A Pleasantly Surprising Sleeper of a Film

Rating: Null/10 (21 June 2001)

I had not heard of the movie before it came to the 2nd Run - $1.50 theatre. It was the only movie my wife and I had not seen on :Free Popcorn night" so we said what the heck (We are risk averse when plopping down $1.50) We were both duely impressed with the captivating story. I found myself riveted to the screen as the characters developed and the story within the story unfolded. I especially liked the realistic slant on the Boy-Girl-Boy's Best Friend triangle. (Not the Hollywood Love triangle that is so overplayed, as in Pearl Harbor) Jude Law was excellent, Rachel Weisz is energizing and stunningly beautiful. Her eyes, in the Love Scene with Law (which was very tastefully filmed, by the way)were absolutely entrancing. I found myself breathing very deeply, and clutching my wife's hand through the entire scene. The supporting cast added the perfect balance of good-acting/believability to the story. Bob Hoskins was a little dynamo as Nikita Kruschev, Joseph Fiennes was the epitome of a "Spin Doctor"- Political Officer, and ED Harris was Ed Harris - calm, cool, calculating. I was really impressed with this film - so much so that this is my first ever IMDB commentary. et:)