A beautiful, heartbreaking piece of cinema

Rating: 10/10 (22 June 2010)

The English Patient is one of the most beautiful and tragic romances ever put on film. A truly haunting and mesmerizing experience that will stay with you long after it's over.
First of all, the cinematography is gorgeously breathtaking. The desert hasn't looked so enchanting since 'Lawrence of Arabia.' Also, the costumes, sets and locations are all superb. If anything, it's a fantastic film to look at. The score is also amazing and never fails to move me to tears at certain moments (especially the climactic sequence). The script is brilliant as well. The film balances the multiple story lines and time periods perfectly, and never becomes confusing or crowded.
In addition to the visual/technical aspects, the acting is nearly perfect. Every actor gives a subtle performance filled with depth and history. The viewer can really feel their emotions, whether it be passionate lust or painful anguish. I couldn't really choose a favorite character as I ended up engrossed in all their lives equally enthralled.
It's a sweeping epic in the vein of old Hollywood (similar to Titanic's style), but "The English Patient" is much more mature and heartbreaking, in my opinion, with a certain kind of cinematic poetry that we don't see enough of. It's the kind of film where you feel like you're reading someone else's journal or diary, except, of course, on a much grander scale. I'd highly recommend reading the novel by Michael Ondaatje, as well. In fact, it's more comparable to reading a classic romance novel, with all their history and vivid descriptions. I once read someone call this film "a reader's movie," and I agree. It's pacing is slow, but rewarding, and you find yourself so wrapped up in it by the end that you can't look away.