The Edge of Love

The Edge of Love
Directed by John Maybury
Written by Sharman Macdonald
Starring Keira Knightley
Sienna Miller
Cillian Murphy
Matthew Rhys
Music by Angelo Badalamenti
Cinematography Jonathan Freeman
Edited by Emma E. Hickox
Release dates
  • 18 June 2008 (2008-06-18) (Edinburgh Film Festival)
  • 20 June 2008 (2008-06-20) (United Kingdom)
Running time
 110 minutes[1]
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Edge of Love is a 2008 John Maybury drama film starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys from a script by Sharman Macdonald, Knightley's mother.[2] Originally titled The Best Time of Our Lives, the fictional story concerns the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (played by Rhys), his wife Caitlin Macnamara (played by Miller) and their married friends, the Killicks (played by Knightley and Murphy). It was an official selection at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Plot

The story is based loosely on real events and real people, drawing on David N. Thomas' book Dylan Thomas: A Farm, Two Mansions and a Bungalow.

During the London blitz of World War II, nightclub singer Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley) runs into her first love, the charismatic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys). Their feelings for each other are rekindled, despite the fact that Dylan is now married to and has a child with the spirited Caitlin Macnamara (Sienna Miller). In spite of their initial rivalry, the two women become best friends and, drinking heavily in wartime London, the three get along well.

At this time, William Killick (Cillian Murphy), a British Army officer smitten with Vera, pursues her; both Vera and Caitlin are intrigued by his steadfast, gallant personality, although it contrasts with Vera's rebelliousness. William notices her closeness with Dylan, but doesn't seem particularly concerned by it; he and Vera even lend the struggling poet some of their savings. He and Vera fall in love and marry, but soon afterwards William is called up to join the fight against the German invasion of Greece.

Vera discovers shortly after he leaves that she is pregnant; she's upset that motherhood will lose her independence, but cannot bring herself to abort William's child. She later gives birth to their son, and she and the Thomases move to the Welsh seashore to raise their children in two small neighbouring cottages, where Vera and Caitlin's friendship grows ever closer. One day, however, Dylan draws Vera into an affair. Dylan and Caitlin's marriage has long been distorted by their multiple infidelities, but Dylan- recalling a sexual encounter he and Vera had when she was 15 years old - sees her as his soulmate.

William (now a Captain), scarred by the horrors of the war, eventually returns home where Vera notices his emotional distance and instability. In his disquiet, William comes to suspect his wife's infidelity and confronts her about it; Vera also confesses the truth to Caitlin, who is furious with her for lying to her. Severely drunk one evening, and angry with Dylan's friends and their ignorant remarks on the war, William wanders out at night and fires multiple shots into the Thomases' house, though he hits no one; Vera manages to talk him down, and the next morning he seems to return to his former self. However, he is soon arrested and taken to trial.

During the trial, Dylan testifies against William by exaggerating the facts, stating he believed William was not only sober, but also that William intended to kill him, his wife, and his child. The jury finds William innocent of intent to murder, and he returns home. He accepts his new role as a father, and he and Vera forgive each other, rekindling their relationship. Soon afterwards, the Thomases move out of their cottage. During the farewell, Vera restores her friendship with Caitlin, but never speaks with Dylan again, unable to forgive him for testifying against her husband.

Cast

Keira Knightley Vera Phillips
Cillian Murphy William Killick
Sienna Miller Caitlin Macnamara
Matthew Rhys Dylan Thomas
Lisa Stansfield Ruth Williams
Graham McPherson Al Bowlly
Camilla Rutherford Nicolette
Alastair Mackenzie Anthony Devas
Richard Dillane Lt Col David Talbot Rice
Huw Ceredig John Patrick
Simon Armstrong Wilfred Hosgood
Rachel Essex Mel
Nick Stringer PC Williams
Anthony O'Donnell Jack Lloyd
Rachel Bell Midwife
Anne Lambton Anita Shenkin
Karl Johnson Dai Fred
Richard Clifford Alistair Graham
Bethany Towell Rowatt 1 month
Acacia Pattinson Biggs

Distribution

The film made its world premiere opening at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 18 June 2008. It was released in London and Dublin two days later, with a Welsh premiere taking place in Swansea (the birthplace of Dylan Thomas) on the same night, attended by Matthew Rhys. A national release followed in the UK and Ireland on 27 June 2008.[3] An exhibition of costumes, scripts and props from the film was on display at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea until September 2008.

Critical reaction

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that the film received a 34% "rotten" rating, based on 53 reviews by critics.[4] The Hollywood Reporter critic Ray Bennett commented that The Edge of Love is a "wonderfully atmospheric tale of love and war" and stated about Knightley and Miller that; "the film belongs to the women, with Knightley going from strength to strength (and showing she can sing!) and Miller again proving that she has everything it takes to be a major movie star."[5]

As of 25 August 2008, the movie review aggregator, Metacritic, awarded the film a score of 39 denoting "generally unfavorable reviews".[6] In Variety, Leslie Felperin commented: "While the period drama has several redeeming features, tonally it's all over the map, veering between artsy stylization and hum-drum, sometimes almost twee melodrama."[7]

Mark Kermode described the film as "inert" and said that the script was "flawed but not without some form of admirable merit".[8] The Independent felt that "Maybury's stylisation makes the film more interesting than it would have been if directed by your average British journeyman, but it finally adds up to earnest heritage romance."[9]

Sienna Miller received a nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.[10]

Sound track

The Edge of Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Angelo Badalamenti
Released 24 June 2008
Genre Soundtrack
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[11]

The Edge of Love soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti includes performances by singers Keira Knightley, Siouxsie Sioux, Suggs, Patrick Wolf, and Beth Rowley. Siouxsie performs the second version of "Careless Love".

The composer performed the soundtrack live with Siouxsie and Beth Rowley in Ghent, at the World Soundtrack Awards, in October 2008.[12]

Track listing

  1. "Lovers Lie Abed"
  2. "Overture/Blue Tahitian Moon"
  3. "Underground Shelter"
  4. "Hang Out The Stars in Indiana"
  5. "After The Bombing/Hang Out The Stars in Indiana"
  6. "A Stranger Has Come"
  7. "Fire to the Stars"
  8. "Careless Talk"
  9. "Careless Love"
  10. "Love Me"
  11. "Careless Talk"
  12. "Drifting And Dreaming"
  13. "Home Movies"
  14. "Under Fire"
  15. "Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much"
  16. "Vera Begs Dylan"
  17. "Vera's Theme"
  18. "Holding Rowatt"
  19. "Careless Love"
  20. "Caitlin's Theme"

References

  1. ↑ "The Edge of Love". Internet Movie Database. Jun 8, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  2. ↑ The Edge of Love (2008), IMDb. Accessed 22 May 2008.
  3. ↑ Release Dates for The Edge of Love, IMDb. Accessed 22 May 2008.
  4. ↑ "The Edge of Love – Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  5. ↑ Bennett R Film Review: The Edge of Love Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2008
  6. ↑ "Edge of love, The reviews". Metacritic. com. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  7. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (18 June 2008). "The Edge of Love Review". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  8. ↑ Kermode M Mark Kermode reviews The Edge of Love
  9. ↑ Romney J The Edge of Love Film Review Independent, 22 June 2008
  10. ↑ Sienna Miller – Awards
  11. ↑ Jurek, Thom (16 June 2008). "The Edge of Love (Music from the Motion Picture) – Angelo Badalamenti : Songs, Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  12. ↑ World Soundtrack Award'2008 Badalamenti in concert in Ghent'2008

External links

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