The End of the Affair (1999) / Drama-Romance

MPAA Rated: R for scenes of strong sexuality
Running Time: 102 min.

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea, Ian Hart, Jason Isaacs
Director: Neil Jordan
Screenplay: Neil Jordan (based on the novel by Graham Greene)
Review published December 10, 1999

Based on the novel by Graham Greene, set in 1946 London. Maurice (Fiennes, The Prince of Egypt) is a struggling novelist who meets Henry (Rea, In Dreams), a man now married to his ex-lover Sarah (Moore, An Ideal Husband). The two former lovers discover that they are still in love with each other Maurice's love is a suffocating one filled with obsession and jealousy and when he suspects that she may be cheating on him as well, he hires a private investigator to follow her around. Suspicions mount and soon the relationship hits new highs and lows with each successive outing.

The End of the Affair is a solid film by Neil Jordan (The Good Thief, Breakfast on Pluto), who bounces back after the worst movie of his career, In Dreams, with flair. Beautiful music and costumes, along with a stellar performance by Moore, who received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for the performance, make the film much more than a run of the mill romance.

At times predictable, at others profound, Jordan cranks up the emotion for a touching and powerful ending. Well worth watching for Moore's performance alone, but the fact that the rest of the production is solid is icing on the cake.

Qwipster's rating:

©1999 Vince Leo