A love story that doesn't make any sense!

Rating: Null/10 (20 August 1999)

Although the movie is well made, I'm not particularly fond of it. When Juliette Binoche and Colin Firth are around we assist to the best scenes of the film, as they are both absolutely excellent, and truly Juliette Binoche holds the movie on her shoulders. I guess Ralph Fiennes is good too in a certain way, but I find he lacks subtlety and is often cold ( he doesn't have the delicacy of Colin Firth); he really is at his best when he has a lot of make-up and he cannot rely on his looks.
The photography is beautiful and I guess in a general way it deserved its Oscars (mostly because the other movies in contention where not very good either). But one of the major problem is the love story - which unfortunately is the plot line - between the count and Mrs Clifton. It may appeal to some, but to me it's completely histrionic that she willfully leaves Colin Firth for Ralph Fiennes'character! Maybe I should read the novel to see how Goeffrey is described, but the way Colin Firth plays it, Mrs Clifton is a fool to walk on him. Could it be possible that Colin Firth was miscast because he was too charming for the part? Surely, in the script, Goeffrey's character is not enough developped, but to me there is no real valuable reason why she needs to cheat on him, because she is not in love with the count, what ever happens between them is torrid sex! It's mostly a physical fling which is not justified to me. Personnaly I would prefer a husband who could sing with humor in front of a bunch of people than the guy who wonders all movie long how to call the little hole in the woman's neck!
I give it 6/10 because there are way too many scenes between the count and Mrs Clifton that don't make any sense to me and because the story in itself has not touched me enough. If you fall for Ralph Fiennes' blue eyes, you will probably adore this movie. Maybe I wasn't objective because I watched it to see Colin Firth, be the judge!