Artivels Undescribable Perfection

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Animenter There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

chrisart7 "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).

runamokprods 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.

TheLittleSongbird I will say that when I saw the rating of 7.4, someone will say that is a fairly decent rating. I personally think for this masterpiece, the rating should be higher, honestly the quality of the acting and cinematography makes it worthy to be in the top 250. I honestly did think that this film is just extraordinary, beautifully shot with wonderful locations, and matched perfectly by one of the most gorgeous music scores I have ever heard in my life, composed by George Fenton that never interfered with the calmness of the film. Richard Attenborough has directed many ambitious but beautifully made films like Oh!What a Lovely War, Cry Freedom and Chaplin, and I will say that Shadowlands deserves to be up there with his best, it is a heart-rending film of true love and the consequences that left me speechless(I am 17), that I don't think has had enough praise. The performances were just outstanding. Anthony Hopkins was phenomenal as CS Lewis, and I am glad he got some awards for his performance, honestly it was that good. Debra Winger is just perfection as Joy Gresham, a victim of the devastating illness bone cancer. The two leads' chemistry is the main reason why I love this movie, I confess I cried when Lewis held the dying Joy in his arms, the reason being it reminded me of Mimi's Death Scene in La Boheme. The child star, Joseph Mazello was a huge surprise as Douglas, a boy of wide imagination and deep feeling. The scene where he and Lewis are crying in each other's arms made my eyes well up with emotion, never until yesterday did I see Hopkins look so tender with anybody on screen, not even in The Elephant Man. As Warnie, Edward Hardwicke best known for his appearances as Dr Watson in the 80s-90s Sherlock Holmes series was remarkable, a minor character but one with feeling and understanding. The actors are helped by a poignant and well-written script, that at times does give clever nods to Lewis's literary genius. It is no wonder that Shadowlands got an award for best British film of the year, it is just beautiful. It is more steady paced than the Elephant Man, another film I am really fond of,and less involving in terms of action, but neither of these things are disadvantages, because i cannot deny what joy I felt watching this film. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

fougasseu I can only think of one movie that does as good a job of dealing with a child's loss: "Careful, He Might Hear You", directed by Carl Schultz. Both are so masterfully executed they don't deserve to be compared. "Shadowlands" is everything the other IMDb reviewers have so eloquently said. I just wanted to add a few comments regarding the look/design of the film. Ugliness is very cool right now, in commercials and and in our movies. I expect the studios to do away with posters and start promoting their new releases with spray paint on underpasses. "Shadowlands" is a period piece in more ways than one. Not only in terms of the story, but in how it's made. The clothing, the sets, the lighting, the pacing, the music...pitch-perfect. That's all. Not cool. There's even prayer. But with the powerful notion that he may not be listening.