Mixed Sentiment

Rating: 7/10 (2 August 1999)

For fans of a love story, The English Patient fits the bill. As a movie, it is masterfully crafted from all angles: the direction and cinematography are flawless, as are the performances of Fiennes, Thomas, Binoche and the rest of the cast. The relationship portrayed by Fiennes and Thomas is passionate and enthralling, and as a fan of Ralph Fiennes for some time, I must say that this is probably his most awe-inspiring showing yet.
What detracts from this film, unfortunately, is its lack of originality. The typical love story is thankfully elevated by the actors' performances, as well as a wonderfully inventive script. However, I feel that for such a long movie, more time should have been spent developing the main plot (namely, the trials and love of the young count) and less on subplots. Of particular note is the relationship between the nurse and Kip, which I found only confused the meaning of the original storyline.
Overall, I would say a well-performed and orchestrated love story, although I am glad that I did not spend $7.50 on it.