Search - The End of the Affair on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 05/16/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 2 Genres: Drama, Romance, Romantic Drama, Period Film, War Romance, Religious Drama

Based on the novel by Graham Greene, this romantic drama stars Ralph Fiennes as Maurice Bendrix, a novelist who, during World War II, had an affair with Sarah Miles (Julianne Moore), the wife of his best friend Henry (Stephen Rea). Sarah abruptly broke off the romance in 1944, but two years later, after Maurice runs into Henry, he becomes obsessed with the affair and hires a man to investigate Sarah. He reads her diary of their forbidden romance in the midst of the London Blitz and discovers that, overwhelmed with fear and guilt, she pledged to God that she would end the affair if Maurice's life were spared. Maurice is determined to reintroduce himself into Sarah's life, but she fears that being near him would be too great a temptation. The End of the Affair was previously brought to the screen in 1955 by Edward Dmytryk; this version was written for the screen and directed by Academy Award-winner Neil Jordan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ralph Fiennes - Maurice Bendrix
Julianne Moore - Sarah Miles
Stephen Rea - Henry Miles
Ian Hart - Mr. Parkis
Sam Bould - Lance Parkis
Heather-Jay Jones

A powerful romantic detective story that merits repeated viewings, Neil Jordan's adaptation of Graham Greene's -The End of the Affair receives a stellar DVD release. The widescreen anamorphic transfer beautifully presents Roger Pratt's atmospheric lighting and camera work while the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track sounds great on any home stereo system. There are also a number of DVD extras, including audio commentaries, a featurette, and a separate audio track spotlighting Michael Nyman's very fine score. The featurette is a better-than-average promo spot, but viewers should avoid it until after they've watched the film since it gives away a number of important plot points. The DVD also comes with separate audio commentary tracks, one featuring writer/director Neil Jordan and the other with star Julianne Moore. Both off-the-cuff commentaries are worth listening to, even if each should've been more prepared. As actors are wont to do, Moore brings up her own career and what the part means to her, but she's also genuinely interested and proud of everyone's work in the movie, from co-stars to production and costume designers. Like Jordan, she also touches upon how the movie differs from Greene's famous semi-autobiographical novel. That rare instance where the movie is actually subtler than the book, Jordan's narrative changes actually has a much lighter touch in dealing with Greene's religious themes. Both commentary tracks can be of interest to all audiences, but especially to filmmakers and students, as all aspects of moviemaking are explored. The commentary track even explains why movie rain always comes down so harder than real rain (light rain doesn't show up on film) and why it's torture for the actors to film such scenes. The early 1955 adaptation of -The End of the Affair has also been released on DVD, but Neil Jordan's movie is infinitely superior. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide