Truly Dreadful Film

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Best movie ever!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Debra Winger is such a good actress. She brings vitality and edginess to her characters. So it was surprising to see her attempt to rein it in here for the sake of this plodding, stiff-upper-lip tale of love gained and lost. The film moves at a snail's pace with no inventive directorial flourishes to make it interesting, relying instead on sanctimonious dialogue and somber performances. It gets old long before the aching two-and-a-half hours have passed. Though Anthony Hopkins gives it his usual earnest effort, the whole thing fails to ring true, particularly in wasted scenes like his feeble call for room service. Not especially entertaining or enlightening.

"Shadowlands" is possibly the most emotionally resonant, evocative film made in the 1990s, and it is amazing that this motion picture has not been available on region 1 DVD for many years.Anthony Hopkins plays the Oxford don well, though his Welsh-accented English would have been more accurate had it an Irish tinge instead. Debra Winger is an appealing choice for Joy Gresham, but her Brooklyn accent comes and goes, sometimes within a single scene. She could have used a language coach.Though much attention is paid to period detail (1952), it is jarring to see some post-Beatles moptops on several of Lewis' Oxford colleagues (Christopher Riley, marvellously played by John Wood, for one) and their scenes spoil the illusion somewhat.The film ends with a crisis of faith for C. S. Lewis after the death of his beloved Joy, which doubtless resonated with many viewers who have no particular convictions, but in truth Lewis' faith in Jesus Christ was renewed yet again.Lord Richard Attenborough did a fine job of direction, as did George Fenton with the film's score, and William Nicholson who adapted his own stage play. The resulting movie, whether intentional or not, shares some of the same ambiance as "Love Letters" and "Brief Encounter" (both filmed in 1945).

Immensely moving, with a stunning, complex performance by Anthony Hopkins, and a very good one by Debra Winger as his slow developing love. Yes, it's corny in a few moments, obvious in a few others, but overall this is a highly intelligent, thoughtful, subtle look at damaged adults reaching for love and dealing with loss. By far my favorite of Attenborough's films. A 'tearjerker', but elevated way beyond that by the writing, direction and acting, into a profound examination of the way we need love to lift us up, while that very thing makes us so vulnerable.Ironically, while this may be the strongest of Attenborough's films, with a stellar cast, great reviews, a fascinating main character (The novelist C.S. Lewis), and powerful universal emotions, it has long been unavailable on DVD. It seems almost a forgotten film, which is everyone's loss.

A very solid biopic about writer C.S. Lewis and his relationship with a spunky American.This is one of two great performances Anthony Hopkins gave in 1993, the other being "The Remains of the Day." Debra Winger had a bit of a career comeback playing said spunky American, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for this role. Does Winger have a clause in her contract that says whenever she plays a character who dies slowly of cancer she MUST be nominated for an Oscar? Richard Attenborough directed this in a very British way, so it's a bit too slow and tasteful. But it's well written and acted and should satisfy those who are drawn to movies with a literary bent.Grade: B+