Crowden, Anna Massey, Holly Aird, Georgia Mackenzie

Cinematography

Jean-Yves Escoffier

Director

Neil LaBute

Music

Gabriel Yared

Other

David Crozier, Claire Simpson, Andrew Sanders, Paul Ghirardani, Jenny Beavan, Luciana Arrighi

Producer

Paula Weinstein, Barry Levinson, Baltimore Pictures, Spring Creek Productions, Warner Bros., Contagious Films, Focus Features