Ein Versprechen

The only sensible character here was Richard Madden's character. The rest were weird to watch.

And why did the camera zoom in on the characters out of the blue?...

3 stars for the outfits really.

Maybe I'm being charitable here, but I felt the "lack of chemistry" between the leads that so many criticise here could have been intentional, a trope for repressed emotion or the etiquette of the time. Yes, there are some major flaws, some clunking (such as the keyboard-sniffing, rat capture and of course, the damp squib of an ending), but there's also a lot to enjoy, particularly if you are a Rickman fan. But yes, some more historical context would have been good, it feels like an afterthought, and perhaps a deeper examination of whether the affair was set up from the start by an impotent husband.

Tis a classic story of forbidden love told throughout the ages from ancient Greece up to the present day.

I enjoyed it as much as it goes, with excellent performances from the cast. I would have liked to have seen more of the young theatre talent Shannon Tarbet, who plays the initial girlfriend of the protagonist.

I thought that to update it for the modern audience an odd plot twist would have been good, especially for the men who might find this story somewhat ponderous.

A must for those who like Jane Austen, male viewers may fall asleep!

Perfect costuming and set decor. Alan Rickman is splendid and Rebecca Hall has won me over. But. The camera-work is negatively strange and distracting at times. The sudden zoom ins and (tragically trendy) shaky cam, not my cup of tea. I wish my remote control had a stabilizer button.

When Richard Madden gets hired as Alan Rickman's assistant, he gets more than just a job in the bargain. Taken under Alan's wing, and taken into his home, he meets and quickly develops an affection for Alan's wife, Rebecca Hall. Yes, Richard's very handsome, but Rebecca didn't have an unhappy home before she met him. She had a devoted husband, plenty of money, beautiful clothes, a large house, and a child. Why, then, did Alan ever think it was a good idea to have a handsome, capable young man move into his home and spend time with his wife?

I was a little disappointed in this movie. The sets and costumes were beautiful, and given what they had to work with, the actors turned in fine performances, but the script itself wasn't very captivating. There were parts that seemed so obvious a double meaning or secret twist must surely surface, and while much of the movie promised a different meaning to the title, the denouement was a bit of a letdown. Still, if you really like period pieces and stories of forbidden love, you might enjoy renting it.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Much of this movie is filmed with a handheld camera, and the movement might make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"